Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-15

How He Acted ~ an Organ
Grinder.

How He ACTED ~ an orsan-
N Grinder.
(New York Times,
Yes" said the old csttleman. as he
munched q meditative Glove. "there amt
much paw an below. head-down-an'-taiI-
up business to a cowboy. speakin' gene
raj an not aIlowin' for, them innooences
which disturbs none. he's as passive as a
fried Ash.
About sixteen years ago. before
abides In WolfvilIe. was pesterin'
round Vegas with Bill Lockridge. who
was workin' a small bunch OF seven
bark cattle way over the Vermeto.
Wed been slashin round the Plaza all
day. findin' fault with the whlskey. an
amoosin' ourselves at our own expense.
an along about O'Clock In the eventn'
Bin allows heTs some sfci< q such feveIs,
an concoods he'll pint up among the
'dobys explorin' OF Oldtown lot So we
ell goes in concert. / wasn't frothin
at the mouth none to go myself. not
seem no relaxation pokin about permits
Gus among a passed. OF Mexicans, an me
loathIn' OF EN- nacheral: but i goes, Amin
to sorter ride herd on Bill, which his dis
position Is some free an various an
liable TO mix him into trouble. Not that
Bill Is bad. none whatever. but. bein'
seven or eight drinks ahead OF that Plaza
whiskey makes him feel gregar Gus an
friendly; and he's capable OF goin' about
a-claimin' OF Acquaintance with people ne
don't know at all. an feeling way hostile
when the stranger has symptoms OF doubt.
SO I goes along: Bill a-warblin The
Dyin' Ranger in several keys.
"The Senoras an Senoritas hearin of
the row, would look out an smile, an
Bin would wave his big hat an whoop
from rapture. II he starts towards 'em.
amin for a pow-wow-which he does
frequent. bein' mighty amiable man
that way--fhey gives squawk imme-
date. an shets the door. Well, BIZ goes
on then Maybe he gives the door KICK
or two, informin' EN- OF his discomfort
but that's all All at once. while we're
prowlin' UP one OF them spacious alleys
Mexican thinks is a street. We comes
up on a Italian with a organ. which he
is grlndn'. This yere organ amt 20
bad, an I've heered heap worse strains.
As soon as Bill sees him. he tries 10 figger
on a dance. but no one'll dance with
him.
LIN which event says Lockridge.
plays lone hand"
80 Bill puts up a small dance, like
Navajo. accompanying of himself with
whoops. But the Dago can't play Bits
music, so the bale come TO a halt
Whatever is the matter with this yere
tune-box, anyhow says Bill. Gin me
the music for a Rreencorn dance, an
don't make no delay.
This yere man can't play no green
corn dance, l says.
He can't. can't he? says BIZ, mighty
scornful. Wait til he tries. ! know this
man Of lore. meets him two years
ago in Cruces, an me an him has quite
a time
Whatever is his name. them | asks.
"'Antonio Marine" says the Dago.
Marine says Bill. That's right.
recalls II because it makes me think gust
he's a sheep man. an I get quite hos
tile
81 never see you says the Dago.
"'Yes. you did says Bill. You jest
think you didn't see me. We has drinks
together, an goes out an shoots up the
town arm an arm, like brothers
But the Italian insists he never sees
Fill. This makes Bill ugly a lot an
before | can get to stop 1t he outs with
his six-shooter an puts hole into the
organ.
"'These yere tunes l hears SO far
says Bill, lis heap too frivolous. an ]
figgers this oughter improve EN-.
'W hen Bill shoots. the Italian man
heaves the trap as holds him to the
organ over his head an flies Bill ketches
the music-box, keepin' il from fallin
an after awhile begins turnin' the crank
to try il. II plays all right, only ever
now an then there's hole into the melo-
dy like ii had lost tooth.
This yere's good enough for a dog
SAYS Bill. a-twistin' away on the organ.
Where's Merino? Whatever is the
matter with him? Why didn't he stand
his hand?'
But Merno amt here no more, so
Bill allows it's shame to let IL go that
way, an Mexicans sufferin' for music.
So he straps on the tune box. an goes
round from one DOLBY 10 another a-turn-
in of II loose.
How long did this we're Merino turn
out his tunes says BIZ. before he COL
lects? However. I make new rooles for
the game right we're. I plays those ca
dences for five minutes and then / gets
action on 'em for five. I splits even
with these Mexicans. which is shorely
fair
so Bill twists away for five minutes
and me a-timin' OF him, an then leans
the hewgag up aein' a DOLBY an starts
to colectin. He'd go up TO some house
hold. a-whirlin' his gun like pinwheel.
and at the mere sight OF him the mem
bers gifts that generous they even at
tempt TO negotiate loans and give EN-
to Bill; they're that ambitious to donate.
One time he runs up on band OF tower
lists, who was sorter trackin' round an
lookin at things: an they comes UP an
listens awhile. They was turnin' 10 go
away Jest before collectin' time.
Hold on says Bill, pickin' up his
Colt often the top OF the organ. I've
seed people turn that Jack in church. but
you bet, you can't jump no game Of mine
that way. So, jest you all line up asin'
the wall until tucks the blankets in on
this yere outbreak in F fiat I'm workin
on, an I'll be with you
80 when Bill winds up he goes along
the line cf them tremblin' towerlsts and
collects 81.
They was amin to get away with all
them nocturnes an 'peggios, an arias,
an not say nuthin'.' says Bill. but they
can come no twist like that an me a
ridn' herd. None whatever"
Bill carries on this awya for three
hours: an what on splits an what on bets
he win he's over 800 ahead. But at
last he's tired and allows he'll quit an
call 1t a day. So he Tugs the old tom
tom down 10 Franklins office. Franklin
is Marshal. an Bill turns over the organ
an the money an tells Franklin 10 hunt
up Merno an give him the whole
shootn' match.
Where's this yere Dago?' says Frank
lin.
However do know says Bill. Last
| sees him he was a-goin' up the Gale
like a jack rabbit
Just then Merino comes in view feelin'
some pensive and fearful about that
bullet in his organ; but when he gets
Bits donation his feelin's commence TO
rise lot. In fact. he begins TO regard it
as quite a scheme.
But you'll have TO round up to the
alcalde, BILL says Franklin; I amt
shore none you amt been breakin'
some law
"Bill grumbles an allows Vegas is get
tin a heap too reserved for him.
It's gittin So says Bill, "a free
American citizen don't git no encOllrape-