Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-11-13
DISGUISED.
swell, I'll be hangedr
uThe lost childp
SWhat Is it?"

IL was q thL, AcdA, b,|A SPCSihCh vi
humanity that stood before them there
at the bar of the Golden Dawn, tn.
only hotel in the place. He wore ar
eye-glass and the innocent blue eye
glanced languidly about the room
while on his upper lip was a small, in
significant looking sandy nustache
which he tenderly caressed, as he
spoke, and his pale features bore sim
pering, gazelle-like expression. He
was a genuine dude-a masher, the
only one that had ever ventured into
the rough precincts of Gray Gulch, and
was regarded by the people Of the
place as something Of stray curiosity
"NIistah Wairah-"
"What are you giving usf I'm the
boss of this ranch, l am. What do
you want?"
And the bar-keeper, book keeper,
clerk, and landlord, all in ono, leaned
upon his elbows and leared into the
calm, pale face before him.
"Ah, l beg pawdon. You are the
pwopwietah of this innr'
"What's the matter with calling 1t a
hoteI?"
"Vewy well, hotel or inn, just as you
please. Gavin 1 stop here for a few
days." asked the dude, as he languidly
lighted cigarette and blew the smoke
In whiffs across the bar into the face
of the proprietor.
well, reckon, provided you've got
the stuff"
"Stuff-stuff? What is stuff"
"The money"
"Oh, didn't comprehend your We
mayks. l have the money. Do you
Kant to sell this hotel?'
"Eh? Why, man, this outfit is worth
a couple thousand"
THAT Gavin make no special diffew-
ence TO me, sir. Where l came fwom
we are in the habit of purchasing a
hotel and we always make the fowmah
pwopwietaah pwesent of it aftahwads." )"
The proprietor of the Golden Dawn
was paralized for an instant. The mild
tones and unmoved features of the
stranger, added to his assertion about
purchasing the place, took the man
down several pegs, and the consequence
was the dude got the best room in the
whole house, and. wonder of wonders
was offered a drink out of the private
bottle
NO, thanks; cawn't stand anything
stwonger than tea"
"W-what? You are not going to
stop over in Gray Gulch and not drink
anything stronger than tea, be your"
What is the pwoper capah heah!"
asked the dude, innoceDtly.
"Drin' hard stuff with the men, like
man. If you don't, why"
"Wcll. what, my deah fwiend?'
"YOuIl get yourself into trouble,
that's all. Now l rather like your
style; it's something new and fresh
here. What | want TO tell you is just
this; when man asks you to drink
with him, why, you'd better drink.
Seer"
"And if should weiuse?"
The proprietor started back aghast.
The idea of man refusing to drink
when asked, was something unheard Of.
"Why, just a: like as not youM get
yourself into 4 scrape if you do" he re-
piled.
"Oh, see; if I don't dwink there
will be a WOW and wumpus. l see."
He wrote his name in fine delicate
characters upon the dirty page Of the
hotel register, and asked to be shown
TO his room.
After he had disappeared, a rough,
red bearded man known as Red Rube,
entered the bar-room, and the proprie-
tor began telling him about the dude.
He also requested the assembled min
ers not to ask the gentle stranger to
drink.
Gents" said he, II only ask this as
q special favor. | rather like this fel-
low because he is SO fresh and original.
And then he don't know our style yet,
you see. Ii he refuses to drink, don't
lay it up against him. He's only a
New Yorker out TO see the country"
a New Yorker, did you say?"
quickly asked Red Rube.
81 supposed so; got the cut Of your
genuine blood"
"Well, if he is from New York I'm
going to choke the whisky down
his"
~ beg pawdon, gentlemen, but will
you kindly diwect me to the laundwyY"
broke N a soft voice from the doorway
leading into the bar-room from the
laii.
"Got something to washw
"Yes, sir. Two collahs and path
OF cuffs. l am sadly in need of a
change, and l would hasten to the
laundry as wapidly as possible"
well, sissy, out here in this part of
the world We don't wear them things"
BY jove! You don't weally mean to
say that you"
That's just what I said; got any
Us objections?" blurted out Red
!.aDe, as he rose to his feet and crossed
the room and faced the small figure in
tue doorway.
The mild blue eyes wandered slowly
up and down the whole length of his
burly form, and then a tiny eye-glass
was raised languidIy to his left eye. Ind
the dude carefully and leisurely sur
veyed nim, while Rube began to grow
more furious, as the masher drew out
his cigarette-case and offered one to
him.
"You little insignificant dude, L"
al say, you fellah with the wicked
eye"
wicked eye? By Heavens"
"And the flannel mouth"
"Great Scott, you miserable little"
"And the villainous face"
"That settles it!' Gents, this fellow
has insulted me and he has got to
di.w yelled Rube, as he jerked big
revolver from his belt, and fourished
it threateningly at the now terrified
and trembling Dude.
Don't shoot mel I humbly beg
your pawdon. l don't mean any ow-
fence, sir; wealIy, 'pon honah, I didn't"
"Cowardr' broke from the lips of
the assembled miners, as the masher
fell down upon his knees before Rube,
who only uttered disguSted "Bahp
and walked back to his seat again.