The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-08
Why W0LFvlLLE GAVE
THANKS

might call peevish. A man had been
picked up shot to death; no one could tell
ty whom; 10 one had been hanged Ter
1t. Anyone familiar with the Western
spirit and the Western way would hare
noted the discomfort by merely walking
through the single, sunburned street.
When two citizens of the place made
casual meeting with each other in store
or causeway they confined their salu-
tations to gruff "Howdy," aud passed
on. Men were even seen to drink alone
In sullen, ,norose way. Clearly scme-
thing was wrong with Wolfviiie. The
popular discomfort was sufficiently pro-
nounced as to merit the notice Of lead
ing citizens. Therefore it was no mar
vel that when Sam Enright, who, by
right of years, and carrying under his
white hair brain as clear and bright
as day in June, was the head man of
the hamlet, met Doc Poets at the bar
of the Red Light saloon the discussion
should fall on affairs Of public concern.
Whatever do you reckon is the mat
ter with the camp, Enright?" asked Dec
peets as they tipped their liquor into
theif threats without missing a drop
Poe Poets was the medical practitioner
Of Wofville; but his grammar, like that
OF many another man, bad given way
to his environment
Cant tell" replied Enright, with an
air dubious yet thoughtful. Looks like
the whole outfit is somehow on dead
card. Mebby it's Jack gettin' killed
last week, an no one lynched. Some
folks say the vigilantes oughter have
swung that greaser."
Well retorted Doc reets, 'you as
chief of the strangers (vigilantes) and
as a member in full standing know
thar was no more evidence agin that
a1exican than agin my pinto Morse"
"Of course l know that too" replied
Enright, "but still sorter thinks gen.
"Tal sentiment lotted on hangn'. You
know, Doc, it amt so important from
public stand that you stretch the right
man as that you stretch somebody when
IFS looked for. OF course, 1t would have
been mighty mortifyin' 10 the Mexican
~ get swung off at the loop end of a Ia
riat for KILN he warn't in on, but still
thinks it would have Gained the sperit
- the camp. However. Imay be way
of to one side in that-its just my view
set up the nose paint again, barkeep."
While Doc Poets was slowly freight
ir5 his glass with a fair allowance he
was deep in meditation.
Eve an idee, Enright," said Doc Poets
at last. 'The thing for us to do is to
give the public some new direction of
thought. It'll hold 'em quiet. The
games are all dead at this hour and the
boys amt doin' nothin', s'pose we call
meetin' to consider my scheme? The
mere exercise will soothe them"
Shall we have Jack Booth post no.
tice?" asked Enright. Hes the mar
shall and I reckon what he does that
way makes it legal"
No. said Poets, Tets rustic 'em in
and hold the meetin' now, right here in
the Red Light. Some of the boys is
get to chewin' each others names any
minute. I'm telln you, Enright, onless
something is done POGO tempo to cheer
EN- an convince 'em Wolfville is look
in up and gettin' ahead on the correct
trail this outfits liable to have a KILN
any old time at all. The recent decease
of Burns won't be marker
well" said Enright, 'if thar amt no
time for Booth an notice, good, han
dy, quick way to arouse public interest
would be to step out the back door and
shake the loads out of my six-shooter.
That1l excite their curiosity and over
they'll come all spraddled out"
Thus 1t came to pass that the after
noon peace of Wolfville was suddenly
disparaged and broken down by six pis-
tol shots, which followed each other like
the rapid striking of Yankee clock.
Anyone creased?" asked Jack Booth.
by general consent fashion of marshal
and executive officer for the place. and
who, followed by the population of Wolf
Vile, rushed up minute after the shoot
ing.
None whatever" replied Doc Poets
cheerfully. "The shootin' you all hears
Is purely bloodless; and Enright and me
INDUCES tharin' under what they calls
the public welfare clause of the consti-
tuition The intent which urges us to
shake up the serenity of this yere day
is to call public meetin' of the camp:
which the same bein' now accomplished
hnright will take the chair; the bar
keep will ask your beverages, and bust
ness will proceed in regular order"
Enright who had finished, replenished
the six chambers of his pistol, from
which he had evicted the load, drew
chair to a poker table and drummed
gently with his weapon for attention.
"The meetin' will please come to or
der" said Enright, with an air of grave,
sage dignity, which had generous re-
Election in the quiet faces round him.
doc Poets, gents, our townsman whom
we all knows and respects, will now state
the object Of this convocation. The bar
keep will continue his rounds, the same
not bein' held as disturhin' none what
ever"
Gents and fellow townsmen," said
Zoe Poets, arising at the call of En-
right, and stepping forwsrd, "any at
tempt on my part to pint out those feat
ures in the daily life of this camp which
makes me and you and all CT us tired au'
sick as well. would not only seem invid-
iCus, but shOrely end in a rcw / there
fore avoids al i1Arrassin' mention of a
heretofore sort. Coming down to the
turn at once, venture the remark that
there's something dead wrong with
Wolfville. 1 might see no virtue in
rursooin this subject, which might we'll
excite the resentments of all true citi-
zens of the town, were it not that I
feel crowding necessity for a change
o. radical sort. Something must be
proposed and something must be done.
am: we'll aware there's men, good
men, yere today as holds a conviction
that bet was overlooked in not string
in the Mexican last week on account of
Burns. That may or may not be true;
but in any eesnt that hands been play
ed-the pots been lost and won Wheth-
er on that occasion we discarded and
drew for the best interests Of the public
may well pass by unasked. At any
este, We didn't fill, an the greaser got