The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-10-25
"7-BAR-K."

eyes, said the old cattleman as he
munched q meditative Glove, "there
ain t much paw an below, head down
ali tail up business to a cowboy. Speak
in general an not allowin for them in
fooences which disturbs none, he's as
passive as fried fish.
"About 16 years ago, before abides
in Wolfville, was pesterin round Vegas
with Bill Lockbridge, who was workin
q small bunch of '7-bar-k' cattle way
over on the Vermejo. We'd been slashin
round the plaza all day, indin fault
with the whisky an amoosin ourselves
at our OWL expense, an along about 5
O'Clock in the evenin Bill allows he's
some sick of sech revels an concloods
he'll pint up among the dobeys explorin
of Oldtown a lot. Sowe all goes in con-
cert l wasn't frothin at the mouth
none to go myself, not seein no relaxa-
tion pokin about permiscus among a
passel of MeXicans, an me loathin Of
em nacheral, but goes, ainin to sorter
ride herd on Bill, which his disposition
is some free an various an liable to mix
him into trouble. Not that Bill is bad
hone whatever-but bein seven or
eight drinks ahead of that plaza whisky
makes him feel gregar Gus an friendly,
an he's cap BILE of goin about a-claimin
of acquaintance with people he DOM t
know at all an feelin way hostile when
the stranger has symptoms of doubt.
$50 l goes along, Bill a-warblip The
Dyin Ranger in several keys.
1.-THE senoras an senoritas a-hearip
of the row would look out an smile, an
Bill would wave his big hat an whoop
from rapture. If he starts toward em,
amin for a powwow-which he does
frequent, bein a mighty amiable man
that away-they gives a squawk imme-
diate an shetS the door. Well, Bill goes
on then. Maybe he gives the door kick
or two, informin 'em of his discomfort,
but that's all. All at once, while we're
prowlin up one Of them spacious alleys q
Mexican thinks is street, he comes up
on Italian with an organ which he is
grindin. This yere organ amt so bad,
an I've heerd heap worse strains. AS
soon as Bill sees him he tries to fgger
on q dance, but no one'll dance with
him.
"'In which event. says Loekridge,
4 plays lone hand.
$50 Bill puts up small dance, like
a Navajo, accompanin of hims'f with
whoops. But the dago can't play Bill
music, SO the baile comes to halt.
Whatever is the matter with this
yere tune box anyhow says Bill.
Gimme the music for q green corn
dance an don't make no delay.
"'This yere man can't play no green
corn dance, says.
"'He can't, can't hep says Bill
mighty scornful. Wait till he tries. ]
know this man of yore. meets him
two years ago in Druce's, an me an him
has quite Il time.
Whatever is his name, then?'
asks.
"'Antonio Marino, says the dago
Marine, says Bill, that s right. ]
recalls it because it makes me think fust
he's sheep man, an I gets quite hos
tile.
"'I never see you, says the dago.
"'Yes, you did, says Bill. You jest
think you didp t see me. Wehas drinks
together an gees out an shoots pp the
town arm an arm like brothers.
"But the Italian insists he never sees
Bill This makes Bill ugly a lot, an be-
fore can get to stop it he outs with his
six shooter an puts q hole into the organ.
" These yere tunes L hears SO far,
says Bill, is heap too frivolous, an
| figgers this oughter improve EN-
"When Bill shoots, the Italian man
heaves the strap as holds him to the
organ over his head an flies. Bill ketches
the music box, keepin it from fa1lin, an
after awhile begins turnin the crank to
try it. 1t plays all right, only ever now
an then there s hole into the melody
like it had lost q tooth.
" This yere's good enough for q dog,
says Bill, atwistin away on the organ.
Where's Merino? Whatever is the mat.
ter with him? Why didn't he stand his
hand?'
"But Merino amt here no more, SC
Bill allows it's shame to let it go that
way, an Mexicans suffered for mnsic.
So he straps on the tune box and goes
round from one dolby to another a-turnir
of it loose.
"'How long did this yere Merinc
turn out his tunes, says Bill, 'befort
he collects? However, / makes new
roofs for the game right yere. plays
| these cadences for five minutes al
then gifts action ON 'em for five
splits even with these Mexicans, which
is shorely fair
$50 Bill twists away for five min.
ptes, an me a-timin of him, an ther
leans the hewgag up agin dolby an
starts to collectin. He'd go mp to some
household a-whirlin his gun like pin
wheel, and at the mere sight of him the
members gets that generous they ever
attempts to negotiate loans an give 'em
to Bill, they're that ambitious to do
nate
lone time he runs up on band Of
| towerists, who was sorter trackin round
an lookin at things, an they comes uI
an listens awhile. They was turnin tc
go away jest before collectin time.
! Hold on, says Bill, pickin up his