Western cyclone., 1886-11-11
Curing a Bra ggart.

most inveterate boosters T ever knew.
He had lived for years in the town where
We were quartered and al Of the citizens
there knew him t. be one Of the most
arraDt towards in existence. We will
simply cali him Tom, leaving his last
aame in oblivion. Tom would gather a
crowd Of young recruits around him, tak-
ing care 10 get beyond hearing OF those
who knew him, and regaIe them for
hours with tales Of bis proWess on food
and field.
His personal appearance was well cal
culated TO inspire belief II these yarns,
for he was tall and stalwart, his beard
and moustache were nick and black as
d ravens wing. and stood straight out as
if each individual hair was challenging
the whole world to single combat. In
fact I don't think | ever saw Eveher
looking maj. He seemed able to eat a
half dozen men Just for lunch. One
day, as usual, Tom had been spinning
yarns for hours to group of fawe-strick
en- youngsters, your writer among the
rest. He told his tales with such en-
phasis and clinched them with such a
savage oath at each sentence that he
struck terror to the hearts of his listen
ers. The call to dinner broke up the
group, and as We passed around the cor
ner we saw Sam Brown, an old resident
of the town who had evidently heard all.
Tom looked a little disconnected, but
Sam sat still and said nothing That
evening Sam Brown hunted up five or
six of Toms audience and asked them to
meet him at the old jail at half past
eight. We kept the appointment, but
we're scarcely prepared for the brigan-
dish looking figure that met us there.
Sam had clothed himself in long black
cloak that nearly reached the ground,
aad on a huge false beard and high
crowned, broad brimmed hat.
Now, boys" said he, as soon as we
had recovered from our surprise, Il am
going to show you how brave Tom is,
and here is the only weapon shall USE"
and he passed Ii to us for inspection. 1t
was simply cooked sweet potato. "In
about twenty minutes the bugle viii
sound for light out, and Tom viii pass
here on bis way home. Hide behind the
corner and watch the fun" Now a Ger
tain Dave Young had joined the confede-
rates early IN the war, but his widowed
mother still lived there, and it was the
common belief that Dave was the leader
OF a guerilla band in the vicinity. That
be visited bis mother weekly, and that ne
hOyered around the town with his band
only waiting an opportunity to swoOp
down on the loyal citizens like a destroy
ing angel. Many times the militia
chased imaginary Dave Young all night
OF day; but 10 one ever saw him there
turing the war, unless it was his friends
Tom had been particularly loud-mouthed
in his bosts of what be would do if he could
only "lay his eyes" on Young. In few
minutes the bugle sounded and shortly
after we saw Tom coming toward us.
AS he reached the jail Sam stepped in
front of him and SAID, Halt, or you are
dead man. 1 see you know me. am
Dave Young. | have heard of your
boasts in regard TO me and have come to
give you a chance TO make them good.
Draw your revolver. One of us will
never leave here alive" We could hear
| Toms teeth chatter where we were hid
den. "Whoever told you that [ ever
said word against you, Dave, told -
lie. always have been your friend"
said he in a trembling voice that we could
hardly believe was Toms That's all
stuff, and you know it." replied Sam.
Come, no fooling; draw your revolver
and get to work, or I'll shoot you down
like dog" and Sam presented his sweet
potato full in Toms face.
Tom dropped on his knees in an in.
slant. "Oh, Dave, for Gods sake think
Of my family. Don't kill me for Gods
sake" pleaded our vahent Tom, in heart
rending tones. "- your family"
said Sam, savagely; did you think Of
my mother when you were chasing me
all over the country last week? Get up
and defend yourself, or I'll shoot vou
where you kneel." At this Tom fell
PROSTATE and fairly groveled in the dust,
and begged for his life, offering to give
up to the supposed confederate his two
horses, and to go with him, Join his band
and serve in any capacity. No" said
Sam, you are too cowardly for me. III
not shoot YOU, but I'll mark You for
life" and be bent and drew the cold
sweet potato across Toms face. "Oh,
my God I'm cut, I'm stabbed yelled
Tom, still lying en- the ground and kick
ing vigorously, Come and see your
hero, boys" called Sam in bis natural
voice. We sprang from our hiding and
joined III hearty laugh at Toms abject
condition; but even then he was so thor
oughly scared that it was son-e minutes
before we could convince him that We
were not part OF Dave Young's gang
called to intict more punishment upon
him. When he came to and saw the
weapon with which he had been van
duished he skunk away without a word.
For two OF three days after that he was