The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-04-10
MATTER WORTH READING.


intJ uO uuttI Ill tuc Ntobs
said q cattleman in the lobby of the Mid
land. "I remember some four years ago
when Pete Burlison, then sheriff OF .Colfax
County, New Mexico, killed Drlscoll at
Springer. Driscoll was range boss of the
Triangle-Dot Company's ranch, which is
owned principally by Senator Dorsey, and
was enjoying himself In Springer In the
hilarious but unhealthy way peculiarly in
vogue with cow-punchcrs Finally, he con
cluded that little game OF draw was
what he needed most, and he aud Burlison
sat down In saloon in the harmless con-
test called freeze-out, where the risk AS
sumed by each was some $50.
"Most men didn't like to play with Dris-
coll when he was drinking, for though one
Of the most generous, honest and friendly
men that ever left Texas, he carried rs
restless a six-shooter ms up to that date had
borne the name OF Colt but Pete allowed
IL would be all right, so down they sat.
"well, sir, they hadn't played i've min
utes when each man jumped and pulled
his gun, but Pete's got to going frst,. and
Drscoll dropped OF coursewo all volun-
tarily felt a regret at losing a good citizen
like Driscoll but nobody could blame Pete.
Driscoll didn't die for day or two, an as
soon as he could talk he sent for some of
the best men IN town and told 'cm Pete
was all right and to let him go. This was
about the way we figured 1t ourselves, so
we did as Driscoll said. II was deplorable
accident, though"
~ remember another time" continued
the Same historian, "when Clay Allison was
charging around Lower California. Clay
was all right when he was sober, but the
minute he had drink In you couldn't call
Clay real good society for anybody. On
the occasion was thinkin' about the spring
roundup was workin' the Las Animas VAL
ley, and, being near town, a lot of the boys
had gone down to West Las Animas to get
drunk aud loosen the boards in the dance
hall floor. Well, Clay came round about
o o'clock in the evening, and came, yelling
into the dance hall, whirling his gun on his
fcrefnger like pin-wheel.
"'My nameis Clay Allison, an want
every son of a gun to take of his hat here,
he shouts
'Most of us pulled off our hats, and,
prompted by generous public sentiment,
started to laugh II of as joke, but up
gets man, sorter pale, but grum, and
allowed that all the Allisons that ever came
from Tennessee couldn't make him take
his hat of. We all stopped laughing an
stood back, an the signs seemed about
right for some one to quit this world Of
vain regret right thar. But Allison, after
looking him over second, says:
"'Well, take a drink with your hat on,
them
1--WE all got drink and Allison says:
"'Bowman, this yere small State an {
big enough for two such men as you an
me. Our trails are always crossin', an
one of us oughter moved a good while back.
Now I'll tell you how we'll fix 1t. Well
put our guns on the bar and get over to the
other side of the room. One of the boys
will give the word, an the man who gets
his gun first is goin' to play In big luck, an
| the other won't be near so numerous around
this dance.hall tomorrow raisin' disputes
and bad blood among good, quiet people.
"3owman said this figured out oil right
as proposition, and he'd go him.
"'But,' he continued, looking at Allison
sharp, don't come any derrlnger coat,
pocket racket after ! get my gun on the
bar. My mate here will mako It come
high II you do and he indicated dis
gruntled-lookipg cowboy who stood by
evidently in to see fair fight. =
"Be 'keerful OF the piano when you
shoot, boys,' said the dance-hall man, a.
i ne vacated the bar In Difference to rea
sonable fear Of stray bullets.
"The guns were put on the bar and the
duelists got over to the other side OF thu
| room and waited for the word.
! "'Go!' yelled some one, and, with tn,
| word, Bowman, made a jump like cat ant
| had both pistols before Allison got fairl,
started.
| "'How do you like the color of It p h,
| gritted, as he turned the muzzles on tn,
helpless Allison, and his forefnger
twitched and qufvered In murderous anticl
patton on the triggers.
"'You're the best man, Bowman sale
Allison, as he held up both hands.
"'Give me gun, some one,' yelled on
Of the girls In an ecstasy of rage and terror
Give me gun won't stand an see Cla,
Allison shot down like this.' And sh
tried get a pistol from the belt OF a by
stander.
"It's all right, JIM he said, as he hel,
her back; this is fair fight Clay mad
the game himself, and he mustn't kick II h
finds the ante little high
"'If didn't know ] was the best man,
said Bowman, and his eyes looked bad, ~,
drill you right now while it's my way, bu
Idon't like to kill man with his woma,
looking on. So wen quit right here, bu
don't come bulgin' round me no more
"'It'sa square deal all round, every on
Is satisfied, an the drinks is on the house,
said the barkeeper, as he came back to hi
post.
"That ended It. Mace Bowman after
ward was sheriff In New Mexico, an wa
always reckoned clean game. Allison ha
lone lots Of shootln' and had lots of fur
since, and is now running his ranch In th
Pecos Yailey."-[Kansas city Times.
Mice at women's Rights Meeting
A certain historical mouse is said to hay
been the means OF rescuing lion caugh
IN a snare. Hitherto the aforesaid nous
has been the only one OF his species who's
career was deemed worthy Of record.
will now, however, have to divide It
posthumous fame with two other mic,
whose names viii be handed down
posterity as having effectnally dispersed
meeting OF strong minded ladies--a fea
no sane man or men would have dared /
attempt. This notable incident occurre
at meeting Of the "Women's Suffrag
League,h held at the house OF lady Q
Southport. just when some fair oratC
nj.