The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-01-06
THEY PAID THE SCORE.
An Incident in the Life of a Tavern
Keeper.


Speaking about nerve" said Brooks,
as he sat at table in the office of the
commercial travellers association, "the
bravest man l ever met was one Pres
colt, of Evansville, Indiana. He was
a daisy. [ often stayed at his place-a
sorts of tavern, saloon, billiard room
and dance hall combined. 1t was like
this: There wassa bit of property
which had been idle for years. All
sort of men had tried to run it, but they
had to get out. They lacked the re-
| quired nerve. The bloods would cross
over from Henderson, Kentuckey, and
make it disagreeable for the landlord.
They would play his billiards and
drink his whisky, and then, when
asked for pay would set in and clean
his shop out. Finally Prescott heard
OF this property for sale. found the
price low, and so bought it in. But L
don't suppose he knew what allied the
property, for he was from New Hamp-
| shire"
81 just wish you could have seen the
cuss! Why, he didn't look big enough
to whip a cat! He was one of those
Slim Jims. with sandy hair and weak
legs, sallow faced, light, watery blue
eyed fellow. 1 was travelling through
there at that time, and 1 happened
along week or so after PRESCOTT got
started He had fixed the place UP in
style. { drove up at dusk, put out
my team for the night, and after a
drink, prepared to go out for the even
ing. l noticed ten strapping young
bloods in the billiard room. They
were dressed we'll and had gold
watches with long chains. There
didn't seem to be anything the matter
with them, and left them playing bill
liards and smoking cigars, with now
and then a call on the bar When I
got back to the tavern, after while,
the same crowd was there, and there
didn't seem to be anything the matter
with them. But Prescott said to me
q was a Vermonter, and lie and l felt
somewhat acquainted)
"sI'm afraid these boys will give me
trouble
'Why?'
:''Well, this is that Henderson gang
Eve heard so much of. TheY'er all
all rich mems sons, and think they can
run things. Their game is to get all
they can and pay nothing for it. But
they will have to pay me for what they
get before they get out of here!"
"He said it all as quietly as it he had
just remarked he thought it would rain
next day. 1 sat smoking near the
stove, where 1 could see the young
bloods in the billiard room. [ declare
| they seemed to be very decent young
| men. They had been to the bar pretty
often, and they were tritle lively in
their play, and maybe a bit LOUD in
their conversation, but that was all,
and why Prescott was afraid of trouble,
couldn't for the life of me make out,
but pretty soon they began to show
| their hand. First two OF them took a
good stiff drink and a cigar apiece, and
| then jerked their thumbs over their
| shoulders as they moved toward the
door.
"'The other fellersll make this all
right
"Prescott said, very well,' and then
| he bowed them out like prince of the
royal line. Then couple more took a
big drink and the best cigars, and out
they went.
{ "'Ihe other boys in thar'n settle the
score!'
"There were now half a dozen big
ones left inside. Pretty soon they came
out, too. They ranged along the bar,
filled up two or three times around,
and then started for the door.
"'Stop!
sIhey paused, then looked around
mildly reproachful at Prescott, who
stood behind the bar. One of the par
ty saidi
"'Well! what dye want?'
prescott, with his thin, white tace
| showing no more emotion than q brass
Kettle, remarked:
Gentlemen, you've forgotten some
thing. Please pay for what you have
had.'
"Wall- we've got no money. Paw
yer some other time
. Ahth ooihCeiAiLS ildpPcuCu. 4uc III
tie white liyered cuss of Prescott
sprang over the bar like cat, his long
white apron flying between his legs;
and before the Kentuckians compre-
hended what was to happen he had his
back ag inst the door and the six
tonghs covered with two big horse
pistols. His face was as white as
chalk, but 1 tell you his blue eyes
blazed. In ali instant, after recovering
from their surprise, the gang reached
for their guns. But Prescott had them
too well covered. He said:
1.-The man that attempts to draw his
shooter gets hole bored through him
as big as barrel. Not a man shall
leave this room till I've had what's due
| me-"
at looked very much like blood there
for about q minute. but Prescott's
blazing eyes and his ugly looking guns
took the starch out of the toughs, and
pretty soon they trled to sink out of
range. One Of them said:
"We left our money home. Let us
out and we'll fetch it toyee."
"No-yon-don't."
"This was Prescottis determined an
swer. Indicating one of the party with
Il pistol, he said:
"You put your watch on the cigar
case
"He did as directed. 1t was gold
repeater.
"Hhe big horse pistols were lowered.
Nov, gentlemen, come up and have
something on me-"
"Prescott sad this with all the suav-
| itv imaginable, as he resumed his place