The Indianapolis journal., 1890-05-20
srEyE.s REcKLEssNEss.
Cowboy Whose Anxiety to Please and Dense
Ignorance of Poker Proved Fatal.

Cowboy Whose Anxiety to Please and Dense
Ignorance of Poker Proved Fatal.
Dan QuiD, in Kansas City Star.
Yes" said the old cattle man. as he took
off his sombrero and gazed meditatively at
the rattlesnake band which environed the
crown, "cow -punchers are mighty queer
people. They need watchin' an herdin'
nearly as much as cattle. l knowed one
Turkey Track ranch. in Texas. as merited
heap Of lookin' after. This yere Steven
son wasn't exactly onery, but bein' nat
urally restless an peevish, with disposi,
tion to be emphatic whenever he was film
OF himself up, keepin' your eye on him was
a good safe play. He was public sperited,
too, in bis way, an sometimes took lots OF
pains to please people.
Il minds once when we was bringin' up Q
beef herd from the Panhandle country.
We was up agin the south bank of the Ar.
kansaw tryin' to throw the herd across.
There was a bridge there, but we allowed
1t was plenty weak, so we was maxim the
herd wade. Steve was posted at the
entrance Of the bridge to turn back any
an cross that away. Thar he was, settin'
on bis bronco an both mighty near asleep.
Some women people-towerists reckon
as was camped in town. came over on the
close s up to Steve an ieanin' of their
yonng Eastern chins on the top rail look
in down.
81 don't regard this much says one
young woman. there amt no thrill into It,
Why ever don't they do something exoiuin'P
Steve sees the yonng woman is dis
pleased. an as he couldn't figger nuthln'
else out quick to entertain her, he gves a
who0p bangs his six-sh0Oter off into the
scenery. digs his spurs into the hoss an
shallow water below. The Jump was some
twenty feet and busted the pony's leg like
toothpicks besides breaking Steve's collar
bone an dispersin' Ct his features around
mighty free an frightful on account of his
s0rtcr lightin' on his face.
We'll, we shot the pony, an Steve rode
in the grub wagon four or five days recOop-
eratin' of himself. 1t was just the mercy
of hell that he didn't break his neck.
Whatever did you jump off forT asked
Steve when he was comm round.
"'Well to amoose that she short horn as
was oussin' u.s. says Steve. i wasn't
allowin' for her to 60 back to the States
malignin OF us cow men as low sperlted
none
steve got himself killed. q year after.
an struck out on the big trail where the
footprints all p'ints one way. He was over
on upper Red river gamblin' round with
the cowboys when he got creased.
Steve never oughter gambled none.
Hewas good cowboy-splendid roundup
hand--an' could do his days work with
rope or iron in brandin' pen with any
body; but comm right to cases he didn't
know any more about playin' poker than
about preachin'. Actually, he bet two pair
like there was no record of their bein'
beat. This yere, of course, led to frequent
poverty. but it didn't seem to teach Steve
n0thin'
the boys got hold of o tray full: Steve bein'
possessed of club flush. queen at the head.
That settled 1T. In two minutes he didn't
have even his blankets left.
After he went broke Steve histed In q
drink or two of nOse-paint an soured
around whole lot an just as tho tray-full
boy gets into his saddle, aimin to go out
to his camp. he comes along up, an halls
him..
"'Do you know says Steve. mighty
to bear it, but l can't, an Pin therefore
here to say as how you stole that pair of
kings as you made out your full hand an
completed my ruin. This benz troo. I'm
just goin to draw on you for that bric:.a-
brac lose. an looks to see you honor the
draft unmurmurinRly.'
"'Oh. you do. do your says the tray full
boy, mighty scornful. Well, you're heap
too sanguine: You. just send the draft
thrown out whole lot. Do you suppose
gives up the froots of q tray full-as hard a
hand to hold as that isf Well guess not;
not this roundup son.
Don't get fippant about this yere rob-
dered without bein' pestcred with ill-timed
gaiety. Now what / say is this: Either I
gets my stuff back, right here now, or our
succeedin' conversation will occur in the
smoke an thereupon Steve pulls his pistol
and takes hold of the tray full boys hoss
by the bride.
IF ANYTHING makes me more weary than
anotb-. says the tray full boy. it's gun
ply, an to avoid such exhibitions freely
returns your plpnder, but You and don't
play cards no more
go the boy gets down off his boss an
Steve thinkin' the debate is closed puts ;lp
his gun again. But he was heap too
hopeful for the next second; bang! goes the
tray full boys six-shooter, and the bullet
ketches Steve III the neck. 1t bothered his
breathin' to such limit that in two min
utes he quit tryjn' all together. an that
afternoon we had a nasty. but mighty sue
cessful funeral with his remainder.
81 don't reckon. says Gene Watkins,
who was range boss, there's no need of
havin' any trials or lawsuits about this
yere killin.' I've knowed Steve for a long
time. an liked HIM. but them views he
kept entertainin' as to the value of poker
hands leads straight to everlastin' life, an
this yere sorrowful episode don't surprise
nor stampede me none whatever. His
death should be q warnin' to us'"so