The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-03-05

at Percy Briggs. without looking at
the stranger. We all looked at Briggs
also-it was his affair after all-he had
originated this opposition. To our
surprise he said nothing.
The stranger leaned heavily on the
counter Il was speakin' to YOU" ne
said, his eyes on Mosby, and slightly
accenting the pronoun with tap Of
his revolver butt on the bar. "Ie
don't seem to catch on"
Mosby smiled feebly and again cast
an imploring glance at Briggs. 10
our greater atonishment Briggs said
quietly: Why don't You answer the
stranger, Mosby?'
Yes, yes" said Mosby, suavely, to
the newcomer, while an angry flush
crossed his cheek as he recognized the
position in which Briggs had placed
him. ''Of course you're welcome to
what doings / hev here, but | reckon
ed these gentlemen over there" with
vicious glance at Briggs, might fix
We up suthin' better; they're so pow
full kind to your sort"
The stranger threw down a gold
piece on the counter and said: Fork
ont your whiskey then" waited until
his glass was filled, took it in his hand
and then drawing an empty chair
to the stove and sat down beside Briggs
Seem as you're that kind" he said
placing his heavy hand on Briggs
knee, '.mebbe We kin tell me if thar's
shanty or a cabin in Rattlesnake
that [ kin get for couple o weeks
l saw an empty one at the head O the
hill You see, genmelmeu," he add
ed confidently, as he swept the drops
of whiskey from his long moustache
with his fingers and glanced around
our group. I've got some business
over at Bigwood (our nearest town,
but ez place to stay at it amt my
style"
Whats the matter with Bigwood ?"
said Briggs abruptly.
It's too howlin, too festive, too
rough, thar's too much yellin' and
shootin' goin' on day and night
Thar's too many card sharps and gay
gumbOlion cavortin' about the town
to please me. Too much permiskous
soakln' at the bar and free Jim Jams.
What [ want is quiet place whar a
man kin give his mind and elbow 3
rest betwixt grippin' his shootin' irons
and crookin' big whisky. A sort Of
slow, quiet, easy place like this
We all stared at him, Percy Briggs
as tixedly as any. But there was not
thn cliTrhtnct Of
or peculiar significance in his manner
He went on slowly.
when l struck this yer camp
mint ago: when / seed that thar
ditch meanderin' peaceful like
through the street. withoat hotel or
free saloon or express office on either
side; with the smoke just a curlin' ov-
er the chimney Of that log shanty,
and the bre5h just set fire to and
smoulderin' in that potato patch with
a kind O old time stingin' in your eyes
and nose and a few woman'5 duds
juest tiutterin' on line by the fence,
[ says to myself; Bulger, this is peace
This is wot you're lookin' for, Bulger,
this is wot you're wantin': this is wot
you'll hey."
You say you've business over at
Bigwood What business" said
Briggs.
It's a peculiar business, young fel-
low," returned the stranger gravely.
"Thar's different men ez has different
opinions aboutit Some allows it's an
easy business; some allows lisa rough
business; some says it's bad business
others says its gay and festive.
Some wonders ez how / got into it,
and others wonder how Ill get out of
it. It's paying business: it's peace
ful sort o. business when LETT to itself.
1T peculiar business: business
that sort o. belongs to me though |
amt got a patent from Washington
our it; business that's my own" He
rose and saying: Lets meander over
and take look at that empty cabin,
and ef she suits me, why I'll plank
down a slug for her on the spot and
move in to morrow. I'll pick up suth
in IN the way o'boXes and blankets
from the grocery, and eff thar's cor
ner whar | kin stand my gun and a
nail 10 hang up my revolver, why I'm
all thar
By this time we We're no longer as
tonished when Briggs rose, and not
only accompanied the sinister looking
stranger to the empty cabin, but as
sisted him in negotiating with the
owner for a fortnight's occupancy
\nx-D1.t 10 Aarrnrl nrCnIlnI
Briggs on his return for sone e expla-
nation Of this singuler change in his
attitude towards the stranger. He
cody reminded Us, however, that
while MS intention of excluding ruff
tianly adventurers from the camp re
mained the same, he had no right to
go back on the strangers sentiments,
which We're evidently in accord with
his own, and although Mr. Bulger's
appearance was inconsistent with
them, that was only an additional
reason why we should substitute a
mild tirmnes5 for that violence which
we all deprecated, but which might
attend his abrupt dismissal. We
We're all satisfied except Mosby. who
had not yet recovered from Briggs
change of front. which he was pleased
to call 'craw fishing Seemed to me
his account of his business was very
satisfactory Sorter film the bill ali
round-no mistake thar" he suggested
with a malicious irony. i like man
that's outspoken.''
i understand him very well. said
Briggs quietly.
In course you did. Only when
you've settled In your mind whether
he was describing horse-steal or tract
distributing. mebbe You'll let me
( know
/ 1t would seem. however, that Briggs
did not interrogate the stranger again
regarding it, nor did we, \who were
quite content to leave matters in his
hands. Enough that Mr.. Bulger NOV
ed into the empty cabin the next day
3 i d. L.