New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-30
A LONE HAND.
PLAYED on A WESTERN RAILROAD.


The speaker was one Of a group Of men loung-
ing on the deck Of the Great Northwest, which
few hours earlier had commenced her slow up
ward progress against the mighty current OF the
Yellowstone. That ne dli not belong to either OF
the classes he condemned was written In the
mingled resolution and complacency Of his sun
burned visage while his right to teach as one
having authority" was established among his
hearers by their knowledge that he was pros
porous ranchman of - County, Montana, re-
turning from Eastern visit. Therefore most
OF them. who were beginners on the path along
which he had journeyed successfully. bestowed
upon his rather arbitrary assertions an attentive
silence that offered fatterys subtlest incense to
a talker who preferred monologue 10 converse
ton and STORY telling to any form OF speech
1t was preference he had acquired during many
a night watch beside camp fires. when like
masculine Scheherazade. he had told his stories
under the conviction that ultimate safety de-
pended upon his power TO amuse his companions
until the stress of suspense which tried their
nerves should have passed
I'VE all get our chances" he resumed after a
duff or two at hi: pipe and pleased glance
around the observant circle. 1T is our fault not
the Lords Il We don't keep hold OF them That
IL truth Youngsters. as solid as these everlast-
ing bluffs'-with wave OF his hand toward the
lofty walls Ct green which shut In the Yellow
stone from the prairie world beyond Chances
that may look as full OF sting as chestnut purr'
but that hold sweet kernels OF success for the
man who has the pluck and the ceverness TO
grasp them. And I'll tel you story with that
text. II you Like story which shall be new.
though the text is chestnut"
There was an acquescent laugh. a drawing
nearer of camp stools and the ranchrnan con-
tnued:
1T happened some years since. before the
Northern Pacific had crossed the Rockies. The
terminus that season was at Zenith City. ana the
class Of travel which demands luxury didn't
come beyond Bismarck. where the company
economically shunted the Pullmans before rush.
ing away from civilization. SO the train when
started from Zenith City one November morning
was made up. as usual of a passenger car.
box car and the locomotive. while its quite I'M
usual number Of travellers was composed entirely
Of a party Of twenty cowboys They had just
been paid off for their summers work, and had
begun their holiday on the previous evening with
an all-nght spree. But amusement In prairie
town was not varied enough for them. They
meant to 60 East for such length Of time as
their cash would endure; and. though 1t was
burning in their pockets to get spent, they were
resolved not to waste any of 1t in railway tickets
"a resolve of which they informed the con-
ductor when ne came to them about half an hour
out from Zenith City.
He was young fellow. were the cow
boys. Everything was young In Montana IN
those days. except the sky and the prairie, which
are eternal, or seem to be. This chap Lloyd,
however, was slim-built. with a color that
changed Ike a grl's-threatened with con-
sumption then though he has got the better of
that as Of other disadvantages-and very queer
he looked among the big. brown. brawny roughs.
who left their card-playng to swarm into the
aisle. or lean over the seats nearest those of
their comrades who had answered TO his request
for tickets that they had none
The company will take money for fares
Also Lloyd said without glancng at the
gathering crowd.
"'when the company can get IT, somebody
chuckled
Invariably Lloyd asserted; 'or the passen-
ger who refuses to pay is put of the train.
You don't say? Suppose you try. Here are
Tim and me to begin with, And the whole car
full after us, for not enc cent OF our earning
Is going into the moneybags Of your -. .swind-
ling company.
That's SOL
"'You betr
"'Not chip"
Lloyd listened to these expressions OF gen
eral determination until they came 10 an end
Then ne was considerably paler, but his eyes
had grown uncommonly bright.
"'You will hurt me much u'ore than the COM
pany.' he said, when he could get a hearing
I shall lose my place II don't collect your
fares
THAT Is your lookout"
1--WE amt going to tell your loss If you keep
quiet-
"I.loyd's shining eyes turned from one TO an
other of the twenty tall fellows loungng around
him. so sure OF the trumps they held that they
were in no hurry to finish the game.
.There Is a greed for tormenting animals
which disfigaires most human nature from Span
tsh bull-baiters to those rat-fghters down East.
We are not without touch OF 1t here In Montana.
And that the fcrmented animal belongs to our
own kind adds a keener relish to the fun. when
the party doing the tormentng has swallowed as
much bad whiskey the cowboys had that
morning So those bright eyes OF Lloyd's didn't
meet any more encouragement than did Father
Noah's the first time he took squint at the
Flood through Of the portfolios Of the ark
without speaking he stood. very pale and
still for a moment looking at the open pocket
book in his hand, while they all stared at him,
rrinning and jecrng. There a hrmness
about his mouth that didn't suggest uncondition-
al surrender TO two or three who watched him
closely, and who were much surprised when
presently the color rushed back over his face
and. shutting his book with snap, he went GU,
Of the car.
He was followed by a roar Of laughter and
facetious yels.
"'Caif again. young fellow!
always glad to see your
Then the crowd returned to poker playing
some of them Just bit disseminated with their
victory and muttering that twenty to one was
too big odds for any chap. specially slim. little
chan with fists which couldn't hold their own
against a KID"
The story-teller interrupted himself with a
chuckle.
"rhey counted fists you see. and forgot to take
stock NJ brains How should they guess tina,