Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-04-03
THE POP-EYED GALOOT.

rests Monthly.
THE POP-EYED GALOOT.
HOW Man From Arkansas Proved His
Claim to Be True.
cit was back in the sixties when I
first saw my desperado,'' said the doc
tor. "When he came into camp
didn't know whether he was bad man
or pretender in that line. He was
tall, angular, wiry and singularly un-
handsome. He wore suit of black
broadcloth and tall hat, and was
| scrupulously neat in the matters oil
linen and personal appearance. The
| right leg of his trousers was tucked
into his boot, and the left leg was out
side in proper style. In his right boot
he carried an enormous bowie knife,
and you could see by the set of his
frock coat over his hip that he packed
gum
''He spoke slowly and deliberately,
and was punctiliously polite. His long
drawl heightened the effect of his
ceremonious courtesy, and at the same
time proclaimed him a Southerner.
he seldom swore and never drank,
and his only small vice was smoking.
He occasionally referred to himself as
'pop-eyed galoot from Arkansaw,'
and he was
"Although my gentleman in broad
cloth was pOliteness persOnifed. he
was very aggressive and quick to take
offense. If he heard anybody making
bluff about fighting he couldn't keep
his tongue still, but came right to the
front with an offer to fight any how,
any where and at any time. Toward
quiet and peaceable men he was grave
ly courteous and never in the least
aggressive, but if a fighting man
showed up Gibbons was uneasy until
he had driven the fellow out of camp.
'Of course he had to prove his
claims as fighter before he had beer
in camp very long. One evening big
fellow, bristling with deadly weapons
staggered into the saloon and ordered
all hands up to the bar Every body re-
sponded except Gibbons, who remained
seated and paid no attention to the
fellow. When the stranger turned
about and said: Come up here, Pop
eye, and take your medicine! Glib.
bons answered with grave politeness
L am much obliged to you, sir, but !
never drink
''After all had taken their drink anc
walked away, Gibbons stepped up and
said to the barkeeper: Give me E
cigar The stranger turned upon him
and said: Hang you, I didn't ask you
to have cigar
Hang you, SIR rejoined Gibbons,
L didn't ask you to pay for my cigar
And, sir, don't you talk to me in that
way Or will cut your head off, SIR
"'Start right in said the stranger.
I've got tough neck to cut But be-
fore he could draw a weapon my bad
man in broadcloth seized him by the
hair, bent his head back, whipped out
the big bowie and made two lightning
slashes at the fellows throat. The
point of the knife just cut the skin
enough to draw the blood at each
stroke.
Letting go his hold, Gibbons
drawled: i've pretty good knife for
cutting, stranger and walked away,
supremacy contep,ptuous OF the fellow,
who sneuked out of camp.
The last time I saw Gibbons he was
just getting over a little fracas with
Mexican. The greaser was a noted
knife fighter and his presence in the
camp made Gibbons uneasy, but no
chance for picking a quarrel occurred.
One day Gibbons, who could endure it
no longer, met the Mexican and DO
litely asked him il he was heeled. The
man replied that he was not. Very
we'll, them said Gibbons, go and get
your knife, because intend to kill you,
sir, the next time I have the pleasure
of meeting YOU.
'They met within an hour. Glib
bons received thirteen wounds, all on
the left side, and ono thrust was in his
throat, the Mexican's blade going
clear through his neck. The Mexican
was killed. From California Stories
Two old gentlemen were compli-
menting each other on their habits OF
temperance. .'Did you ever, neigh
bor,n said one, ''see me with more
than could carryp' '.No, indeed"
WAS the ranlv tsnnt Rut r have