Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-27

gure
hnce,
'rise," mile away. Then congratulating
themselves upon having got rid Of an unde-
Sirable citizen, the inhabitants of the little
border settlement turned away and resumed
their wonted avocations. Coyote City's spasm
Of virtue was over.
Half an hour later the matter was being
discussed by group of three around one of
the tables in the Jumbo saloon. Two Of the
trio were familiar with all of the details of
the affair, but the third member of the group
was full of curiosity. Col. Anderson loved
the sound Of his own voice. Pierce Fanshaw
rather preferred the coloners eloquence to
listening to the frantic attempts of the frag-
ment of an orchestra to catch tune that had
already eluded them eleven separate and
distinct times. Mr.. Arthur Lemon, of Boston,
who had come west with the intention Of
starting bank, and had already made quite
heavy deposit in the pocket of Pierce Fan
shaw, professional gambler, was DESTROYS OF
adding to his somewhat limited stock of in
formation. So the subject of the recent
''running out" was thoroughly ventilated.
The colonel had been the self elected master
Of ceremonies and felt elated at the success
full manner in which the programme had been
executed. 'Yes," he said. cit went off beau
tifully, beautifully! Nary hitch in the entire
performance"
"But why was he run out?" queried Mr..
Arthur Lemon.
."W'yi Because it had become necessary to
purge Coyote City Nv undesirable persons
those who retarded instead Nv promoting its
prosperity, and whose presence instead Nv at
tracing immigration, repealed it."
'But was he guilty of any crime! I 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 outa"
"W'ya Because thars nobody else that
needs runnin' out"
at 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, prob He
stopped suddenly, as If checked by the pres
ence Of Pierce Fanshaw, professional gam
bier.
"And professional gamblers" remarked
chat 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 more harmless person,
whose only ofense was being 'trifing,
worthless, a SLOUGH, was given two hours in
which to make himself scarce The reason is
to be found in the ancient adage that might
TI,o%,
but influential citizens"
But, good Heavens" exploded Col. Ben
derson, ''your eastern idees air almost start
lin, Lemon! Might as well talk Nv runnin'
me out as to speak of these yere gents
bein -
'And Col Henderson could not be readily
spared" interrupted Pierce Fanshaw's cool
voice. "The colonel is 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 his chest, like man well
aware of his own merit.
Thanks, Pierce, a thousand thanks. You
do me mighty proud. Jim"-to a waiter
''the best In the house for my friends an
self"
If Mr. Arthur Lemon, the 'stenderfoot, n
u6GGCu6u any SdTCdSLA LII L dllSu4WS lttuuhblOu
of Col. Henderson, he held his peace. Nor
| did he make any comment when Fanshaw's
soft voice said, almost cooingly:
"Observe how the waiter flies to execute
| the commission. The colonel is one Of the
| Jumbo's most valued patrons, far, far differ
emit from the SLOUGH, who never treated or
| was treated"
| "That's fact" agreed Col. henderson.
'There was nothing Nv the gentleman about
him. He possessed so little refinement that
when once invited him to join me, he not
only declined, but added insult to the refusal
by saying that he not only did not drink, but
wished every drop of the accursed stuff was
banished from the land. Them's his very
words. Not only refused to enjoy himself
but wanted the personal liberties Nv the mill
ions Nv people in this great nation abridged
If not entirely taken from them"
The colonel paused, lost in the mental con
emplation of the selfshness Of the ''slouch.
"No instincts of gentleman about him,
be continued, presently. "All SLOUGH"
''But why was he called the 'slouch'W ques
toned Arthur Lemon. 81 hardly understand
it."
zone of the most potent respect bringers Is
success" said Pierce Fanshaw, "and many 6
| L1du Ou tuo DOIucl ID l1eUlZcu Us Il SlOuCL
simply because he is unfortunate And hi
was always on the losing side of every occa
sion."
The conversation ceased for while, as thu
fragment Of an orchestra, with great burs
| Of triumphant sound, overlook and captured
the elusive tune.
In the meanwhile the shutting footsteps o.
The ''slouch" were widening the distance be
| I,
City. Bitterness ranked in his heart, anG
as he strobe along his life rose up, a menta
panorama, before him. He recalled the day
Of the long ago, when, full Of high hopes, h
had left his eastern home to find in the ives
the ell dorado Of prosperity, where fortune
were to be had for the grasping. But for
tune had not come to him; all his man,
cherished plans and plots had turned GU
empty, fortuneless bubbles, and, at last, al
most giving up the struggle, he had sunk
sunk to become the ''slouch, ~ nanaeless-
the 'sslouch."
The beauties Of the prairie landscape wer
unnoticed, as his half mechanical steps place.
mile after mile behind him. He did not Civ
second glance to the placid sea Of BROW
grass that stretched away on every hand
Here and there the neutral hue of the oceal
of grass was blotched by burnt patch,
where, shorn by fire of It's matted coverlet o
brown the earth was green with the swift
springing second crop. On each green oasi
the killdees held high carnival and called t
each other in their queer, metallic, hal
musical whoops. High above the treeles
mound that sprung SO unexpectedly from tn
prairie floor buzzard sailed. Close at ham
the wild verbenas bloomed in profusion, an
and the smoldering fire of their crimso
blossoms shone in brilliant contrast to tn
brown maturity of the grass. But th
'slouch," busy with his bitter and despond
ing thoughts, gave no heed to natures beau
ties.
The sun was just dropping from sight b.
hind the distant mound when the 'slouch
paused, just beyond the fence Of barbed wiz
that surrounded the homestead ''claim" c
some isolated settler.
'sMebbe he'll let me stay all night" mut