The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-09-27
BEATEN At HIS OWN LITTLE
GAME.

BEATEN At HIS OwN LITTLE
GAME.
Hoes Old short. a Fasnows MtssissiJpt
Chasucter, Had Etsn srith a kemfMckias.
Old Short used to say that he had
met but one man is his life who got the
best of him, and he hugely enjoyed re-
..ating the story on himself after the
novelty of his experience had worn off,
says a writer in the st. Louis Globe
Democrat According to his account
Of the affair, a Kentucky horsetrader ar
rived at his house night with a
drove of horses, and by permission re-
NAMED all night. There were no white
persons on the place except Old Short
and his wife. Soon after supper the
good lady retired to her W room,
leaving host and guest in possession of
the parlor for the evening. 1t was not
long until Old Shorts brain had evol-
we'd a scheme whereby u vast amount of
amusement could be had at the Ken
tuckian's expense, and proceeded to put
it into execution. He began by asking
the stranger if he was fond of music,
adding that he had a "nigger fiddler"
who could pull q powerful bow" Ger
tainly the guest would be delighted to
hear him, and black Steve was sent for.
Several good old tunes were given in
excellent style, and then Old Short
asked the horsetrader if lie could dance.
"Too old for that now," said Ken
lucky.
20, I guess not" said Short; "you
are a mighty likely looking man, and I
have a great fancy to see you wing q
little. Play us something lively, Steve"
Steve quickened his motion and the
stranger looked surprised, but. again de-
murred.
Going to q sideboard, Old Short
pulled out o drawer. and. taking from
it a murderous looking pistol, he again
expressed an intense desire to see the
kentuckian wing" The latter recon-
ciled himself to fate and proceeded to
execute such pedal responses to Steve's
music as his memory could recall. He
o got tired, but renewed requests
from Old Short, still pistol in hand.
We're always honored, until, at the end
of a couple of hours, the host declared
the show ut an end, threw the pistol
back in its drawer, and stepped to the
porch for q drink of water. The Ken
tuckian's blood was up by this time, so
he went to the drawer and got the pis-
toll. He detected in a second that it
was not loaded, but saw ammunition in
the drawer. Hastily putting ON q brand
new percussion capt was an oldfash-
Toned pistol-he waited Shorts return.
When Old Short came in the Kentuck-
ian remarked that turn about was fair
play, and would Mr.. Short be kind
enough to favor him with q double
shuttle or two. The pistol was presented
OH refusal.
"Pshaw, that thing amt been loaded
in a year." said Short.
"That's right where you're mistaken"
said the guest. II loaded it while you
were out. Get out and wing, old man."
II looked at that man, said Old
Short years afterwards, "and I never
saw SO much HI in a mans face be-
fore. I glanced at the pistol and saw
the cap, and decided to humor him.
He made Steve play, hemade me wing
until the sun shone in the windows the
next morning. 1 thought I never saw
a man so fond of seeing other people
dance. My old bones ached as L tried
to do the feats of my youth, but still the
tiend was Unsuitable. Give us some.
thing livelier,' he would say to Steve,
and turning to me would request me to
timber up. that he never had SO much
fun in his life. He never let up on me
until his horse was saddled and his
drove ready to travel in the morning,
and then I was too tired to follow him.
That was a great night for a fact, but it
spoiled my taste for dancing"
Poor Old Short! The pines of his
native State are signing long since over
his grave, but his pranks and peculiar
tiles will be long remembered.
WILL REGRET III.
The ex-postmaster ut Ash Flat, .Ky,,
thus writes to President Harrison;
"You think you have done a big piece