The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-28

Ing rooms. while the entire second story
narrow hall running lengthwise. leaving nu-
merous small boxes callei bedrooms on
either side. one row fronting the piazza
commanding an extensive rear view.
AS we were about the only
guests we had rooms in the front row
The house was upholstered and only the
rooms were ceiled.
Boo and l seated ourselves in the bar
room and answered the various questions
commonly asked OF travellers. and began to
laugh at our fears. although there were
some pretty tough faces among the au-
ditors.
Our attention was attracted to a cowboy
who appeared a stranger, like ourselves.
and who volunteered the information that
ne too was going to Lid in the morning.
Although we had always made a rule to be
chary IN talking to strangers. there was
something In his face and manner attract
animated conversation with him. His
name was Dick.) This involved an invita-
ton te drink, which / compromised by the
less or two eyilS-a Western ~ciSar-Which L
smoked to the bitter end. 1 had just re-
move the unpleasant taste of Friendships
was surprised to see Wilson come into the
room. He said he had just run down for a
m for some cigars, and / let him
brand / had smoked. To my surprise ne
offered a twenty-dollar gold piece in pay
ment.
This was the keynote to the whole trou-
Bile. The barkeeper, a big, burly, fox-eyed
fellow, slid the gold back of the counter,
for only 81. Wilson told him he had given
him so. The barkeeper bluntly denied
this. and produced a silver dollar as the
one handed him, and appealed to a by
stander, who, or course, confirmed his state
ment, and, moreover, challenged anyone in
the house TO differ. Although many had
seen the transaction no one objected. and
Wilson, after hesitating a moment, came
back TO me. In language more emphatic
than polite. l told him TO go up TO his
room. Dick looked surprised. and when
Wilson had gone asked Ii ne was one of
our party. l replied in the affirmative, and
gave the circumstances OF Wilson's connec-
ton with US. Dick studied a moment and
then asked: Are you going to let him
lose that money without making a kick"
told him I did not see any other way to
90, as 10 make a row in that place would
be foolish. He wanted to know what L
would give him to get the coin back. and I
replied that he could have the whole, as
we had lost our claim.
Will you back me up. and has your
Dick.
was very much worked up over the
wnole AFFAIR, and although / don't believe
In getting into a row unless IL Is forced
upon a man. 1t goes against ones grain
TO see such a barefaced robbery as Will
sons, so | said Yes" although I did not
really. believe that he was in earnest; in
fact, L could not imagine how he would go
about a recovery. l was soon to learn.
We had remained in the barroom an hour
after Wilson's retirement. and the place
had gradually become deserted until there
were but half a dozen people besides the
barkeeper and ourselves remaining, and
several of these. were sleepy drunk. The
barkeeper, though he glanced now and Zen
IN our direction, paid US no other attention.
He seemed 10 have forgotten the gold epi-
sode. l had given up any idea that Dicks
suggestions were coming to a point. and
was thinking of retiring. when he got up,
sauntered over TO the bar In an easy man
ner, and, quick as a flash, covered the
10 return that money" Bob and myself
at once covered the remainder of the party,
VINO protested, however, that they had no
his predlcament and sullenly handed out a
twenty-dollar gold-piece. The only remark
ne made was: You'll wish you was burn
and IL you think you are going to com il
on us SO easy, you are making a = big
Dick did not reply. and soon we all went
up 10 WILSON'S room. AS we went upstairs
we could distinguish among the babble of
e aaTs n words; That's a plucky cuss"
yyoomnEv " Gee Bill: you've been held up:
L." and then Bills deep voice: "And
they won't. either. I'll get my innings be-
fore they leave. you mark me"
We found wilson barricading the door of
the room with bureau and washstand. We
held a council of war. We could hear the
men talking below us. Wilson's room was
through the hooring we LEFT e oniy the c raie
ing between them and us, so we could
hear distinctly everything they said. For
bring out a big crowd, and only a few of
the near neighbors. attracted by the re-
were too well armed to assault us in our
rooms. especially AS we were on our guard.
but. thought the best idea would be to at
nave TO do or starve. With this idea. one
or them commenced boring holes in the
stairway casing, presumably to shoot
through, Naturally We prepared to go out
the window.
The bed was one of the old-fashioned
roped kind, and removing the rope from
tnis ana blowing out our light, We laid the
bed clothes on the roof. removed our boots.
and carefully crawled to the far end of the
piazza The noise In the bar room seemed
to have drowned any noise we made, and
our only fear was Of someone coming out,
Tying our rifles and other things into two
Dun1les, DICK lowered them. and then we
the woods. There we finished dressing. and
Dick and | then went TO the stable for our
for some time and the moonlight made MS
so conspicuous that We had to watch the
shadows as We lodged across the open
space We had little trouble In finding our
kor as: and started out. each leading two.
- vance; AS my head horse approached
down upon n fiat stone with a loud
.4tts expected every moment TO see
ia hotel door open, but thew either did not
AlCfA q luOuAIL 1t ~ common nOfCA in tho
stable.
Fearing a repetition of the alarm I ripped
up an old blanket. and, muf1ing the horses
hoofs. We led them out where the Others
were waiting, trying to account for our long
delay. Then all commenced arranging their
things on their saddles. I finished first. and
mounting my horse. with my rifle on my
knee. placed myself as a scout to watch
the hotel. I confess that I then felt COM
Portable for the first time that night. II
was well | did, for no sooner had I mounted
and my horse moved a few steps away
than one of the other horses sounded a
neigh that reused all the occupants OF the
house we had left. Flinging open the door
50 that the light fell upon me. some one
yelled. They are getting away" and emp
tied his revolver at us. We could hear the
bullets sing about US. but no damage was
called TO me 10 pull out" This I would
have. been glad to do. but nv horse re-
fused to bulge n step. i think he was daz-
zled by the flashes from the revolver. 7
never thought OF d~ismounting. but. RECEIVE
ing another salute, / opened up with eight
When / finished ii was vacant. / heard the
bottles break as the balls went crashing
into the woodwork of the bar. Dick in the
meantime had ridden back TO see what the
trouble was and was firing his forty-four
rife as fast as he could. l. l. was GER
appearing all along the street. But no one
came our way on account OF the bullets. I
think the people thought we were the land
lords party in the woods attacking the I'M
ruly guests.
One fellow I shall never forget. He came
fire as / shot. He made a perfect picture
or the tragic as he gave n little spring.
his rifle fell TO the ground and soon he
himself staggered into a sitting posture.