Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-30
He Went West for His Health.

DAYS ago. ne sara hller lhlkInP soino
time, "for my health. but 1 am going
back to Connecticut OH tho next train"
Doesn't the climate agree with youP
asked Brar.
Yes. / think the climate would
agree with me all right, but the people
don't. went up here to Oelrichs.
Dakota. A friend of mine had spent n
summer near there on Big Nose
Georges ranch. and he recommended
the place to me. At my home in Con-
necticut follow the calling of a minis
ter OF the gospel. in humble way 10
be sure, but trust my work has not
been without its beneficial results.
''Did you preach any at OelrichsP" L
asked.
mo. l simply went there for my
health. intending to board during the
fall and return home before cold
weather. As l got off the train when
it arrived l noticed quite crowd of
men on the platform all wearing big
flat hats and spurs and walking very
bow-legged. | started down the steps
toward the hotel when one of them
approached mo confidentially and said:
BE you goin' To open a bank, parlnerP
"A whatp asked. "A bank. he said.
why. no. said /. what made you
think l was going to engage in the
ban king businessP' oh. thought you
looked a little that way he replied
.Me'u' the bows lowed you had your
outfit all excep' the tables IN your grip
Al. L., an nl,i,,5 M
layout generally. You are m stalk
Ell. replied. good deal bewildered.
and went on over to the hotel. While
was registering the clerk leaned over
and said; Coin to deal faro? No,
sir. l replied. light beg ming to dawn
on me little. Keno or hazard, thenP
he went on. Nothing of tho kind!
said warmly, Jess straight draw
poker l s'pose?' he continued. No
game at all, | repl ell. 'Aint goin' to
try to work tho boys on no thimble-rg.
| hopeP' he sad anxiously. They
dropped n roll on that last week and
theyiare little cross about it, No,
sir. / have no gambling apparatus at
ALL / said. Il simply came out here
for my health. and l went and sat
down by the door.
81 saw him looking at me pretty
hard, and after awhile the crowd / had
seen at the station as we'll as others
began 10 drop in and whisper TO the
clerk and talk low among themselves
and look at me. Pretty soon one of
the men, who wore such big hat
that it made him stoop-shouldered
came over and said: Stranger. my
name is Pete Doyle-thcy call me Web
foot, but my ght name is Pete DOYLE
Il am pleased to meet YOU. Mr.. Doyle
] said, shaking hands with him He
started little and then said: Il reck =
on you better call me Webfoot. i IN
more onto it. l am one of the city
Aldermen and cheermau of the Coun-
Gil Committee on Strangers The COM
IN ttee wanted me to ask you a ques-
ton Go ahead l replied We
wanted to ask you'-and he lOwere d
his voice almost TO Il whisper-'what
you had TO leave the States for? Il
didn't have to leave the East for any
| thing. replied; | came out here for
my health WebfOot looked at me
/ very hard and started TO retreat, when
/ | heard some one behind me say i'm q
( loud whisper: 'Ask-him-- how-fur
-ahead e-sheriff-he--wa -
Webfoot looked at me minute and
( said: i take it there wa mt no sher.
ifP' No. replied.
! Most of them now went out. but n
good-sized crowd fingered around the
door. and they all kept circulating be
tween the barroom of the hotel and o
saloon directly across the street Pretty
soon another came aud said: "Was it
murderP' No said. Burglry or
anythingP No faint as bad as
boss stealth / hope?' Il came West
simply for my health | re turned
rather sharply. He explained that he
WAS county treasurer, and being pub
lie man it was his duty to ask about
these things.
Then another wanted to know if il
was train robbery. and when | told h m
neither he said Oh, as much as to say
of course it WAS something as bad
Then another wanted to know if | got
away with all the bank had. and advs
ed mo in any case to 20 to Canada in
stead of STAYING in Dakota, because he
thought couldn't be arrested in Cana.
da.
Auu All buO WullD Htdlu LWO Vi
them talking behind me as to the prob
ability of there being much of reward
for me.
A lot of others were standing outside
and looking gloomy and depressed, anc
polishing up their revolvers with theil
pocket handkerchiefs. And abou
once in five minutes they all took
drink.
+ 'One man was talking very loud al
{ the time about this idea of trying t.
! make the town corral for the escape,
criminals from the States being abou
PLAYED out. afterward learned tina
he was the postmaster. And abou
this time the Mayor of the town begar
to walk up and down the middle o
the street with shotgun on his shoul
der. all the time looking off across tn
e prairie. / heard him explaining 10 TIL
a probate judge that there might be NOR
of 'em coming and that he lowed t
, give it to 'em fore they got into tow
and got foothold like this rooster ha
1 done.
Then another man made me roll u
{ my trousers to show that didn' hav
a striped pair on underneath. He wen
n