Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-06-28


their rascality and lose heavily. But
no one evinced the least desire to ac-
cept my challenge. Parker came to
where was standing in crowd Of
cowboys who were assuring me that
they would stay with me and said
angrny:
"'Lookee here, old man, / don't
know that you've got any business to
interfere with our celebration. SEEM
you don't belong here. You'd better
pull in an ride little slower. fur yer
a gittin' onto dangerous ground
Big Tom laid heavy hand on the
bully's shoulder, and in a low but de-
termined voice said:
"'He's not headed towards no bog
as 1 kin see, Matt Parker, an he's
goin' to hold his gait. STEAD o pull
in in on the reins, he'll work his spurs
an keep a hittin' the ground in his
own way. This are the Fo'th o. July
an we're square American citizens,
an fair plays the fust rule O. patriotism
wherever that yonder flag is a f1irtin'
in the air. The race is goin' on an it's
goin' on squar', an I'll hop onto the
trail o. the fust sneakin' coyote that
interferes with the Mexican gal an
run him down, an if you or any o. yer
pizen whisky suckers happens to git in
the way thar's a goin' to be a purifica-
ton in this community. Eli, boys?'
"a cheer was the reply, and the
bully saw that a champion having
arisen on the other side his power
was gone. He realized that if his girl
won the race she must do it fairly,
and trembling with rage and with
fear that he would lose the money he
had wagered he went to his scowling
offspring and offered her clothes fit
for princess if she would put forth her
very best efforts and win another heat
II need not dwell on the result.
Marta won the two remaining heats
easily, and when she came to me with
her beautiful face aglow with smiles
of triumph and gratitude. her express
sive eyes done some effective work in
my susceptible breast.
1.-The crowd called on me for a
speech, nor would it be silenced until
had mounted a goods box rolled to
me to be used as platform. 1t was
no new business for NE, Jack, for l
was a famous debater at college and
had since often taken part in political
campaigns, speaking to large audiences.
1 warmed up after talking a few mo-
ments, and before I knew it was reel
ing off a patriotic Fourth of July
speech that set those people wild. Lord,
how they cheered every patriotic ut
terance. Matt Parker stood out in the
edge of the crowd and wore a sheer on
his repulsive face as l talked union
principles and advocated reverence and
love for our glorious old flag. After a
time he seemed to become interested,
and once he clapped his hands and
nodded approval as the crowd cheered
some loyal sentiment. l seemed in
spired. and eloquence rolled from my
lips as rained heavy blows at those
who seemed not yet aware that the
war was over, and that the former foe
men were now friends and brothers.
1.-The town was wild that evening.
There was no fighting or quarreing,
but everyone seemed in the best of
humor and determined to make that
Fourth a memorable one. During the
evening 1 sauntered away from the
hotel to see what was going on. Hear
ing a loud voice raised in vociferous
song in Parker's place I approached
the door and looked in. Old Matt,
drunk as lord, was standing on the
end of whisky barrel singing, or try
Ing 10 SlnRs 1nS OCdf OpdnS1cu Dali
ner,' to an enthusiastic crowd. He
caught sight of me, and springing to
the floor came forward and grasped
my hand and insisted that I should
take a drink an be friends 1 told
him 1 did not drink intoxicants, but
would take smoke with him, and he
pulled me up to the bar and called on
all in the house to take union drink.
As he raised his glass aloft he cried:
| Here's TO Yankee Doodle an Hail Co
lumby, an long may she wave? It
was a wild night"
And Marita?" l asked
so, you know the rest Same old
story. 1 am yet backing her for all
I'm worth"
| CAPT. JACK CRAWFORD,