Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-26
A POETS INSTINCT.
Two bar Room Scenes In the West
With Different Results.

scenes
With Different Results.
Opie Read In Fetter's Southern Magazine.
Capt. Jack Crawford. the poet scout;
Col VIII Visscher, a poet without being a
scout. and Wild Bill, a scout without be-
ins a poet, were playing cards in a Black
Hills saloon when a swashbuckling bully
from the plains entered the place. He bad
just broke a faro bank and was therefore
wealthy; he had Just shot out mans eye.
and was therefore gleeful. When he en-
tered the place he struck the bar with his
hat and swore that every man must take
drink. Wild Bill said that he didn't mind
taking something, and Visscher made no
objection whatever. but Crawford remark
ed that he did not drink. But said he.
to be sociable, 1 will take cigar with
YOU"
The swashbuckler looked at him scorn-
fully, and said: mo. you'll not take CT
gar"
"well. then. I'll take a lemonade"
You'll not do that; you'll take whisky.
But" Crawford protested. Il never took
a drink Of whisky In my life"
Well. then. IT'S time to take one Come
on here" and he laid rude hands on Craw-
ford's garments. Then Wild Bill mildly
protested. AT this the terror Of the plains
new into Mt of fury. DO you want TO
that he was not personally acquainted
with Bill.
well. yes. as 1 haven't anything else on
tie like taking II up" and with that he
knocked the fellow down. And now the
swashbuckler, though OF the floor. Was In
his glory-he had an excuse to indulge his
sentimental yearning for slaughter; and he
| reached for his pistol. But with a move
ment 1ash-like in its Quickness. Bill had
twenty men. At this moment a man who
had Just entered the saloon quietly remark
ed: "helloa. Wild Bills got another suck
Hold on" the terror howled. care You
Wild Bnl?'
That's what they call me-"
We'll, now. l want to say that your
friend may take wa-what he pleasss. And
to show you that I'm sorter sociable IN
clined. IN take lemonade myself
TINS incident appealed to the quick In
and was therefore impressionable. A lew
days later he was In a mining town, broke.
Honor could take save :" iss ana appetite
tite must be humored. The truth is. he
wanted a great deal Of Kicker ana he
but no onss as went ni to
and he was too proud to hint that he ought
TO be invited That was where honor was
S me enemy Of appetite 4 thought struck
poetic fancy. He recalled the Wild Bin
incident and he would turn 1t to account.
= 's ,. wsnt IN INTO saloon and sat down near
to talk Fine lot of people out here" he
declared Gallant and determined gang
VI men. saw rough Just now force q
poor fellow to take q drink Of whisky I'd
ike TO see q man try that game on me;
eaten me pouring stuff down my throat
merely to crafty the within of q fool.
There's nobody In this town that can make
me take drink. I've come here to foster
the Murphy movement"
o. A iank cowboy turned from the bar and
gave Nfsscher a searching look. MY
friend" said he amt you putty bold p
You bet I'm bold"
And you won't take a drink"
mo. I WON'T
DO you want to know what you'll do
You'll just Ia Ike six right now. Come here -
| stammer ~
My friend" he said, in the hope that
the fellow would make 1t twelve, Il never
took drink in my life
That so? Well you'll take six right
now Barkeeper, put six drinks on the
bar, Just a foot apart" And when the
barkeeper had done this. the cowboy added
Now, Mr.. Pinkfoot. you begin at that
end and drink your way down here
Nisscher mumbled that he had left his
pistol at the hotel.
Il don't care anything for your pistol
drink your way down here"
Visscher made the journey, with but a
breath between each glass, and the cow
boys roared with laughter; but q chill fell
upon their mirth when Visscher remarked
Gentlemen, IL youll have these glasses
filled again, I'll drink my way back"