Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-06-17

Frontier Experience with some Real
Humor In IL.


couldn't tell, and It is question II any
one else could give the reason for the
title--the only possible suggestion for
the name was that he might have taken
his degree in swearing. He was con-
sidered one of the best cooks following
any of the cowboy outfits along the
Western trails. To us he was one Of
the most interesting characters we had
| ever met. The thng-or rather the
things-that struck you first in looking
| at Doc was his teeth. They were beau
tifully white and marvelously regular.
We were gathered around the camp
FIRE one August night, and as we wrap
ped ourselves in our blankets we Won
dered whether the Flat Top mount
aims, where we were to hunt deer In a
few days, would be any colder than
Reister's camp. Doc had cleared away
his tin dishes and spoons, had covered
his sombrero, ears and face, with an old
shawl. and with an occasional reference
to an aching tooth. had spun yarn after
yarn-all taken from his own varied ex-
perience. which had comprised the vo-
cation Of miner, hunter. cook, cowboy
| and hermit. He was no longer under
any restraint, for the woman" as he
called her. the wife of one of our party
had been called home and had started by
the stage for the railroad at Wolcott
that morning, under guardianship OF
the sheriff, who had, as other charges
a murderer, two horse thieves and an
opium eater. Doc said: THAT woman
was none of your Eastern dude stuff,
and she seemed real concerned about
those d teeth of mine and then
he proceeded to relate how they became
so even.
The tale was as follows: He had been
ranging cattle in the Indian Territory
and acting as cook TO a cowboy outfit of
twenty-five. One night, just as he was
calling all hands to grub. stranger
appeared with box under his arm. and
announced that he was a travelling dent
list. Two dollars per head was the nom-
inal charge for all repairs.
"Well, SIR" said Doc. "the next morn
ing the whole outfit sat on the ground
and that there gent with his files and
nippers and scrapers got In some pretty
good licks. When my turn came he used
that file on my jaw in way that made
my insides creep. He carried one of
them hand lookin glasses round with
him, and after he had done his job he
let US take look at it. My teeth had
been pretty crooked on the edges, but
when that gent was through with me
they were as even as the prairie pears
to be. He got his 81 from most every
man in camp and then he left pretty
fast-and it was lucky for him he did,
for the next mornin' there was twenty
swelled jaws in that outfit from that
awful file, and every d mothers
son of 'em had gun ready to shoot
that there dentist the next time he
passed that way.
"Do you know from that day to this
and that was bout six years agony
teeth have done the d--est dancin'
every fall"
Doc put his hands to his cheeks and
swore eloquently for five minutes; III
fix your he suddenly exclaimed and
soliciting my aid, he proceeded to his
tent and brought forth a strange look
ing black bottle from under his cot, Then
he began 10 search for cameiS hair
brush, which a man who had hunted in
the White river country had left there
a year before. At last he found it, and
while his back was turned 1 took the
black bottle to the light of the candle
and read the label, which was "kendars
SPAWN Cure"
Doc stretched himself out on the cot
and | soaked the gums around the jump
ing molars until the hot stuff brought
tears to the sufferers eyes, but never
word of complaint escaped his lips.
Next morning we found Doc up bright
and early, and driving in therelay stage
horses. His remark was: THAT d
cure for man and beast lasted about
three hours an she's jumpin' worse n
ever. But I'll fix her to-day" Directly
after breakfast he told us where to hnd
food for our midday meal. He then
jumped on a mare, bareback, and We
supposed he was going only a short
distance, but he did not put in an ap-
pearance until just before dusk. Then,
dismounting, he triumphantly waved a
pair of old army pincers before our as
tonished eyes and said: I've rode
thirty-six miles to get these darned
things, an l guess they'll do the biz
ness" He had borrowed them of a
"neighbor" who lived far back in the
mountains, and whose father had been
a surgeon in the army.
1T isn't often ! have company" said
Doc, "and when man pulls my TOOTH /
want him to have some sense. You men
have Eastern ways, and God knows
when another man will stop over with
me, so one of you please yank out this
cussed jumper" We both declined the
honor and tried to persuade him the
tooth might besaved, and after supper
we gave him some laudanum from our
little medicine chest TO put him to sleep.
1t was about ! o'clock that night when
I was awakened by the growing of Ma
jor, Docs dog, and at the entrance OF
our a tent stood Doc, IA candle in one
hand and the pinchers in the other.
II can't stand IL any longer" he whis-
pered. for he was afraid of awakening
my companion. For Gods sake get
the nippers on this - tooth and yank
her out-no, don't get out of your blank
cts. I'll stretch myself here long side
you"-and with that Doc lay fiat on the
ground in the most humble attitude.
Evidently 1t was desperate case. l
threw Navajo blanket around my
shoulders, sat on Docs chest. and by
the aid Of the candle, discovered, from
the intiamed condition of his cheek and
gums that he had tried TO perform the
operation himself i've tried for two
hours to get the cussed thing out, but
II was no co. he said. / ran the prongs
down between the gum. fastened a hold
and half asleep, half desperate. gave a
pull that sent me flying backwards ac-
companied by pincers and tooth. 1t Is
a grewsome thing to carry in ones
pocket, but / have that tooth yet--and
with little scientific treatment 1t might
be in Docs mouth instead.
Old Major, the mongrel cur, seemed to
experience the delight of his master,
and jumped all around me. My sleep
ing companion only turned over in his
blankets and murmured something
drowslly as | showed Doc the result of
my amateur operation. Gratitude is a
feeble word, when used TO express the
look on that frontiersmans face. He
said: II amt got much 10 offer, but
you can stay round this here camp of
mine as long as you like an l won't
grudge you one - bite of grub"
Later, 1t was Doc Reister who paid us
the highest compliment we ever re-
ceived.
IL was weeks after the tooth episode,
and after we had been in the White
river country and had killed our deer.
| was seated on the box of the old Con-
cord coach with Bob. the driver. en-
route to the railroad. We had left Nc
l.