The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-09-16
THE SLOUGH

grow smaller and smaller in the distance,
and then disappear over the crest Of the
s.rise,n mile away. Then congratulating
themselves upon having got rid of an unde
sirable citizen, the inhabitants of the little
border settlement turned AWAY and resumed
their wonted avocations. Coyote City's spasn
of virtue was over
Half an hour later the matter was being
discussed by group Of three around one of
the tables in the Jumbo saloon. Two Of the
trio were familiar with all of the details of
the affair." but the third member of the group
was full of curiosity. Col Anderson loved
the sound of his own voice. Pierce Fanshaw
rather preferred tho colonel's 'eloquence TO
: listening to the frantic attempts OF the frng-
ment of an orchestra to catch tune that had
already eluded them eleven separate and
distinct times. Mr.. Arthur Lemon of Boston,
who had come west with the intention Of
starting bank, and had already made quite
heavy deposit in the pocket of Pierce Fan
shaw, professional gambler, was desirous Of
adding to his somewhat limited stock of in
formation So the subject of the recent
stunning out" was thoroughly ventilated.
The colonel had been the self elected master
of ceremonies, and felt elated at tho success
ful manner in which the programme had been
executed "Ycs," he said, sit went Off beau
bfully, beautifully Nary hitch in the entire
performance"
"But why was he run outi" queried Mr.
Arthur Lemon
"W'yl Because IL Ind become necessary to
purge Coyote City Nv undesirable persons
Hhose who retarded instead Nv promoting its
prosperity, and whose presence instead Nv at
tracting immigration, repelled it"
But was be guilty of any crimei / sup
posed such summary evictions were for per
cons engaged in nefarisus practices"
$50 they air, an ~ ..~.
'Then why does the enforced emigration
stop when the 'slouch' is run outF'
"W'yi Because thar's nobody else that
needs runnin' out.n
at seems to me that there are still left sew
leral persons upon whom various crimes have
ibeen proven, as well as that there are yet re-
nnAining number of saloonists, pro- He
stopped suddenly, as Ii checked by the pres
ence of Pierce Fanshaw, professional gam.
blM.
sand professional gamblers" remarked
ahat gentleman pleasantly, completing tho
Aentence. III tell you, my dear fellow, willy
nFe are not run out, but are left to do our
sweet wills, while a more harmless person,
whose only offense was being 'trilling'
worthless, 'slouch,' was given two hours In
which to make himself scarce. The reason Is
20 be found in the ancient atage that might
makes right That makes US not offenders,
but influential citizens"
"Dut, good Heavens," exploded Col Ben.
derson, your eastern idees air almost start
nir', Lemonl Might as well talk NV runnin'
me out ms to speak of these yere gents
'."And Col Henderson could not be readily
spared" interrupted Pierce Fanshnw's cool
voice. "The colonel is a boomer of the drst
magnitude, and talks boom and Coyote City's
prosperity from morning TIL night.n
Col Henderson leaned back In his chair
and expanded his chest, llke o man well
aware of his own merit.
pThanks, Pierce, a thousand thanltA You
DO me mighty proud Jiin'-to a waiter
r'the best in the house for my friends an
sefn
IL Mr. Arthur Lemon, tho ''tendcrfoot n
detected any sarcasm In Fanshaw's laudation
of Col Henderson, he held his peace. Nor
did he make any comment when Fenshnw's
soft voice said, almost cooingly:
observe how the waiter flies to execute
fhe commission. The colonel Is ono of tho
Jumbo's most valued patrons, far, far differ
eut from the SLOUGH, who never treated or
wns treated"
''That's fact" agreed Col. henderson.
fsfhere was nothing Nv the gentleman about
him- He possessed so little refinement thnt,
when once invited him to Join me, he not
only declined, but added insult to the refusal
by saying that he not only did not drink but
wished every drop Of the accIIrsel stuff wns
banished from tho land Thens his very
words. Not only refused to enjoy himself,
but wanted the personal liberties Nv the mill
ions NV people in this great nation abridged,
II not entirely taken from them"
Tho colonel paused lost in tho mental con-
temptation of the selflshness of tho 'slouch." +"
No instincts Of gentleman about him."
he continued, presently. aAn slouch."
"But why was he called tho 'slouch'r' cues
toned Arthur Lemon. 81 hardly understand
It"
"one Of the most potent respect bringers ia
success" said Pierce Fanshnw, "nnd many a
man on tho border Is stigmatized as a slouch
simply because he is unfortunate. And he
was always on the losing side of every occa-
eionn
The conversation ceased for while, as the
fragment Of an orchestra, with great burst
of triumphant sound, overlook and captured
the elusive tune.
In the meanwhile the shuffling footsteps Of
the ''slouch" were widening the distance be-
tween himself and unnpprectative Coyote
City. Bitterness ranliled in his heart, and
panorama, before him. He recalled the days
OF the long ago, when, full of high hopes, he
had left his eastern home to find In the west
the el dorado of prosperity, where fortunes
were to be had for the G asping. But for
tune had not come to him; oil his many
cherished plans and plots had turned out
empty, fortuneless bubbles, and, at last, al
most giving up tho struggle, he had sunk.
sunk to become tho "slouch,n nameless-only
the 'sslouch.n
The beauties Of the prairie landscape were
pnnoticed, as his half mechanical steps placed
mile after mile behind him. He did not give
. second glance to the PLACID sea Of brown
grass that stretched away on every hand.
Here and there the neutral hue of the ocean
of grass was blotched by "burLt patch" !"
where, shorn by fire of its matted coverlet Of
brown, the earth was green with tho swift
springing second crop. On each green oasis
the killdses held high carnival and called to
each other In their queer, metallic half
musical whoopa High above tho treeless
mound that sprung so unexpectedly from the