Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-19

havior when they have come into. the city.
1t was therefore with a feeling of hesitancy
that we saddled our mule last Sunday
morning and set out for the majors. We
had proceeded as far as Turkey Bend, and
were communing with the spirit of nature
and loading our guns for business when
about thirty cowboys led by Bill Wheeler.
who has a standing offer of 800 for
either of our ears, suddenly broke cover
from the scrub half a mile away. We
were not looking for subscriptions among
that crowd, neitheS did we care to go into
any extended argument of the political sit
uation ON the Lords day. We decided to
return to town by the shortest route. For
about a mile the crowd was within shoot
ing range. We counted seventy-siX bull
lets which passed within speaking distance
of US. We finally began to gain and a
mile out of town we were mile ahead of
the gang. All stopped at the city limits,
while we came into town on a gentle canter,
and attended church service as usual We
haven't the slightest complaint to make
against the action of the cowboys 1t is
their business to kill us off if they can and
on the other hand we shall pepper every
one who shows his head in town. 1t was
rather surprise on us, but we think we
did the right thing in the right place
A DIsAPPoINTMENr.-TH KICKER no
longer has a horse editor. When the young
man who has been sporting that title came
along here four months ago, fresh from the
feminine east, he assured us that he felt
himself equal to any emergency. We
could offer him only seven dollars a week,
but he did not hesitate moment. All he
wanted was chance to work up We
have always been rather doubtful of him.
He didn't have the genuine western mo-
ton to his right arm in reaching back for
his gun He practiced two hours a day
for weeks and weeks but while he visibly
improved on the motion there was always
certain stiffness about the shoulder
muscles. He was an agreeable fellow
however, and his department was interest
ing to all readers, and we kept him along
and hoped that he might somehow squeeze
through.
tuesday morning what we had feared
came to pass. Our horse editor started
for Lone Tree to look at some fancy stock
On the way over he met half breed Joe
Briff, whom we once flung through the
alley window of this Office Joe rightly
looked upon him as our representative
and stopped him on the highway. We
should have perforated Joseph's carcass
exactly six times before he had uttered
two whoops, but our horse editor hadn't
got his hand back before he was covered
He was then made to dismount, and that
leather faced half breed, who hasn't got
two inches of spinal column, disarmed
him, spat in his face, rubbed sand in his
hair and made him sing and dance until
he fell exhausted. lie graciously permit
ted our representative 20 return to town
ut the end of an hour. but we did not know
him when he walked into the office. As
soon as he had told his story we mounted
our mule and few out to the spot hoping
to find the half breed lingering about. We
beat up the country for two miles around,
but he was not to be found
As stated above we have no horse editor
now. Upon returning to the office we told
the young man he must go. He seemed to
fully realize the situation himself, and
was already packing up. He was badly
broken up, and we felt sorry for him, and
we hereby wish to recommend him to any
paper east Of Kansas or Nebraska which
has a situation open. He is u capital
writer. but too slow on the draw for this
section In n community where the horse
editor defends himself with q club or brass
knuckles he'd be Invaluable. We shall
wipe ont the stain Us far rs possible by
shooting the half breed at the first oPpor-
tunity