The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-07-30
HE HAD FITS.
A Drummcr's Expcriensr With Cow Boys
nnd u Texas Landlord.

The New York drummers, says
the New York Mail and Express,
travelled through Texas last sum-
mer When they lett the rail-
roads they hired team and leis-
urely went from one town to
another. One of the drummers
discovered that his companion
Immediately upon retiring ut
night would invariably grit his
teeth together, not unlike the bad
man from Bitter Creek, who was
itching for fight. Some affection
of the muscles of the jaws caused
them to contract and rub his mo-
lars together. Both men were
full of pranks, and generally
kept the landlord where they stop
ped in Il state of excitement ut
the antics and practical jokes
they played on each other. One
day they separated, and the drum.
mcr who did not grit his teeth at
night went day ahead of the
other. The hotels he put up ut
were always notified to have II
nice room ready for the drummer
who would be there next day.
After week of travelling apart
the head drummer thought it was
monotonous. He told the next
landlord that he had II friend COM
ing on day behind. He said
that his friend was fine clever
fellow, but required watching q
little at night. 1t was best to
have some one sleep in the same
room with him, rs he was subject
to tits which assumed the nature
of mania-potu. Those fits were
always preceded by Gritting his
teeth together. The only way to
prevent harm was to seize him
and pour y half dozen buckets of
water over him. The landlord
promised he should be watched.
The unsuspectlng drummer arri-
we'd and was warmly welcomed by
the proprietor of the hotel. That
evening two cowboys in spurs
and Duckskin rode up. They
were put in the same room with
the drummer aud informed of his
malndv.
"If he should grit his teeth
said the landlord, "just rush over
Ia his bed, seize him, hold him
there and yell for me. | will
come with water"
"Thi, is II night for fun SAID
the cowboys. They kept on
their spurs and clothing, and lay
down quietly on top of their bed.
They waited for the drummer to
come in and go to sleep His bed
was some ten feet from theirs.
lie came up finally, and saw the
cowboys sleeping side by side,
"What harbarians.' he said.
"to sleep with their clothes and
boOts on.
Quietly pulling off his clothes
and putting on silk gown, the
elegant drummer retired to rest.
He sighed once or twice and NUT
tered something about failing to
sell u bill. His teeth grlttcd to-
gethcr. The sharp cars of the
cowboys heard it. Both sprnng up
and lcaped like panthers to the
bed of the drummer. They seiz-
cd him and yelled. The drum
mer thought he WAS being robbed,
and fought and yelled at the same
time. His desperate struggle rci
suited in his being held down by
the weight of the cowboys, who
kept astridc of his body. The
landlord rushed in with n bucket
of cold water and dashed it over
the head and shoulders of the
prostrate man. The servants
came in with several more buck
cts of water which were poured
over the bowling drummer.
"Arc you well?' asked the
landlord, kindly.
"No!' roared the drummer.
"Do you think you will have
another ftp"
"Fity' screamed he, "who said
1 had fts?'
"why your friend who mas
gonc ahead said when you gritted
your teeth you were going to have
u terrible fit"
The cowboys were drenched
with water, but they enjoyed it.
The drummer got up and charter
cd the nearest saloon. Before
the moon was down hc saw the
landlord and the cowboys lying
ON the floor, and ordering his vc-
hicle. he put out post haste IA
ovortoke and murder his friend.