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

arrival Of Col. @. Il. Stembie, agent for
and a prominent stakeholder in, the
Black Butte Cattle company. This
English syndicate, having been struck
with the advantageous location Of
Lsriat, is contemplating the erection
of enormous stock yards in our city,
for the shipment OF cattle from the
Powder river valley. Il is needless to
comment upon the great influence that
this deal viii have upon LaFist, the
Star city Of northwest Wyoming, as
the improvements win amount to at
least $4,000" etc.
It was all very quickly and amicably
arranged, That evening the colonel
held an enthusiastic reception at the
Alagazan, the leading hotel, where there
we're none so confident Of the future
Of LArist, SO jOvisl, and Withsl so lavish
with his money, as he. incidentally,
it may be said that the bar of the Ala
gszan did big business, and that the
landed proprietors Of Lariat, Hank Nc
DOugall especially awakened to the
fact that they had good thing.
The next morning the colonel, note
book in hand, and accompanied by the
leading citizens of the town, inspected
property available for the uses Of the
Black Butte Cattle company. In the
afternOon-for the agents time was
limited-the purchasing began. The
courteous old gentleman who had en-
teFteined them so Hospitality the night
before did not hsggle over prices. He
paid cash for his new acquisitions in
crisp, new $500 nOtes-s proceeding
which, to make change, unfortunately,
drained the town in a short time Of all
its smaller denominations.
By evening the English syndicate
had acquired a choice tract Of land
lying on both sides Of the railroad, in
the heart Of Lariat, for which it had
paid out some $4,000. McDougaIl,
editor and town marshal, had made
some thousands by the deal, and had
be been a ready speaker would prob
ably have said: "These Englishmen are
the biggest suckers I ever saw" But,
as it was, he contented himself with the
simple words: "Beats all.
1t wanted but few minutes of train
time, next day, when the colonel, car,
rying his compact little valise, his face
besming with happy good nature, ssUn.
tered leisurely down to where the big
engine was putting and blowing, pre-
parstOy to its long trip down the road
u must leave just at this time" be
said, "to transact some very important
business in Cheyenne. But I'll be back
in a week OF ten days, and begin work
Immediately" And be treated the lit
tie crowd about the train to cigars.
The whistle footed a warning note
the bell rang and the colonel cordially
shook hands all around. Stepping OF
the rear platform Of the train, ht
turned about once more and waived hii
gOOd-byes to persons in the distance
Just ct the moment that the wheels
began to turn, Hank McDougsl, hi
marshal's star cleaning on mis- vest
he wore no coat-csme running dow
Wyoming avenue from the post Office
a yellow paper in his hand, which hi
waved dramatically over his head.
"Stop that trainI" yelled the tow
marshal. But the conductor and en-
gineer did not hear, and the trsir
moved on.
, "Jump, you scOundrel, jump" agaiE
yelled Hank, at the same time drawing
his gun. The coloners only answer
was polite wave of the hand. TheI
Hank took snap shot at the fast de
parting train, and-WOuld you believD
it!-that little old man whipped on
two pistols from somewhere, quick a.
: q wink, and for a few moments thu
, way the bullets whistled about tht
heads Of the crowd along the tract
was something wonderful. And as tn
train grew smaller and smaller in it
straightawsy course over the prairie
> the last act Of the lone passenger OF
the rear platform was to wave a whit
handkerchief towards the little city o
Lariat and disappear within the car.
. The town marshal replaced his CUR
in his hip-pOcket and turned ssdi!
, away. Deaf to repeated inquiries as Il
the meaning Of it all, be disappeared
within the editorial ssnctum; for in tn
. midst OF all excitement he still rsmem
} beFed that, ex-Of3ciO, he vas an editor
Rnd-he was both 3 thrifty and eau
tiOus man.
An hour later another edition Of th
Exponent appeared, dOuble-leaded, a
il in mourning, and the copies sold 70
q dollar apiece. The editorial was brie
and to the point: