The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-01-14
WORKING Up THE WRONG MAN.

H"'o oc'h SOOi DhDy utTIUp
deeds performed aud coarse Jokes
perpe,ratei by COW. boys said the
agent, "but | will tell you Of little
incident where the wind was taken
out of three COW. boys by deter
mined, fearless, "leudtifoot." 1t
happened only last spring. | was
then station agent and telegraph
operator for the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company at place near
Montana line. 1t was not much Of
aplacc. as it consisted only Of de-
pot house or two and saloon.
"One morning a travelling man
arrived at the depot by stage from
up North somewhere. lie had Il
small sample case and satchel He
was below medium height and rath-
er slight, but was very neatly dress
cd aud wore silk hat. lie was
travelling for New York jewelry
house lie was about an hour ear
ly for the train east and he opened
his grip on the platform, took out
brush aud busted Lis clothing aud
shoes. He then drew out al old
newspaper, leaned up against tue
side OF the depot with one foot pro-
jected in front Of the other and be-
gan reading.
Meanwhile, however. three cow
boys had sauntered mp to the depot.
They all eyed him closely and watch
ed his operations. When he began
reading they huddled together and
talked awhile in I'm undertonc
Presently one Of them-a big six
footer--left the group and began
to saunter carelessly about the
platform with his head in the all
inspecting the posters on the build
ing and the coinice When he got
round where the travelling man
stood he lifted his big brogau and
planted it firmly on the jewelry
mans foot. No apology was made
The travelling man merely looked up,
drew his foot back moment, then
placed it back where it was. The
cowboy passed back to the other
two. They all chuckled aud joiued
in low-toncd conversation.
Soon the cowboy started out
on similar round, gaping at the
roof. When he reached the travel
ing man he tried TO bring down his
coarse boot on the extended foot.
The travelling mao jerked his foot
back suddenly aud the brogan came
down with thump on the platform.
Another conference and chuckliur
followed, Finally the cowboy set
ont OF the third round. Just as be
was about to raise his foot to plant
it on that Of the travelling man, the
latter looked mp quickly and said
"See here, there is my foot, and
it's going 10 stay there. You step
on it, if you want, but l want to tell
you that before you can get off Of il
l will kill you'
Such q vollev staggered the cow
boy. lie looked at my foot aud
then at tho small possessor, and liu-
ally moved cff without stepping on
it. Another consultation followed.
The travelling man calmly read
his paper few minutes aud then
took from his satchel three apples
lie looked at them moment, and
su d de II y threw them few
feet into air and then quickly drew
q revolver, fired three shots, split
ting each apple into a dozen pieces
before they reached the ground He
replaced tue cartridges in the
empty chamber of tue revolver and
returned it to his pocket.
''fbe cow-boys witnessed the act
without saying word, aud soon,
eompletly cowed, turned and left
the depot. The travelling man told
rue after they left that he would
have killed the three OF them had
the fellow stepped on bis foot again,
aud ! think he would, as he was as
quick as lightning He then showed
me medal he carried, which he
won as being the most rapid aud
one OF the best shots in New York
The story simply illustrates that
there is sometimes q great deal OF
4 ,titious valor and daring about O
cowboy