The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-30

open and a clerk at hand, and pound
ing on the ehelf with a shooting iron is
a bluff we are determined not to put
up with.
Three weeks ago Colonel Rankin OF
Sunfower ranch stopped his subscrip-
ton to The Kicker and sent us word
that if we wanted any explanation
they would be made in the shape o.
bullets. We knew what allied thu
Colonel. He is a crank On the subiec
of murders. We have had accounts O
as many as 80 murders in one issue
and yet he would call at the Office anC
declare that we were running a one
rights alone. We didn't get time till
last Sunday to ride over to SuDfower
and have it out with the Colonel. He
had been expecting us for several days,
and had barricaded the house and laid
in a thousand extra cartridges. It so
happened, however, that he was riding
out among his cattle when we arrived,
and we got between him and the house
before he saw us. He fired seven or
eight shots at long range and then
headed for Lone Jack at a gallop. We
overhauled him after a race of three
miles and made him get down and
have a talk. The result Of the confab
was that he renewed his subscription
for a year and subscribed for four x
ira papers to be sent to friends. Our
jealous minded contemporary. who in
dulges in a half column sensation re-
garding the affair, says we forced the
Colonel to shell cut at the muzzle of a
gun. That is all bosh, OF course. When
a local subscriber stops bis Kicker we
call on him to find out what is wrong.
We do not force anyone to subscribe
to our paper. We may display III
guns and indulge in arguments, but
there is no coercion. The Colonel was
mad because we didn't have more
murders in the paper. We promised
him to keep the number up to so per
week, if possible to get hold of that
many accounts, and he was more than
satisfied.
Among the improvements being
made in town this summer we notice
that the Bald Eagle Saloon is being
heightened by 20 feet or more at the
rear. The idea is to make a private
room where a few gentlemen can sit
down to a quiet game of poker or a
smoke and chat without being inter
rupted by the shooting as the bar. IL
will be called The Editorial Room, " in
honor of the editor of the Kicker, and
now and then, when we wish relaxa-
ton from the busy cares of life, we
shall be found there holding at least
three of q kind and willing to back our
hand to the extent of $50. Mr.. John
SOD, the proprietor Of the Bald Eagle,
has done his best for a year past to dis
courage shooting affairs in his place,
but they still continue, and az he real
ICES that many of his patrons desire to
avoid such things, he is going to an ex
pense of several hundred dollars to lit
up a room which will be entirely bullet
proof. Another noticeable improve
ment, which will be completed next
week is the lengtheuing of the bar Of
the Wild Bull Saloon The saloon
started in business in 1892 with q bar
10 feet long, at which only seven men
could stand up to with comfort. In
1898 it was heightened to 30 fest. In
1894, to 80 feet, and nov it will be eX
tended to 40, which will give from 20
to 25 men opportunity to rest one elbow
on the bar as they drink, There are
several other saloon bars which are to
be extended from 5 to Is feet this sum
msr, and, though these things cannot
be regarded in the light of q boom, they
are certainly straws which show that
the wind is c ming around into the
right quarter.
Our esteemed contemporary was out
in half sheet last week, and his apology
to the public was an accident to bis
press. We know all about that ''acci,
dent" The critter somehow got the
idea that he could play poker, and one
night last week he sat down to a game
with Judge COldtree. Ga the first hand
out the Judge got a full house, while
our esteemed only secured a pair OF
Jacks. Some one had told him that a
pair of Jacks would beat anything out,
and he kept raising the Judge Clll ne
was called and lost every dollar 10
He wasn't able to buy paper for his
issue. nor will he be for the next SIX
months to come, unless he raises money
on a third mortgage on his office. he
can't edit, shoot, ride, make a Speech
cot oH6oo nor NAV DOkeP. and what on