The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-01-14
A TENDERFOOT.

"Speakin-Of-tende said jim
Harden, as with critical air he packed
the tobacco in the bowl of his pipe, pre-
paratory TO relighting that article
''speakin of tenderfeet reminds me Of
one knowed Oncet, sence which time /
hev ben a whole lot more respective in
speakin of 'em.
Twas in the summer of 1s-. Twas
then workin fer Ole Harvey Skerrett,
who KEEP store an run ranch down at
Three Forks, in tn foothills.
Near Skerrett, bout two miles away,
Ole 81 Hendershott he'd ranch. He
likewise he'd bout tn purtiest an incest
darter tibet ever wore millinery, an 81,
he was proper proud Of her, you bet.
Moreovermore, all of US galoots round
Three Forks was up to our back hair in
love with her-plumb, tearin, wide
awake mashed, as I've heard say. But
1t didn't do none of us no good-least-
ways, only one of us. That war Perry
Roane, q young rancher from down tn
creek bout ten mile. Perry, he cut us
all out, 'thout half tryin, cause he was
a big, handsome cuss an well fixed, be-
sides havin been t school lots when q
kid. So he went in an winned-almost.
That is t say, he froze us out an KEEP
regular comp'ny with Hetty.
81 guess twas all settled that they
was { be hitched some time or other,
when bout May along come a Teller
from Boston with letter to Ole 81 from
some relation o. his'n, an jes' camped
right at Sis fer tn summer. He was
one of these here artist chumps-not q
real, genooine Photographer, but one Of
tn sort that carries a lot OF paper an
pencils an colors in little lead squirt
guns, an draws red, white an blue sun
sets, likewise funny lookin trees an
powders. He talked like a book an
called all tn boys Mister besides say
ing Beg parding' if he didn't hear what
We said first time.
''Sure 'nough. we guyed tn chap lots
at first, but Spenceley-that wuz tn
tenderfoot's name-was so doggoned
nice an pleasant an took joke so easy,
we all got { hkin him tiptop. All 'xcept
Perry Roane. He hated him lots soon's
he seen him. Cause why? Jest cause
Spenceley was under tn same roof with
Hetty, an he knowed that it might turn
ont kind of had fer him, specially as he
knowed right then-which nobody else
did-that Hetty want much stuck on
him, anyhow, an had only promised 6
marry him { please tn ole man. Ye see
Perry was a good deal of a bully, an
drank considerable, an then there was
an ole story bout his havin' skipped out
from tn states, leavin a wife that died q
little later. But this didn't cut no figge.
with 81. He had his eye on Perry's pile,
an was willin { take chances on maxim
Perry treat Hetty first rate, cause tn
ole man was q toler'ble dangerous cuss
himself.
well, tn artist Teller got & feelin
sort of soft on Hetty himself, an most
ev'ry day they'd go wanderin round tn
country, DRAWN, an fishin, an so on, an
in tn evenin when Perry come over {
set awhile he'd find Mister Artist there
in tn settin room, cool as q cucumbel
an polite as polite, him not KNOWN that
Perry had a first film on tn calico. Ar
Hetty, jest like any woman, 'njoyed il
all immense.
"But Perry wasn't tn chap t stand thi.
very long; so one mornin, happenin {
be at tn store an meetin Spenceley there
he walks up an says 6 him: See here
my pale faced an weak eyed consump
tive. Dye know whose toes you've beer
steppin onY
''Spenceley looked at him kind Of
queer, but said he didn't know as he'd
hurt anybody.
"'well,' says Perry, its my toes, and
it'll pay you t climb from under, fort
something draps on We. Dye know whs
has tn first claim on Miss Hendershotti
company Better find out and take car
of yourself And Perry started { 60 out
staggering, but tn artist says, rea
sharp, Mr.. Roane, wasn't aware that
was interfering with you. If am, how
ever, and You don't like it, I'm sorry; bu
Iwish you { understand that nyther yot
n,rany other rowdy can bluff me one bit
Dive understand?
PERRY turned like he'd ben kicked
II was tn first time we'd ever heerd hin
sassed and we was looking fer tn arts
Teller & get bruised a whole lot But b
wasn't-rot any. Perry looked at hin
swhole minute and seen there was M
scare there, SO he jest turned and walks
out, grumbfing and cursing.
Somebody hid, took shot at Spence
ley few nights later, but he neve
kicked none, only come up & tn store a
blowed hisself in fer forty-four Al
took shots at q mark ey'ry day-jes' fe
sport, he ser; but I kinder s'mised b
was 'xpectin Mister Roane an hind he
trouble In tn near foochur, which va
erect
some day not longer arter this som
galoot brung word thet tn Peaches Va
Children Cry to