Wichita eagle., 1888-07-14
THE SLOUGH

| Coyote Ciey watched the sioochins figure
grow smaller and smaller In the distance,
and then disappear over the crest OF the
! 'rise,n mile away. Then congrasuiatng
: themselves upon having got rid Of an undo
sirabls citizen, the inhabitants Of the little
/ border settlement turned away and resumed
/ their vouted aTecasaoA Coyote Cisyss pasm
/ Of virtue was over.
| Halt an hour Later the matter YVES being
| discussed BY group OF three around one OF
! the tables in thu Jumbo saloon. Two Of the
trio were familiar with ell Of tie details OF
/ the affair, but the third member OF the group
/ was flu ct curiosity. Col Anderson loved
tie sound Of his own voice. Pierce Fansaaw
rather preferred the colonei's eioQcence TO
/ listening 70 the frantic attempts of the freg-
ment Of az orchestra TO catch tune that had
/ already eluded them eleven separate and
/ distinct times Mr.. Arthur Lemon, of Boston,
/ VINO had come west with the intention OF
I starting bank, and had already made quite
/ a heavy deposit in the pocket Of Pierce Fan
/ shaw, professional gambler, was DESTROYS Of
adding TO hx somewhat limited stock Of in
formation So the subject Of the recent
running OUT was thoroughly ventilated
! The colonel had been tho self elected master
/ OF cerenonle and felt elated at the success
/ ful manner in which tine progra mne had been
executed Yes" he said, 81: went of beau
sifully, beautifully! Nary bitch m the entire
+ performance"
'But why was be run outv queried Mr..
Arthur Lemon.
''W'ys Because It had become necessary to
purge Coyote City Nv undesirable persons
those who retarded instead Nv promoting its
prosperity, and whose presence instead uv at
tracing immigration, repealed it"
But was he guilty OF any c-imes sup
posed such summary evictions were for per-
sons engaged in nefarious practices"
$50 they air, an -
Then why does the enforced emigration
stop when the SLOUGH Is run out"
"W'ya Because tnar's nobody else that
needs runnin' out"
1T seems TO me- that there are still left sew
eral persons upon whom various crimes have
been proven, as well as that there are yet re-
naming number of saloonists, pro- Re
stopped suddenly, as if checked by the pres
ence Of Pierce Fa1shaw, professional gam
bier.
And professional gamblers" remarked
that gentleman pleasantly, completing the
sentence ''I'll tell you, my dear fellow, why
We are not run out, but are left TO do our
sweet wills, while a more harmless person,
whose only ofense was being 'triaing,
worthless, SLOUGH, was given two hours in
which 10 make himself scarce. The reason is
to De found in the ancient adage that might
makes right That MAKES US not offenders,
but influential citizens"
But, good Heavens" exploded Col Ben
dersen, your eastern idees cir almost start
In, Lenaonl Might as well talk Nv runnin'
me out as to speak q these yere gents
bein' -
And Col Henderson could not be readily
spared" interrupted Pierce Fanshsw's cool
voice. The colonel il a boomer of the first
magnitude. and talks boom and Coyote City's
prosperity from morning till night"
Col Henderson leaned back in his chair
and expanded bis chest, Like a man well
aware of his own merit.
Thanks, Pierce, a thousand thanks. You
do me mighty proud. Jin"-to waiter
the best in the house for my friends an
self"
If Mr. Arthur Lemon, the 'tenderfoot, -
detected any sarcasm in Fanshavis laudation
OF Col Henderson, he held his peace. Nor
did he make shy comment when Fanshaw's
soft voice said, almost cooicgly:
Observe how the waiter flies 10 execute
the commission. The colonel is one of the
Jumbo's most valued patrons, far, far differ
ent from the SLOUGH, VINO never treated CT
vas treated
That's a fact" agreed Col. Henderson.
There was nothing Nv the gentleman about
him. He possessed 50 little refinement that,
wien once invited him 70 join me, he not
ouiy declined, bot added Insult TO the refusal
BY saying that be not only did not drink, but
wished every drop OF the aecursed stuff was
bsnished FROM the land Them5 his very
words Not only refused 10 enjoy himself,
bu, wanted the personal liberties Nv the rnili-
ions Nv people in tnis great nation abridged,
Il not entirely taken from them
The colonel paused. lost in the mental con-
ter1oIa5ion of tee selhshress Of the SLOUGH =
no instincts OF gentleman about hum,
he continued, presently. "Au SLOUGH"
But why was he called the 'slouch'F 1ues-
toned Arthur Lemon ~ hardly understand
itn
zone Of the rnost potent respect bringers is
success said Pierce FanShaw, land many g
man on the border is stignatized a slouch
simply because he Is unfortunate. And be
was always on the losing side Of every occa-
SON.
The conversation ceased for q while, as tbs
fragment Of an orchestra, VITA great burst
tie elusive tuce.
II the meanwhile the shutting footsteps OF
the SLOUGH we're widening the distance be
tween himself and unappreciative Coyote
City. Bitterness ranked in his heart. and
- -, %ai
panorama, before him. He recalled the days
OF the long ago, when, full Of high hopes, ks
bad LEFT his eastern home to find In the west
the ell dorado Of prosperity, where fortunes
were to De hsd for the Easpilg. But for
turs had 10, cous 70 him: sU his many
cherished plans and plots had turned out
empty. fortuneleS bubbles, and. At last, al
most giving up tie struggle. &c had sunk,
sunk co become the SLOUGH" uameles-only
the SLOUGH
The beauties Of the prairie landscape were
unnosiced. as his half mechanical steps placed
mile after mile behind hin. he did Tot give
second glance to the paacid sea Of brown
grass that stretched away On every hand.
dere and there tie neutral hue Of the OCEAN
ot grass was biosohed By Q "oUus patch,
where. xaorn by IRE Of m matted coveries of
brown. tho earth was Gsen With ths swift:
rpr;nsing second crop. On Zach green oasis
tie nlides bed high carnival and called to
each osAar Il their queer, metallic, bali
r,1x:el vhccpk high above he treel-.
mound thas sprung 80 unexpectedly from the
prairse foor a buxRrd saised Ciose At hand
The Wild verbenas bioonad In protcSioo- and
and the smoiderinS fr. Of their crimson
blossoms shoas N brilliant contrast - the
brown maturity Of the graz But tha