Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-06-20
OUR AWFUL FIGHTER.


Nebraska Correspondence n. Y. SUM-
II having become nOised about that
We were going to make a horseback
trip through u portion OF the cattle
country, various individuals madeap-
plications for situations. We needed
only n cook and a man to take charge
OF the baggage, but the applicants kept
coming, and the day before we left
chap appeared who introduced him
sell as Awful Davis.
Look u here, iellers." he began in n
business way, II want to be count sd
in on this. Indeed, it s slight on me
that you hadn't applied for my serv-
ices. You'd have been in purity
pickle to have gone without the under
signed"
When asked toexplain what peculiar
value his services might have to us, he
uttered long whistle of surprise and
replied:
"Well, you are innocents. and no
mistake. Who'sgoins to doyour fight
ing for your"
As the Indians were at peace, we
didn't expect any trouble.
"Oh YOU don't, Bless me. but what
dear, good little boys, lnjuns No
body said lnjuns. It's the white men
you've got to look out for. You're
going among the tuilest lot in the whole
world. They are right on the fight all
day and all night. Any one OF the
gang can turn himself loose and ham
mer Halifax out OF the whole five OF
you in ten minutes"
He wanted to 90 along to do our
fighting. He would furnish his own
mule and make the trip for a dollar u
day and his keeping. When asked if he
had any recommends, he put on an
injured air and answered:
"And YOU never heard OF Awful
Davis. Never heard OF the man who
has fit iiity-six fights and come out on
top every time. Purtend that you
ieller who fights standing, kneeling or
lying ON his back. This makes me
weary
We talked it over and finally engaged
him, and when informed OF the fact he
replied:
'Very well, gentlemen. From this
moment you are in my keeping. just
pint out the kuss you want pulver-
Ized, and I'll do the business. / shan I
put AIRY limit on you. I'm to fight
day or night, and to lick six men a
day. Ii you could bring about three
or four "a day for the next week
should feel Obliged, as my liver is a
leet lie torpid and want exercise"
During the first days ride we met
but lew people. One OF those was an
old Indian, lame in the left leg, and
Awful Davis halted the party and OBJ
served:
GENTS, did hear any OF you tell m,
tn lick this copper rsptile?"
| None OF us had told him so.
II beg your pardon, gents. ! want
you to understand that I'm allus on
hand. I'd like to git down and ham
mer him for the benefit OF my liver
but of course I'm under ORDERS
We had pitched camp and wers wait
ing for supper when cowboy rodeup
The greetings were friendly, and he got
down to have q bite with us. lie was
hardly on the ground before he saw
our awful fighter and uttered n humph
oi disgust.
What you got thar" he asked.
"lIe's our fighter
"Your fighter, Did you bring hin
along o fight anybody or anything
"He hired to us to do our fight ing
but he's had no show yet
well, III give him n show Com,
out q that, you cOwariiy kyote.
| .t.,l l,,l,.,,l . L..
baggage Herose up at thecommand
and the cowboy shouted at him:
''Sill Wheeson, ] know We, and low,
We one. Come out here and earn YOU
hire
"Is that you, Jim Phillips" queriet
our Awful, as he advanced step.
"Of course it's me. YOU yaller cul
from the bottom lands"
And you want to fight?'
II want to show these ere gent,
that you are the biggest liar and COW
ard in America. Come out here.
Gents. is it your wish that ! pro
JUICE IA funeral here" asked the Awful
as he turned to us; "shall | bang hi.
feechurs into one bloody mass-kil
him deader'n IL beef bone with on,
blow
We answered that it was.
'lIere--tie one hand behind me-ti,
both hands behind me-tie my feet o
gether, and I'll lick him them howle,
the cowboy.
Jim Phillips, you haven't got TIVE
minits to exist ~ solemnly announce,
the Awful. "Im comm fur ye like B.;
dozen cyclones billed into one, Lool
out. now
lie spit on his hands and steppe,
back, a. ii to get running start, AM
next thing We heard was the thump
thump' of his feet as he fled afar int
: the darkness. Some time during TIN
/ night he returned for his mule. Mex
morning We found the following ex
planation scrawled on u piece OF pape
and stuck into a split stick: "Seeze'
with STUDENT yillness-good bi."