The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-04-26
"SMALL SHAKES"
An Episode Of Hitter Root Isar.
Br WILLIAM q. rArrEN.


a strange name, indeed, but that
was what they called him in Bitter
Root Bar. He was II small, insignili-
rant-loosing fellow. with sloping
shoulders, and hands aud feet as small
as a awoman's. Ills skin was nut-brown
and his hair short and curling His
face was rather pretty for boys dcs-
pitc the fact that il always seemed
dirty. But dirt didn't count in Bitter
Root Bar. II took sand there to win
anything like respect, aud tho trcm-
bling boy was sadly deficient in that
respect, for he appeared to he IL
vcritablc coward
II was Crook Noscl Tobic who first
called the little fellow Small Shakes,
and as tho boy gave no name, he was
known by the appcllaton given him by
the acknowledged chief of the camp.
The boy had suddenly appeared in
Bitter Root, coming from none know
where. llc stopped at tho hotel, and
seemed to have enough money to pro-
vide for his immcilat. needs IL wits
the universal opinion that he was some
runaway lad who had come west to sec
the sights. and possibly with tho idea
of becoming acowhoy or, perhaps. ;u
Indian fighter.
He flc1urntctl tho saloons of the
camp, and Iii, sharp blue ewes seem to
search the face of every one with a.
keen. inguirilg look. But he w;s
afraid nj a row, and would COVER an,
tlrmbla before "a revolver. To the
rough men Of Bitter Root, that showed
what he was. Following Cluok-Noscd
Iobe's lead, they soon learned to take
delight in teasing and terrifying the
little fellow. II was touching
sometimes, to hear his pleading
words. but the rough fellows
seemed to consider il IL huge joke.
They had no idea in hurting the boy,
and. therefore, could see no harm in
terrifying him a little.
Crookcd-Noscd Tobr and his ~anm
had for some time managcd--or mis-
managed things in Bitter Root to suit
themselves. There were citizens in
The camp who cordially dctrstc;l the
big tough and his followers. yet they
lacked the courage to make an nre:,n-
lied attempt to run them out of the
ramp. The entire gang lived without
work. and it is said that they per-
pctl1ltcd nine ont of ten of tho frequent
robbcrics which occurred in Bitter Root.
The law abiding citizens were ready to
rise up and call him blessed who would
wade in and 'wipc ont the gang.
Small Shakes had not been in camp
long before Cmoli-Noscd robc at
tempted to force the hoy to drink IL
glass of liquor Tobc expected an
easy job. and fully intended to fill the
lad up with vile liquor. until lie be-
came drunk. But he failed.
For a time, Small Shakes begged
pitcously, but at the mlzzlc of !, cooked
revolver, Tobc marched the boy up to
the bar.
whisky stnai4rhL b:.rkecp.," }" ordered
the tough.
The scrvile liquor Singer smiled APP
pc;,Singly, ani hastcncd to set out the
miserable stuff.
'liyar. yc trrmbln little rat" roarcd
Tobc, as he held the glass toward the
boy: "gct out-si'lc o thct to onct!'
~, sir, ] can't! | can't" sobbcd
the little fellow. cl;.>piny his hands
plcadingly.
"iou will!' Numbered tho tough.
with an oath "Ef yc don't drink it, I'll
turn it down yer throat~
The boy took the liquor. and the
next moment il wa; dashed. wlass and
all in Tobc's fare. By the time Toln
could wipe The liquor on, of his cyrs.
Small Shakes WIS disappearing through
the door. The aiil"d and infIria,co
ilfIian tnoia snap shot III the vanishing
form, hut mltlca clean miss.
Then how the tough tore round and
sw"rc 10 have Small Shakes blood or
make him drink IL gallon of whisky.
R',t for some time after that the boy
avoided the chief Of the camp.
One night, Small Slnakcs entered a
saloon just in time to SEQ one man with
his back to the wall doing battle with
(rook-Nnsc,l robc, and nearly his Gu
tire gang. just one look did the boy
take at the Strangers face, then he
uttered Il wild cry and sprlng for
ward
Selling Il chair, Small Shakes plung-
cd into tn" thickc,t OF The melee In I'm
instant, Tobr was knocked down, and
scizing his revolver, the boy opened
"n the gang. The man against the
wall at once assumed the offensive, aud
one of the most desperate battles in
the history of the camp cnSucd. Three
times wa> the boy knocked down, but
every time he came up again. Crook
No$cd Tobc had recovered from the
blow with the chair, and now urged on
his satellites. But IL bullet from the
mans revolver finally stretched the
milan on the floor, and that ended the
battle.
When tho victory was Il decided
thing, the hoy sauk to the floor, family
gaspin@:
go, Hugh! don't You know mc?''
The man uttered II cry of ama2cmcnt
as he quickly knclt beside Small
Shakes, whose voice in that one faint
cry had revealed that shc was il wo-
man.
a;rcnt heavens. Dora, my wife. is
this yonf'
"ir-. Hugh, WIS the reply, as he
lifted her in hi. arms 81 have been
hunting everywhere for You and have
found you at last lost track of YOU
at Jnspa City. but fcl, sure yon were
coming hclc and that | should find
YOU
''5ui what does this mean? Why
are you dressed like ,hi>o and how
came you hcrc?'
"Ah. Hugh" she murmrcd. joyous
ly. "Wc are rich at last, and yon
need no longer search for the fortune
which you -wOlr you would obtain ere
You returned. My Aun, Dora, for
whom ! was named. is dead aud has