The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-01-24
STEMPLE'S VENTURE.

STEMPLE'S VENTURE.
The town marshal, ex-oficio editor
Of the Lariat Exponent, afterwards de-
clared that his bad luck came that
night with the rain. If first came leak
ing through the roof about midnight,
and, finding a convenient crease in his
blankets, trickled slowly downward,
until it awoke him with start. Being
a man of few words, he simply gave a
grunt of disgust, leaned over to a cor
ner of the diminutive room, seized an
umbrella, opened it, thrust it accurate
ly under the leak, and calmly fell
asleep.
In the morning things were in even
a worse state. The bed was 8 NINA
ture island, the type cases were half
filed with water, and the press, a foot
power affair, stood cheerlessly in a
damp corner as if waiting to be Fesus-
cisted from its all-night exposure.
Even then, Hank made no remark
his first act after setting up in his
blankets being to pull forth slowly a
huge plug of tobacco from his hip
pocket, take generous chew, and then,
as if fortified against all manner Of
disagreeable things, to spring up and
begin putting things to rights.
There was a knock at the door.
"COme in" he shouted grufiy; and
there appeared to view 3 little old gen.
tleman whose black froCk-coat, white
collar-an unusual luxury in Larist-
and air Of quiet dignity accorded well
with his gray hair and mOustache.
pardon me-" he said, with a slight
air Of difAdence, ''but is this the editor
of the Exponent"
Hank nodded.
~ am Col, Stemble," the little old
fellow continued, sffsbly, land I am
up here on special business for the
Black Butte Cattle company. Now, to
come to the point, I am very anxious
to have a special edition Of your paper
published today"
Hank kicked an empty tin can under
the press, and looked hard at his boots
People were wont to say that he was 3
was cautious man.
ut viii pay" the csttlemsn continu.
ed; "and this will give you some idea
of my wishes" He handed the editor
some pencil notes and a new green.
back.
"Get the paper out by three O'Clock
at the latest, and above all things make
it interesting"
"I'll do it," Hank replied with Gus
tOmaTy brevity; and then, with renewed
energy, he resumed the renovation Of
the little one-story shsnty which served
IS editorial Office, pFessrOom and home
The old gentleman smiled to himself
as he trudged sWay-suCh 8 patsFnal
benevolent smile as to seem almost
out of place in such an unc0Rventiona
wicked little frontier town Rs Lariat
As far as the eye could reach were Il
be seen the temporary structures o.
canvas and tarred paper which were
the homes Of the Inhabitants. Up ant
down the railroad the frst-cOmers had
pitched their tents, and as the tow
grew rough streets had been formed
ranging back to the line Of low hills q
the east. Larist enjoyed the djstinc
ton of being the extreme end Of the
new railroad which was rapidly push
ing its way through Wyoming towards
the great northwest. Crouch's, dow
the road, had until recently enjoyed
that honor. But one fine morning aftsl
the first train had pushed on to the
present site Of Larist, the iDhabitant;
Of tbs older town had emigrated IN {
body, and CrOuch's was no more.
True to the editors promise, the
Exponent appeared at the time named
but not until Hank O'DOughall, s mar
in whose veins ran q strain Of thrifty
Scotch blood, had engaged in several
mysterious transactions with certain
property owners e Lsriat, in exchange
for some ready money that the editor
had been boarding up for many 5 dsy
the latter became tbs owner Of a con
siderable strip Of land along the rail
rOad-an squisitioa sftarssyd explain
ed By the following sa8cssneensai
vaich sspssE55 II :sia fszpc5eus