The times., 1897-08-15
PLAYING FOR BIG STAKES.


There was nardydcliow named Bron-
ston W he lived ifia sfRck on q desert claim
jus. at tie edge OF the Wyoming hunting
grounds, who had a reputation for being
about as handy with his fists as the next
conner Hronston had an especial dislike
for the iuder hunUersIand it was his boast
that in fair encounter he could best any
thing wearing good clothes ana carrying
fifty seven pounds Of Fariegated anrmuni
ton, He was kept fairly busy
The hunting grounds, despite the pres
encc o: BRONSON, became more popular
year after year, until finally he had to
be little more select in his operations,
as there we-e altogether too many visitors
10 allow linn time to do the whole lot
justice Ee finally announced that In
future he WIS going to whip nobody under
the rank OF colonel In military life, aud
nobody who In civil life wasn't at least IL
mayor OF big town or a president of
railroad BY following this plan he sue
ceeGed in filling bis time comfortably with
out overwriking himself He was uni
forlnly successful until one day party
s,oEaed at his ranch and introduced Them
selves AS Eastern tourists, bent on doing
some elk determination. They asked If
they might stop overnight with him,
"Gentle nen," said Bronston, do it
happen hat there's a ginerai amongst you?''
NO. there didn't happen to be.
"A Judge, mebbe, or vice PRESIDENT"
There was not 1t was an unofficial
party. The only man with anything APP
preaching an official designation was d
young fellow who was Portuguese consul
in n seaport town down East He wasn't
native of Portugal himself Just a plain
American citizen, who had been appointed
| to the place because he had the time to
attend To the few duties
'Concernin' CONSUL" said Rronston
refiec.iveiy, II don't know. never heerd
| of sich noubtless mebbe It'll responsible
an honorable job"
| He WAS answered that 1t was.
We'll" he suggested. ''mebbe he'll do
| Come out here in the yard, gentlemen, an
the exercises will begin"
| They had no idea what was coming, but
| BronStop explained briefly, and the young
| man seemed perfectly willing 10 take his
| part Ia the melee, though the others, terri
| fled, tried their best to argue Bronston out
OF it. The desert claim settler made drush
al his victim and found he wasn't there
| He had carefully stepped aside, and as the
| t5.e-asafa fighter tIinndered past him the
| consul mt him on the ear. Then tile p or
tuguess representative followed up his
| advantage, and, ieaping upon the pr9strate
| BronstCn battered his head against the
| ground until lie had worn hole in the
| hard soil. BE picked Bronston up and
threw him out into the road, and then
| went ont and threw him back again. The
/ Portuguese consul, IL may be remarked tad
| spent the better part of his life learning
/ how TO box and wrestle, and this was his
| first opportunity 60 let himself ont.
| In an hour BEoDston came back to life.
lie wearily looked about him and said:
"Gentleincn, did q dozen or two seprelue
court Judges sneak up while I wasn't
| loo gin an tackle rne?" He was told
that no such thing had happened.
.P'r'aps IT was a State legislature?''
No. ii was just a young man who was Il
| Portuguese consul
| lie drew sad sigh. Il wouldn't a
believed IL" he said II had more confi-
| tiehce In the institutions of this land of
| freedom OF ours. To think thata man who
has licked governors and States 'torneys
an sheriffs an Congressman should be
whoopeh till hes half dead by furriner
that can't talk the lang widge of his own
| furrin eountryl Gentlemen, they ain't no
use heia' patriotic no more; the repub-
lican fpna OF Goy,m-Ht Is crum blin', an
she's soir' tc falii Dog it ALL ] beat the
da ylights out Of q, reg'lar United States
Senator wunst. an here am en- the broad
of my back With two ribs broken by a
emissary OF lcspotisrn. The games over.
an the U. s of Ameriek amt got a chip
[ to e. sh in chic=po Record