Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-07-05
STEB'S FoRTXfhIRD.
How He Licked a Desperate Prisoner
 nf IIts Ronts

 How He Licked a Desperate Prisoner Out
 of His Boots.
 My father was sheriff of Q certain county in Kansas about twenty year: ago, and during a certain summer ws received on a sentence of six months a very tough fellow named Joe Williams. He had been sentenced for attempted ho-se-stealing, and my father knew that sharp watch must be kept over him or ne would take French leave.
 Joe had put in about two weeks on his term when my mother started off on a visit, was hurt en route, and father had to go to her. His first deputy and as- sistant jailer was man of fifty, name/ Stebbins, who was his cousin. ''Ste o" was peppery old chap and great brag and liar. According to his statements he had licked more men, killed more In- dians, run down more horse-thieveS and helped lynch more desperadoes than any other man living. Father cautioned hiE over and over about watching Williams, who was the only prisoner we had, and 'Steb'' sturdily replied:
 ''You go right along and rest easy, Henry. If l was fool huff to let him git away I'd expect to be shot and throwed to the gophers."
 Father had scarcely gone when Will lams began calling, and I went into the corridor with the old man to sec what was wanted. l was only ten years old, but l can vividly recall every thing. The jail was made of rough stone, and Sne-half of it was the sheriff's residence. The jail part was only one big room, with plain but stout iron-grated door leading into the corridor. As the weather was warm, both corridor doors were open. When we looked in on Joe he said:
 ''See here, Steb, hear you are brag- ging good deal about how how many men you have put on their backs"
 There's no brag about it," replied the old man. ''I never found a human couldn't lay down in five minutes"
 That's all wind, and you know it." retorted Joe. ''You ought to be ashamed of your jaw"
 "Who you talking to?"
 ''To you, you old wind bag! You talk of wrestling! Why, kin grease the floor with your carcass.''
 Don't get my dander up," warned Steb in tremulous voice, 'or I'll trounce you.'
 ''Trounce me! Say, old blowhard, l kin lather you with one hand tied be- hind me! If could only git at you I'd make you holler in one roundl"
 ''Shet up!'
 'I won't, and you ain't big 'n1ff to make mel"
 'Yes, am.'
 You're liar!"
 ''Take that back!"
 ''Neveri"
 ''Take that back or I'D come in and make pulp of you!''
 You dasn't! I'll dare ye to come in and pint finger at me!'
 Some more of the sort followed, and Steb got the idea that he must enforce his authority or suffer loss of prestige. He was the older, but alsJ the bigger man, and he kept getting mad until he finally peeled off his coat, unlocked the door and lodged in. He made for Will Jams, but the latter ducked under his krm, upset me at the door, and was of like shot, and before pursuit could be organized he was beyond reach. Old Steb stood in the back door and watched him for fully five minutes before saying a word. Then I heard him growi:
 ''Consarn him for skipping out, but I've got the consolation of knowing that he's the forty-third man I've licked outer his boots in the last five years!"- N Y Sun