New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-27
d" OLD PLUG HAT"
A TEXAN TELLS A STORY WHICH HAS
DOUBLE SURPRISE

DOUBLE SURPRISE.
At one OF the social meetings held at clergyman ;
house recently an old Texan was guest. Although
advanced In years his figure tall. straight and
athletic and evidently he had been man OF acuoh
and adventure His hearty natural manner ana reauS
conversation soon made him fav0rte win all pres
cnt Some one In the company suggested that nc
might describe or tell story Of frontier He At the
reqnest his black eyes sparked. and with broad
smile which deepcncd scar In one OF his brohzed
cheeks he at once showed his readiness to comply.
said he: "Therc are good many stories to tell
about that kind Of life. and l hardly Know what 10
pick ont suitable for church folks; but perhaps you
might ike TO hear about 'Old Ping Hat young
Methodist minister who came ont our way nigh on to
thirty five years agol
Well about that time young slender chap came
10 our cattle ranch, which was something Ike forty
miles west Of san Antonio lie said he had stndled
for the ministry I'm Connecticut college. forget
which. had broken his health. wanted to rough II WIN
II, 10 sec IL be cOud get strong again was wllng 10
do anything for his keep. wond pay his way. His
pleasant frank way the boys at once: besides, he
was a novelty for us; we'd never seen much OF fuh
grown parsons 50 We made the yerlin' welcome gave
him his quarters and let him run hhsei pretty MUCH
rs he liked.
lie STAYED with us over year. and soon got
some color in his cheeks and straighter backbone
and heavier shoulders than he had when he came
All Of the boys liked him on account OF his piucky
way. He and became close friends. We taught
him 10 ride fcarlessly. manage a hriat and by his
own prnctice he could handle revolver surprisingly
we'll particularly a small. fancy he owned. one
Of his peculariics, which suppose came from his
priln Yankee training. used 10 anuSe Every sun
day he'd carefully fix himself up city fashion, ana
his shiny silk hat appeared odd among a score ana
more Of sOmbrcrOs. some one playfully nlcknamed
him Old Plug Hat and he was oftener called that
than anything else. lie never bored us with church
things. I've known him Ia pay his share for wiiskey
and tobacco promptly. though he could not b. in
duccd TO any. IL any OF us were SICK or hnrt
he was the kndest nurse yOn ever saw-SOne OF the
gang said It paid to be laid mp IA week SO as
to listen TO the interesting things he'd tell EN-
About three months before he left for his home,
two noted dcsperadoc,. part Mexican. part Indian
but really devil. made their appearance in our
region They were known as Black Mex and Big
Cactus: they had been long feared and hated border
terrors on account Of their cruel, cunning, blood
thirsty character. They knew every road pass and
secret hiding place in that part OF Texas, and had
robbed and murdered. acknowledgements to possess
charmed lives.
We and tho ranchmen near us felt rather gloomy
when found ont the wrctches had appeared In our
neghborhood. for realized that sooner or later
some Of our bands would muster less
You see those wcrnt railroad days down there then
as now and there were times when two OF
us had to ride errands to town. some OF the boys
would perhaps want TO take send their money in
for safe keeping. have IL mailed expressed to
their relatives besides. medicines and other special
supplies had 10 be ordered obtained. several good
fellows robbed and killed in the first six weeks
after they began their powl, was from camp.
How could we be he killed Well, when
his horse escaped and found his way back TO us,
blood scattered and rdcrless. IL was pretty strong
sort Of a telegram Another of our men had his
horse and pouch stolen. and left bound fast to a
tree "A dismal part of the trail. lie would have
died there made supper for wild beasts If
army mailcarrer I'D not accidentally him. Ii
got serious that called crowd together ard
held a sort Of council OF Mind you. there was
plenty there who would have openly faced both
Of the rasca but nobody wanted to recklessly into
ambush Lots Of plans were suggested 10
how might squelch capture the miscrcants, but
nothing seemed TO tit the without foolish risks.
"'old Plug Hat Low would you Hike to tackle 'eml7
half payfuy asked Of the company OF the young
par,on. who modeotly at in the meeting
To the surprise of the boys the youngster eagerly
and said
I'm Willingly take the chances and only
waiting to ask the privilege. I'll make tho next trip
to town alone, and II | meet with the scoundres
and they don't get the pull me, I'll guarantee to
wipe them out; so please make "a motion that I'm
to go
feler's feelings hurt by leaving him out of the talk.
mnde the motion. at once seconded II and urged
that the boy IL allowed TO try himself a> scout
III tell you as told them. don't believe In spirit
manifestations and inspirations and stun Of that SORT
but I've great faith In practical things t"t Eye
had o Learn by hard kno,k s. | had seen plenty
Of tough Indian lighting and border war before !
became II rsnclcro. ana know how to silc mp a goou
srout or safe officer While the youngSter was making
hs oncr n was plain TO that he had hit upon
some Ingenious scheme that only needed good iuck
tta.' |
Nns gave me good deal of imluence with the
boys. and rs seemed 'ntiSiied to RISK my chum;
WINS finally agreed that Plug Hat should 90 When
the meeting broke up | asked him what his plan was,
but he only laughed and said IF come back youh
The second morning aiterwald he started lie
picked ont good hor,c put on ms sunday clothes;
his saddle pouch and babe us goodbye. malnS most
Of MS feel pretty glum. Well. TO shorten the story
ping Hat lie dismountcd cOoly. sat down among It's
and began to eat. lie couldn't answer the thick
vollcy of questions given him. but after supper, In
a quiet. commonplace way, he told us about his ad'
venture ,
had turned out of Red stone Pas, TO cross quarter
mile lonely spot that led to an easy riding road lie
wa G1 way wa" prSns nc Mex om ONE side and
nIe Cactus from the other. or course they held him
and covered him with a revolver; Mex held another
nj his ear and made his dlsmount. lie then took all
Of the rcvolveis from his prisoner Lett ana sounded his
Then he made him Ill down few feet away and
proceeded to rifle the pouch. cactus kept the boy
covered. but the latter deprived of his belt
weapons aud would not lac likely to attempt a knife
attack upon his hrawny capiorS. even If he had
bowie vigilance relaxed. In OF these uncuardcd
seconds. off came the plughat ont of 1t flashed the
famous hort-bauel, and two Of the worst nends that
ever pescrod the southwest were out Of existence
Well We and the bows far and near. were mighty
proud OF Plug Hat. and Of the ranch owners
offered TO stake him high or take him In pards. lie
wouldn't stay. and he started North to preach.
" Did ever him again What his real
name ! YES, I've seen bin nearl every New Years
sincc I've settled North; rs for hi, name II he'll
quit scowllnc like hungry COmanchc and stop
shaking his head like balhy mustang I'll Introduce
you to him right nowi"