The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
At THE PISTOLS MOUTH.
HUMILIATION WELL DEsERVEDAND
BEA TIFULEYADMTNISTERED
Mr. w. ~. Stewards story OF Two Bor-
der Ruhans snd - Drummer who was
Heyoud the Pale OF Huuuaa Rympnthv.

der HUMANS nnd y who wal
beyond the Pale OF Wurnaa Sympathy
MY first experience with the real Western ruff
fan Tho shoots as willingly ne he eats, and with
the perennially fresh young drummer whose
nerve OF the offensive kind is much greater than
than his nerve bf tho defensive kind, two char.
acters whom I had. mp to that time. supposed
to exist only in fiction and on the stage, occurred
simultaneously just twenty-five years ago. and
though I have occasionally seen both types
since. ! have never seen them como together
with such satisfactory results"
The nightly game of whist had Just ended 10
the City Club Of Auburn, and the three COM
p~anicns Of the Hon. William II. Seward leaned
back In their chairs to listen, while the billiard
contingent who had just como down stairs
drew near In anticipation of a good story.
My father, Secretary Seward. had sent me
10 look after some land lie owned up near where
Duluth now stands. There wasn't very much
Of Duluth then, but there was just about the
roughest crowd travelling up there In conse-
quence NJ the boom In land that I've ever
met With. They were scattered all over. and
they owned the land. Every man Jack Of
them was o walking arsenal. On my train was
a drummer Of the most festive type. Tho word
fresh doesn't begin to describe him. He wore
the gayest OF clothes. and at every station lie
would climb Off the train and strut about like u
DNftONN, bhA NiOuihli - NbNi' Nfio oh1 Oll
about. Everybody on the train was heartily
tired OF him and his everlasting stories about
himself and HIS rash way OF appropriatlnu what
ever was best. But no couldn't be suppressed,
and he wasn't suppressed until one fine day the
train broke down. and we found ourselves miles
from any place. early on n gray morning, with
absolutely nothing to eat.
"Nut far from where wo broke down was u
small oncampment of road-trnmpcrs en- route
for the golden country supposed to lie about
Duluth. Some OF them had stuck up tents. and
10 this rrcamrmcnt | went In the nope of buy
ing something to eat. II was quite early. and
the cncampment seemed asleep. but from one
tent | heard ~ hoursr voice exclaim:
THAT thothird --- bobtail I've caught.
Pass the deal for n dollar jack pot
THAT didn't sound particularly promising,
but at least II indicated that there was some.
body awake there. so | pushed aside the tent
flap and looked in. There sat two OF the tough
est characters / have ever seen. They were
playing poker. Each was fanked by a quart
bottle Of whisky and II big revolver. In their
belts were more revolvcrs and some ugly looking
knives. T.v6 piles OF money were on the board
that served for a table. All these things | took
In. and then my eye travelled over to n corner
where Il tin pail Of something hot was steamlns
over some einbers. This look ed promising.
Excuse me, gentlemen said l, politely.
but I'm very hungry. Could you spare me
some OF that-that-that soup in the pail =
zone of the men looked at me, then at his
cards, then at his revolver. then at me again,
and said. In thick accents:
faint sour, it's coffee: You play, Bill
AS he spoke he wavcred gently from side to
side. and | saw that both lie and his companion
were very drunk; 1t struck me that might
have safer neighbors than these, but | was
frightfully hungry; 30 braced up my courage
and said:
money enough to pay for It.
,o IN . IN man .%lIsa BilI Locked ,Ss oR' 'sG nsiSi !, and d
good long swallow OF the contents. II was the
most awful dose imaginable. worse than all the
and the cad players looked up suspiciousiy. II
occurred to me that might hurt their feelings
II ! appeared not to Ike the alleged coffee,
] wouldn't have hurt their feelings for anything.
while | was IN range q their guns. So said:
Much obliged. How much do i owe you 2
"'Nothin',' growled Bill, reaching for his
"'B But I'd like to pay. cantI-
",Nothinn snorted Bills opposite. reaching
again, and went out. At the entrance met my
Aha me boy. he said. In his cheerful way.
thing good insIdeY Guess III have a look in.
" II wasn't ny part TO prevent him couldn't
that something would happen after he got In. so
] just walked around 10 the rear and glued my
heard. The drummer ~jauntily entered and sized
Poker, hey ? he observed in his genial way.
The players glanced up from their game.
The look they gave that drrmmer ought 10 have
Lost your voices? ? he pursued What's
that stuff over there? Coffee? say. / guess !
A ominOus silence prevailed as he walked
over, lifted the, pail, and took a mouthful,
"Ugh! B-r-r-r! What the devil Kind OF stun il
that : he exclaimed, Mud soup heyf That's
the "l IGa'fhsss StnIg ! the Ssf tw 5T poSer players reached
for their guns. The muz2le5 pointed directly at
the drummer's head.
But MS poison protested the drummer,
brink" shouted Bill. cooking his pistol,
Drink il up. d quick added the other
"'Ugh, OH gasped the unfortunate drummer.
putting the pail 10 his lips. while his teeth clat-
Tered .. t6S edge Ugh! B-r-r-rl Oh Lord
Swallow 1t all. yelled Bil. rising TO his
feet, and lnrGhing with an unsieadiness whicL.
Down with 1t. You wanted 1t, an now you got
holder OF the other pistol, also rising; Drink
bic, d-n You, drink. I'D jiss soon shoot you
"Those HES settled it. Whatever two ruff
fans OF that type might do when sober, there
Was no doubt that they would shoot, when
drunk. The drummer swallowed every drop OF
the dose. and ! pitied hin while | laughed.
Now put that pail on your head ordered
An wen take a pop at it, added his com-
paniOn.
- oh, gentlemen, gentlemen. LET me go i'm
plored the drummer. I've got a wife and fam
Ily AT home
s. You'll have a wilder, hic, an orphins II
you don't put that pail on interrupted Bill.
IN We jess soon shoot At your head as the
pail, added his companion cheerfully,
With a groan the IN set the pail on
his head, where IL shook with his trembling.
II you don't stan still commented Bits
companion. with a reassuring smile, I'm lfble
not to shoot straight
THE rumme stiffened. Bang went the
gun Of the last speaker. and the pail fell.
= set 'em mp again ordered Bill, Set
EN- -~up-s-Esin, d-n YOU for the drummer
had dropped with "A yell.
HE faitered 20 his feet, and again tbe pail
went up. Bang went hills gun; the pail fell
again:
Go Il, you lOng-legged snipe "
lift. Hic! IIic! TIT Go Il! Run, YOU
long-leggod sni 20 hic ipe.' yelled the other man,
auI the Il ruunpNar ran amidst "A ynllAV nf sGats