Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-11-12


soon hunt me up.
"On my way down 70 the editorial
rooms after dinner, Peter waylaid mo.
Me fadder broke his leg In de foundry.
he began, an me muddcr sent me fer
de doctor who said me ladders leg
could rot before he'd touch II less he
bad five plunks down In advance--de
snoozerl SO ups AMI shoves de Lar-
ness wild me uncle AM wild wot yer
staked me. raised dc five; seeP An
so Tn broke. bcin' good boy nm
lovin' me mudder.'
Thereupon Peter wept plentIfully,
being excited with his efforts Of imagi-
nation and lack Of dinner.
Then took my potential scoop to
cotfee-house-n bun-ioint IN his
slang--and fed him. In tho hoDesty
begotten Of full stomach and con-
tented mind. Pete coniided to me that
he had mo fadder. nor mudder. nor
brudder. nor nothin',' but lived In tho
place Of his side-pardner."
"Pete's side-partner, he explained,
was Glasgow Jack. the keeper of u
slogging den-a kind of place. Tommy.
which hourished In this community
before the promotion Of slogging was
made the vocation OF the male two
hundred.
Glasgow Jacks, being an all-pight
place. was frequented In the early
hours of the morning by men who. hav-
ing the drear prospect Of another day
close at hand. sought TO ameliorato
their conditions by that forgetfulness
which comes from an early glance ut a
morning paper.
Pete, In exchange for the privilege
OF sleeping on the mattress used for
wrestling matches. brought the earliest
papers to Glasgow Jacks. thereby
holding jacks customers. TO the profit
Of the bar. II seemed fair bargain,
as Pete explained IL. but the chances
for n scoop were not improving.
"I'o make sure OF my game. agreed
with Pete to stake him Ia the press
room as soon as the paper was OIL, and
we parted.
That night / went down to the
press-room on the elevator with the
last plate, aud there was Pete fighting
with science anu success to maintain
his place Mt the head of tho line OF
waiting newsboys, all anxious to get
bundles for the all-night places. where
two bits is often picked up for an early
paper.
1T was too dark to follow Pete. so l
told him had a notion TO meet his
'side-pardner.' and hurried along with
him to Glasgow jacks.
lit was the usual place-you re-
member tho type, DUMP A base
ment square ring in one end; some
dumb-bells and Indian clubs scattered
about; a pool table. with leaden
a half dozen beery card
tables; n bar. aud n patronage Of pugs,
low FOUNDERS. and dreamy young men
who fancied they were seeing life by
II.
''Pete's advent woke up the place.
My very considerable knowledge Of
what the paper contained = had
watched the make-up-had given me
no impression that all our news per-
tanned TO fights and tigh;ers. racers and
racing. murders aud murderers. The
crowd there found nothing else in tho
paper and was soon expressing its in
tercst in those phases OF life by animat-
ed discussions of them over the most
whisky. took n glass of
1t with Glasgow Jack. who treated me
with that considerate-shall | say fra
ternalp-kindness our profession ever
receives from his.
Jack laughed when asked him
n bout Pete. I'm kinder stuck on der
kid said Jack; 'dere's no flies on lin.
an I'm goin' to do der right thing by
him. was thinkin' 1t would be- der
proper game to give der kid some
schoolin'. He kinder takes TO literary
ways-selling poipers. and that. I'm
doin' pretty well. an au't got nobody
wild string OF me sack; so / was
thinkin' nebbe could send der kid 10
one of der schools in der country.
where he'd get away from dis gang
and brace mp little. and be n lawyer.
or somethin'. He's kinder got ter me.
ys see. aud I'm sorter soft on der kid
IL knew Glasgow Jack to be the
toughest character in the city. but Just
the way all the villainy went ont Of his
wicked eyes whep he spoke of Pete has
secured him graceful epithph-if !
have the pleasure Of knowing Of his
death.
There must have been somo very
exciting sporting news that nigst, for
the crowd became noisy aud drunk in
discussing il.
1T was such a nasty outfit that
should have left before Pete returned,
but ! bad resolved to see him through
one day. When hes did return. his
papers all cold. Jack motioDed him &c
come over 70 MS. but a couple Of men al
nD adjoining table stopped the BOY and
one Of them offered bin a drink o.
whisky Jack called out: Let 20
nowl You know doD't want Pete Of
fered any drink
The man laughed in an ugly way
and replied; You are getting too
pious, Jack. II the kids yours WIN
don't you say 30. II be ant. don't b'
So funny about him. The man, by |
quick grip. opened Peie's mouth an'
threw some whisky in it.
Jack spraDg at him and hit him be
fore be could rise. The mans pisto
was whipped out. and he pulled with 1
dead drop on Jack; but just as III
pulled Pete jumped in between then
and took the ball in his head.
Every one was silent und motion
less for several seconds. as Jack caugh
poor little Pete anh laid him down
with woman's gentleness. on the saw
dust floor.
Suddenly. with lightning swiftness
Jack pulled aud shot. The man fel
backward; Jack stood over the body
aud with horrible calmness emptiec
tue revolver into the mans face.
ii was kneeling by Pete's side wbeI
his eyes opened. lie whispered some
thing and put my ear 10 his lips
When yer write il up he murmured
be sure an say me side-pardner Deye
pulled his gun Til after de odder fellel
had dc drop on linz. W. IOUn
send f9 San Francisco Ar0Ouattk