The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-24
He Went West for His health.

COuN6ISd b4Ou Win q HAL VIM was VI
ting on the depot platform waiting for
the next train.
Il came out to this country a few
days ago." he said after talking some
time, 'for my health, but l am going
back to Connecticut on the next train"
Doesn't the climate agree with yOu?'
asked Briar.
Yes, | think the climate would
agree with me all right. but the people
don't. l went up here to Oelrichs,
Dakota. A friend of mine had spent q
summer near there on Big Nose
Georges ranch, and he recommended
the place to me-. At my home in Con-
n~ecticut | follow the calling of a minis
ter of the gospel, in a humble way to
be sure, but | trust my work has not
been without it's beneficial results"
'.Did you preach any at OelrichsP" /
asked.
No. l simply went there for my
health, intending to board during tao
fall and return home before colo
weather. As | got off the train when
it arrived l noticed quite a crowd o"
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 me c~ontidentially and said:
BE you gOin' to open a bank partner?'
"A what?' 1 asked. "A bank, he said.
why, no. said /, what made you
think l was going to engage in the
banking ~businessp' oh. l thought you
looked a little that way he replied.
Me'u' the boys lowed you had your
outfit all excep' the tables in your grip
the boxes, an keerds, an chips, an
layout generally You are mistak-
en- l replied, a 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 ginning to dawn
on me a little. Keno or hazard, then2'
he went on. Nothing of the kindr
l said warmly. Jess straight draw
poker | s'pOseP' he continued. No
game at ALL l replied. ,Aint goin' to
try to work the boys on no thimble-rig,
| hopeP he said anxiously. They
dropped a roll on that last week and
theyIare a little cross about it. NC,
sir. ! have no gambling apparatus at
ALL I said. 4 simply came out here
for my health, and l went and sat
down by the door.
Il saw him looking at me pretty
hard, and after awhile the crowd l had
seen at the station as we'll as others
began to 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 a big hat
that it made him stoop-shouldered,
came oVer and said: Stranger, my
name is Pete Doyle-they call me Web
foot, but my right name is Pete Doyle
4 am pleased to meet you, Nj. Doyle
l said, shaking hands with him. He
started a little and then said: Il reck-
on you better call me Webfoot, I'm
more onto it. l am one of the city
Aldermen and cheerman of the Coun-
Gil Committee on Strangers. The COM
mittee wanted me to ask you a ques-
ton Go ahead l replied. we
wanted to ask you'-and he lowered
his voice almost to a whisper-'What
you had to leave the States forP' Il
didn't have to leave the East for any
thing / replied; i came out here for
my health Webfoos looked at me
very hard and started to retreuts whom
l heard some one behind me say in a
loud whisper: 'Ask-him-how-fur
~
Webfoot looked at me a minute and
said: i take it there wa mt no sher.
iffP' No. / replied.
Most of them now went out, but a
a.1Ol ofznd aro,v1# 1s,.o.a 1900 -
door, and they all kept circulating be-
tween the barroom of the hotel and q
saloon directly across the street. Pretty
soon another came and said; WAS it
murderg' No 1 said. .BurgI'ry or
anythingP' Mo- 'Taint as bad as
hoss-stealin' / hopeP' Il came West
simply for my health 1 re turned
rather sharply. He explained that he
was county treasurer, and being a pub
lie man it was his duty to ask about
these things.
Then another wanted to know if it
was train robbery, and when / told him
neither he said Oh, as much as TO say
Of course 1t was something as bad,
Then another wanted TO know IL l got
sway with all the bank had, and adVis-
ID me in any case to 60 TO Canada in
stead Of staying ia Dakota. because be
thought I couldn't be arrested In Cana
Ia.
"And all the while / heard two OT
them talking behind me as to the prob
ability Of there being much Of a reward
for me.
Al lot Of others were standing outside
and looking gloomy and depressed, and
polishing up their revolvers with their
pocket hasa erchiefs. And about
once in five minutes they all took a
drink.
sOne mar was talking very loud all
the time about this idea Of trying to
make the town a corral for the escaped
criminals from the States being about
played out / afterward learned that
he was the postmaster. And about
this time the Mayor OF 1.-The town began
to walk mp and down the middle Of
the street with q shotgun on bis shoul.
der. all the time looking Off across the
prairie. / heard him explaining to the
probate judge that therc might Be more
~ - "