, 1889-03-02
A POP EYED wesTERNER.


AiNayh tAmc TO lime
The same old coterie of fb ex-
changers were assembled around the
corner table at "Del's" Saturday night
when the doctor dropped in. Asking
for a light, of the boys pulled out
n silver match box in the shape of a
miniature revolver. This reminded
the doc of n story OF his mining days,
and forthwith he was besieged to tell
it for the benefit OF the younger mem
bers who had not learned the Nun
chausen abilities of the narrator be-
fore.
1T was back in the sixties when 1
first saw my desperate" said the doc
tor, When he came into camp i
didn't know whether he was a bad
man or a ~pretender in that line. He
was tall, angular, wiry and singu-
larly unhandsome. He wore a suit of
black broadcloth and a tall
hat, and was scrupulously neat
in tho matters Of 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
a gun.
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 south
erner. He seldom swore and never
drank, and his only small vice was
smoking. He occasionally referred to
himself as a pop eyed galoot from
Arkansaw,' and he was.
Although my gentleman in broad
cloth was politeness p~ersonified, he
was very aggressive and quick TO take
olfcnse. II he heard anybody making
a bluff about fighting he couldn't keep
his tongue still, but came right to the
front with an offer TO fight any how,
anywhere and at any time. Toward
quiet and %peaceable men he was
gravcly 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 rs q fighter before no had been
in camp very long. One evening a
big fellow, bristling with deadly wea-
ponls, staggered into the saloon and
VI ~ sNlA llAillAlS UP " lilb DlF.
Every body responded except Gibbons,
who remained seated and paid no
attention 10 the fellow. When the
stranger turned about and said: Come
mp here, pop eye, and take your medi-
cine. Gibbons answered, with grave
p%uItcneSs, I am much Obliged TO you
sir, but ] W drink
After all had taken their drinks
and walked away, Gibbons stepped up
and said 10 the %barkeeper: Give me
a cigar. The stranger turned upon
him and said; On you, | didn't ask
you TO have n cigar
"'D-n you, sir rcjoined Gibbons,
! didn't ask you to pay for my cigar.
And, d-n you, sir, don't you talk to
mo in that way or | will cut your
head off, sir
Start right in said the stranger.
I've got n tough neck TO cut. But be-
fore he could draw n weapon my bad
man In broadcloth seized him by the
hair bent his head back, whipped out
the big bowie and made two lightning
slashcs at tho fellows throat. The
point of the knife just cut tho skin
enough TO draw blood at each stroke.
Letting. go his hold, Gibbons
drawled, I've pretty good knife for
cutting, stranger and walked away,
supremacy contomptuous of tho fell
low, who sneaked out Of camp.
The last time | saw Gibbons he
was just getting over a little fracas
with n Mexican. The greaser was a
noted knife fighter and his presence
i'll 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
politely asked him if no was heeled.
The man replied that he was not.
Very well, said Gibbons, go and get
your knife, because / intend TO kill
you, sir, the next time l have the
pleasure of meeting you
They met within an hour. Glib
bons received thirteen wounds, all on
the left side. and one thrust was in his
throat, the Mexican's blade going
clear through his neck. The Mexican
was killed"
Doc" drawlcd Longbow, guess
we'd better have u little beef, iron and
vino after that New York Star.