The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-23
A TENDERFOOT.

"OPooAu- OA-CouuoIIo0C, 081O 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 q whole lot more respective in
speakin Of 'em.
'''Twas in the summer of 49,. Twas
then workin fer Ole Harvey Skerrett,
fwho 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 thet 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
it didn't do none Of us no good-least-
ways, only one Of us. That war Perry
Roane, q young rancher from down til
creek bout ten mile. Perry, he cut us
all out. thout half tryin. cause he was
. big, handsome cuss an we'll fixed, be-
sides havin been T. school lots when q
hid. So he wentin an winned-almost.
That is t say, he froze us out an KEEP
regular comply with Hetty.
II guess twas all settled that they
was t be hitched some time or other,
when bout May along come 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
ono Of these here artist chumps-not a
real, genooine Photographer, but one Of
til sort that carries a lot of paper an
pencils an colors in little lead squirt
, guns. an draws red, white an blue sum
sets, likewise funny lookin trees an
powders. He talked like q book an
called all tn boys Mister besides say
} ing Beg parding' II he didn't hear what
ye 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 t ikin him tiptop. All kept
Perry Roane He hated him lots soon's
he seen him. Cause why2 Jest cause
Spenceley was under tn same roof with
Hetty. an he knowed that it might turn
out kind Of bad fer him. specially as he
knowed right then-which nobody else
did-that Hetty want much stuck on
him, anyhow. an had only promised t.
marry him t please tn ole man. Ye see
Perry was q good deal Of a bully, an
drank considerable. an then there was
an ole story bout his havin' skipped out
from tn states. leavin wife that died a
little later. But this didn't cut no figger
with 81. He had his eye on Perry's pile,
an was willin t take chances on maxim
Perry treat Hetty first rate. cause tn
ole man was toler'ble dangerous cuss
himself
"Well. tn artist Teller got t feelin
sort of soft on Hetty himself. an most
ev'ry day they'd 60 wanderin round tn
country. DRAWN. an fishin. an so on, an
in tn evenin when Perry come over t
set awhile he'd find Mister Artist there
y tn settin room, cool rs y cucumber
1polite ~ polite. him not KNOWN that
Perry had first film on tn calico An
Hetty. jest like any woman. 'njoyed it
all immense.
"But Perry wasn't tn chap t stand this
very long: 40 one mornin. happenin t
be ut tn store an meetin Spenceley there.
he walks mp IN says t him: See here
my pale faced nm weak eyed consump-
tive. Dye know whose toes you've been
steppin ony
''Spenceley looked ut him kind Of
queer. but said he didn't know rs he'd
hurt anybody.
"'Well. says Perry. it's my toes, and
it'll pay you t climb from under. fore
something draps on 20. Dye know who
has TIL first claim ON Miss Hendershott's
company! Better find out and take cure
Of yourself And Perry started t 90 ont
staggering. but tn artist says. real
sharp. Mr.. Tloane. wasn't aware that |
was interfering with you. II am. how
ever. and you don't like it. I'm sorry: but
lwish you t understand that nyther you
n'rany other rowdy can blur Inc one bit
Dye understand!
"Perry turned like he'd ben kicked
It was til first tinc we'd ever hcerd him
sasse,l and we wan looking for TIL artist
Teller { yet bruised u whole lot. Bnt he
wasn't-not any. Perry looked ut him
awhole minute and seen there was no
scare there. NO he Jest turned and walked
out, grumbliny nnd cursing.
''Sometaxiy hid. took y shot ut Spence
\ Icy u few nights later. but he nevor
kicked none. ouly come mp t tn store IN
blowesl hisself in fer u forty .fonr an
tack shots ut q mark ev'ry day-jes' fer
pOrt. hs sez;- Lut kinder s''nised he