The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-05-25


bring an atmosphere none the less iovial and good
humored for being sometimes a little lawless.
Cowboys appeared in Hastings that afternoon.
But this time their coming not as usual.
They didn't gallop gayly in, leap carelessly off
their mustangs and stride into the nearest saloon.
They trotted to town i'm groups and with bust
ness like air about them They were non-com-
initial when questioned, and merely nodded
carelessly to chance acquaintance. They didn't
drink much. They hung around the corners,
fingered their belts and appeared restless suspicious
and determined
"Somehow the coming of the cowboys, peaceful
though it was, strangely electrified the town that
night. Hastings seemed all at once to awake as If
from sleep. The streets filled after supper. Men,
women and children paced up and down, seemingly
only to enjoy the evening. They chatted about all
sorts of current gossip, but wore nevertheless a
nervous expectant air that strangely affected me.
got nervous myself without knowing why. l
threw away cigarettes, bought some black cigars,
and took TO walking. Around the saloons were
gathered crowds of men. They were citizens and
many OF the best men of the town were among
them. Some of them wore anxious faces. mixed
in the crowds and listened 1t was only common
place talk that | heard. The cowboys, whose
numbers were perceptibly increasing still had
nothing TO say. They began to drink as night
came on and a few amused themselves by going to
the outskirts of the town and shooting at pretty
near everything that came along. There was little
or no disorder. In fact there only the crowds,
and the commonplace talk and the cowboys, and
that mysterious atmosphere. BY eleven O'clock
there must have been three hundred strangers in
town, every one in a flannel shirt and a sombrero.
AT midnight the streets began to clear, and an
hour later only few groups were seen around the
saloons. There was unusual noise except an
occasional drunken brawl. But that strange sense
OF uneasness eontinued to pervade the air. | met
the sheriff as | wandered home about o'clock.
"'Do you smell it?' he asked
"'Smell whats?
"'The blood in the air. said he, with a laugh,
Tve smelled it BEFORE and know the odor'
"When got out next morning it was with a
laugh at my own nervousness of the preceding
night. Two hours before court began the entrance
TO the court house besieged by cowboys.
They formed a compact crowd, and when the doors
were thrown open broke into the court room fill
ing it to overlooking. The citizens of Hastings
who wanted to attend the trial arrived later and
had to hear proceedings from the hallway or not to
hear them at all.
81 had seat within the railing commanding
view of court and spectators. The spectators
interested me more than the court. The faces were
all rough, all bearded, all bronzed with sun and
weather. all strong in feature all SILENT all intent
all watchful, all determined. AS looked at them
the same old feeling of the night before came over
me in redoubled force. / felt as though | were in
the presence of some mysterious, intangible evil.
"Did you ever see western constable? He is
long, broad, lean and muscular. He has hand
like small ham in size and color, and seemingly
made of sinews His neck is long, and brown as
bark. His face is lean, and his eyes have shaggy
brows. He stands on one foot, with the opposite
hand on his hip lingering a seven shooter. He is
loose jointed and shows the strength of horse
AS looked over that crowd of long haired, serious
faced cowboys noticed at least score of constabes
scattered among them. Their eyes sparkled expect
antly, and they kept furtively looking about on
every side. Near the door / saw the sheriff. They
say he can pull gun quicker than any man in
Nebraska. His heavy jaws were shut tight even
for him, and his right hand rested upon his belt.
81 drew wavering breath of excitement. There
was something in the faces of every one of these
rough cowboys that made me almost tremble
There was a suggestion of tension in the faces of
the constables that alarmed me. / could hear my
heart beat, and knew my breath caught, yet
saw no cause of alarm. l looked at the Judge and