Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08
A HEALTH SEEKER.
Ee Concluded. However, That Connection.
Was Good Enough for Hin.

Was Good Enough for Him.
At a certain far west railroad station we
got into conversation with q man who was
sitting on the depot platform waiting for the
train.
~ came out to this country few days
ago." he said after talking some tirae, for
my health, but am going back TO Connect
cut on the next train"
Doesn't the climate agree with your
asked Briar.
eyes, think the climate would agree with
me ell right, but the people don't I went
up here few miles A friend Of mine had
spent summer near there on Big Nose
Georges ranch, and he recommended the
place to me.
Il simply went there for my health, in
tending to board during the fall and return
home before cold weather As got of the
train when it arrived | noticed quite crowd
of men on the platform, all wearing big fat
hats and spurs and walking very bow
legged started down the steps toward tho
hotel when ono OF them approached me con-
fdentially and said: BE you goin' to open a
bank, partnerr a whatr l asked "A
bank he said. Why, no. said I, what
made you think l was going to engage in the
banking businesSP On, thought you looked
a little that way be replied. Ne N the
boys lowed you had your outfit all excep' the
tables in your grip-the boxes, an kcerds,
an chips, an layout generally You
are mistaken, l replied, good deal
bewildered, and went on over to the hotai
While l was registering the clerk leaned
over and said: ''Goin' TO deal farop No,
sir replied, light beginning to dawn on no
a little. Keno or hazard, thenf be went on.
Nothing Of the kindr said warmly. Jess
straight draw poker, s'poseF he continued.
No game at ALL l replied. 'Aint goin' to
try to work the boys on 10 thimble rig,
hopep he said anxiously. They dropped a
roll on that last week and they are little
cross about it, No, sir; 1 have no gambling
apparatus at ALL said. 4 simply came out
here for my health, and went and sat down
by the door.
II saw him looking at me pretty hard, and
after q while the crowd | had seen at the sta
ton as well as others began to drop in and
whisper to the clerk and talk low among
themselves and look at me. Pretty soon one
of them, who wore such big hat that it
made him stoop shouldered, came over and
said: Stranger, my name is Pete Doyle
they call me Webfoot, but nay right name is
Pete Doyle Il en- pleased TO meet you, Mr..
Doyle said, shaking hands with him lie
started a little and then said: I reckon you
better call me Webfoot-Im more onto it. 1
am one Of the city aldermen and cheerman of
the council committee on strangers. The
committee directed me to ask YOU ques-
ton Go ahead replied we wanted
to ask you'-and he lowered his voice
almost to o whisper-'what you had to
leave the states forp L didn't have
f/NI S,,, I
came out here for my health Webfoot
looked at me very hard and started to re-
treat, when heard some ono behind 1ae say
in loud whisper: -him-how-fur
ahead-o'-the-sherif -he-wasr Webfoot
looked at me minute and said: 4 take it
there want no sheriff. No replied.
"a lot of others were standing outside ard
looking gloomy and depressed, and polishing
up their reyolvers with their pocket handker-
chiefs.
Zone man was talking very loud all the
time about this idea of trying to make the
town q corral for the escaped criminals from
the states being about played out. | after
ward learned that 10 was the postmaster.
And about this time the mayor of the town
began to walk up and down the middle of the
street with q shotgun on bis shoulder, all the
him explaining to the probate Judge that
there might be more of 'em coming and that
he lowed to give it to 'em fore they got into
town and got a foothold ike this rooster had
done.
'Then another man made me roll up my
trousers to show that ! didn't have a striped
pair on underneath. He went out and told
the mayor that l probably had time to
change them. The mayor said he noticed
my hair had grown out some too.
II was now thinking of Connecticut most
of the time. And al the while those fellows
were discussing the probable amount of the
reward for my capture. And another began
to speculate as to whether had the money
had stolen about my person or in my sachel
"And all the time the county sheriff was
riding up and down the sidewalks, with his
horse on the run, shouting: All members of
vigilance committee meet ct Maverick house
in thirty minutesl Business OF Importance
with small man from Connecticut
81 gave the subject good deal of careful
study and concluded that Connecticut was
pretty good place after all. l couldn't SEQ
why should have ever thought my health
was poor there.
The coroner dropped in and looked me
over, and I heard him promise dozen diff
ferent lien to see that each was on the IL
quest.
about this time my old friend Webfoot
came down the street, dragging long rope
behind him, with hangman's moose on the
end Of it. He looked in and said | was the
man who refused to shake hands with him or
call him by his last name. He said any man
who was too proud TO shake hands with old
Webfoot councilman from tho Second ward
had got to hang Then he threw the rope
over the limb of tree in front of the door so
l could look OFF across the prairie through the
noose and enjoy the scenery.
1.-The sheriff was now announcing that the
vigilance committee would NEE. IN five
minutes. got CLEAN Of hope Just then,
when l saw the city marshal coming, wearing
his star. appealed to him for protection,
but he looked me all ever and then said he
reckoned it was best for the civil authorities
to take their own course and he waved bis
hand so as to include every cUtthroat in
sight The proprietor Of tie hotel came in
and presented bill for 50, for occupying his
house two hours, and said better pay before
the exercises; and / heard the county judge
yelling that the time was up.
Al then started ont the back door for Con-
necticus / found that my health was first
rate for running. When l left Connecticut
thought needed change Of climate, but I
concluded tnat l Sill needed che more
thau ever gave it credit for. Good-by."-
Fred L. CGrruth in New York Tribune.
OF Piscatorial Interest
Customer On ressaursnt,-What kind Of