The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-03
WON BY A LONE HAND


providence or fate, or whatever they may
choose to call their-creator-th individ-
uals, sir, are idlers or towards. "
The speaker was one of a group of men
lounging on the deck of the Great North
west, which a few hours earlier had COM
menced her slow upward progress against
the mighty current of the Yellowstone.
He was a prosperous ranchman of Mon
tana, returning from an eastern visit.
I've all get our chances, - he resumed,
after puff or two at his pipe and pleased
glance around the observant circle 1t is
our fault, not the Lords, if we don't keep
hold of them. Chances that may look as
full of sting as a chestnut bur, but that
hold sweet kernels of success for the man
who has the pluck and the cleverness to
grasp them. And I'll tell you a story with
that text if you hke-a story which shall
be new, though the text is a chestnut.
at happened some years since before
the Northern Pacific had crossed the
Rockies. The terminus that season was at
Zenith City, and the class of travel which
demands luxury didn't come beyond Bis
Enarek, where the company economically
shuEted the sleepeFs before rushing away
FROM civilization.
$50 the train which started from Zenith
City one November morning was made up
as usual Of a passenger car, box car and
the locomotive, while it's quite unusual
nuInbe of travellers was composed entire
ly of party of 30 cowboys
'They meant to go east for such a length
of time their cash would endure and
though it was burning in their pockets to
be spent they we're resolved not to waste
any of it in railway tiekets-a resolve OF
which they informed the conductor when
he came to them about half an hour out
from Zenith City.
He was a young fellow, as were the
cowboys Everything was young in Mon
tana in those days. This chap Lloyd, how
ever, was slim built, with a color that
changed like girls, and very queer he
looked among the big, brown, brawny
roughs, who left their card playing to
swarm into the aisle or lean over the seats
nearest those Of their comrades who had
answered to his request for tickets that
they had none.
g The company will take money for
fares also said Lloyd, without glancing
at the gathering crowd.
Sc When the company can get it, some
body chuokled.
- Invariably, Lloyd asserted, 'or the
passenger who refuses to pay is put of the
train
Here are Tim and me to begin with, and
the whole carful after u.s. for not l cent Of
our earnings is going into the money bags
of your - sWindling company
8 You will hurt me much more than
the company he said when he could get
hearing. 1 shall lose my place if I don't
collect your fares
81 That is your lookoutP
" we amt going to tell your boss If
you keep quiet.
There is a greed for torturing animals
which dishgures most human nature from
Spanish bull baiters to those rat fighters
down east. So those bright eyes of LIoyd's
didn't meet any more encouragement than
did Father Noah's the first time he took
squint at the food through one Of the port
holes of the ark
Without speaking he stood, very pale
and still for a moment looking at the open
pocketbook in his hand, while they all
stared at him, grinning and jeering. Pres
entity the color rushed back over his face,
and shutting his book with a snap he went
out of the Ger.
He was followed by a roar of laughter
and facetious yells.
q Then the crowd returned to poker play
ing, some Of them just bit disseminated
with their victory and muttering that 20
to I was too big odds for any chap, 'spe-
cially q slim, little chap with fists which
cOuldn't hold their own against kid.
"a quarter of an hour later the train
stopped, not gradually, bat with a jerk
which sent poker chips flying There was
a cowboy half out of every window in the
car quicker than yoH could have cooked
pistol, for stations were seldom within 100
miles of each other ia those days, and they
ell knew that this stop wasn't regular.
Behind and before them the track
stretched as far as they could see, while on
both sides the prairie spread away to the
low edge of the gray sky. Not a sound or
movement except that of the locomotive
moving off at full speed
''In came the cowboys heads with a
voliey of hard swearing, and there stood
Lloyd in the doorway, cooler than am
this instant, but holding a six shooter.
g You have just five minutes to make
up your minds, he said, and his voice was
as steady as his eyes. VIII you pay your
fares as honest men or get out and tramp
to the next settlement, 40 miles from here
Our engineer is within hail Of US, and he
will not come back unless give him the
order Oh, you may murder me If you
chOoseP he cried stepping farther into the
car as half a dozen pistols were grabbed,
but don't mean to die alone, and at the
sound of the first shot our engineer will be
off to Bismarck
For one long moment the pPaixie
wasn't stiller than that carload Of excited
humanity. Then big fellow broke into
a laugh, took his pistols from his belt and
laying them On a seat walked toward
Lloyd, holding out his eEapty fists.
g Shaker he said That was a lone
hand, and Pluekily you played it. Boys,
he cried a chap who can look straight
down the muEEles of so many cowboy
shooters for the sake of doing his duty
that chap viii make the kind of partner
most of US want to yoke with # he will
let US, eh2'
well, sir, all crowds ara alike, whether
cattle or nen-they follow a leader. Then
the fares were paid as fast as Lloyd could
take them And that is the end Of this
story.
Where is Lloyd nowP In Helena; state
senator from - county.
Where is the fellow who stood by him.
he laughed joviaIly. Neither he nor his
whereabouts point the MORAL of this tale