The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-12
Stories of an Inland State.


Guns. even in the widest portions Of the
Mid west. are harmless things. So !:
whisky. So are barb-wire fences. But q
mixture of guns and barb-wire fences is a
terrible thing sometimes. So indeed. is a
mixture of guns and whisky.
Big likes gang had come to Stogs Center
the county seat, for time. 1t was only
a short time until the election and they
felt they had it won. They had the other
side cowed. They had driven off, a
bunch of cattle the night before and COW
cred the original brand with the skillet
There was only one man who still talked
too much That was Geranium Jim, who
was leading the opposition to Big Ike for
sheriff. who was running for the state leg
islature, himself.
Big Ike's gang mad but three pleasures
stealing cows, keeping control of the coun-
ty offices and the Anti-horse Thief associa-
ton in order to protect them in their thefts
and keno" and "tangiefoot."
They rode into Stogs Center that after
noon with Big Ike, the sheriff, at their
head. People saw them and were fright
ened. They would "shoot up the town. be-
fore they got out again and the peaceable
Inhabitants behind their thin walls did not
like the shooting up idea.
AS soon as the gang had dismounted at
the saloon. the city marshal of Stogs Gen.
ter appeared and parleyed with Big Ike.
See here, Ike" he said, "the people Of
this town expect some sort of order from
their sheriff. They are your friends. But
you and the boys are going in here and
bowl up. BY sunset you'll all be crazy
and before you know what you're doing
you'll shoot up the town. 1t amt right.
The people are your friends. You know 1t
now. But you won't know it when you
liquor up. Now get all the irons off the
boys and hand 'em over to me and when
you ride out tonight come to my house and
get 'em. My house is two miles out, you
can get your irons there and shoot up the
prairie dog towns to your hearts con-
tent"
Big Ike thought this was a pretty good
idea. He took all the revolvers and rifles
away from his men and loaded them into
the back end of the city marshaPs wagon.
and your guns?" suggested the marshal
to Big Ike, seeing he still retained them.
I'm an officer said Big Ike.
Pass 'em over, Ike. I'll take care OF
them.''
Ike surrendered his weapons. The gang
bowled up; cursed, sang, danced, broke
glasses, chairs and tables. At ten o'clock
hey mounted their ponies and rode up and
Town the street bowling like Indians. But
the trembling citizens did not hear shot
and thought it strange. The men rode
but to the city marshaPs and got their
weapons.
And although they passed by many
orairie-dog town they did not shoot them
lp." Not a shot was fired. They were
making straight across the prairie for Ge-
'anium Jim's.
That afternoon Geranium Jim had been
a caller. This was Mrs. Speer,
me of his neighbors. She had come ten
niles to buy a geranium. Jim had taken
lere into his shack and shown her his as
ortment. The plants were abloom in their
title pots and Mrs. Speer coveted them.
You can have this little darling said
i'm. If you'll promise to water it regular
Y, Mrs. Speer. / never part with one of
EN- without a pledge from the purchaser
hat they will treat the little things kindly
They're such innocent little things and
reat 'em we'll I have gone without drink
ng water in order to wet their little roots,
'irs. Speer, many time and l wouldn't
want anyone else to ill-treat them. I'd
ather keep 'em myself. They are wife,
Mrs. Speer promised and wondered at the
reat bulky man who could talk of flowers
o. Thorn county was very dry. Flowers
we're almost unknown. Jim had a fond
ess for them totally homogeneous with his
vild, western, uncouth nature. He al
Ways had them there in his shack. He
lad in dry spells gone without drinking
pater that he might refresh them not only,
ut he had done something else. He had
AIKEN the last lot of corn, from his idolized
roncho one winter night, in order to add
to the stove to keep the fire up and keep
hem from freezing. He loved the horse;
e hated to hear it whinny for its lost sup
er, but he loved the geranium more.
His "softness' in this way was known
the country. Hence his name,
Geranium Jim"
These flowers were the only tender things
! the mans life. All the fund of affec- |
on which ought to be in every man and is |
l most men. he showered upon these pets |
rst: what was left went to the dogs and
ne broncho. A cow had once broken into |
ne shack and eaten a favorite geranium. |
lie killed her for it. He had to have some
eef for the winter any way, he argued, to |
imself. But revenge caused the cows |
cath.
a
all the following Sunday to see how it got |
long in its new home.
Two hours after Mrs. Speer had gone |
Uranium Jim had cooked his supper and |
as smoking before the fire. At ten O'Clock /
e pulled in. 1t was about eleven when |
lie dogs began barking. He went out in
lie still night and saw nothing But he |
ropped on the ground and placed his ear
the grass. Horsemen. Thieves? No. |
is bunch was small. He had sold the last
eek. Every one knew that. Not thieves.
hen what? Politicians-Thorn county |
Ike. Big Ike Geranium
m went around to the arbor where he
ept his broncho and led the animal into
lie house. Then he called the two dogs
nd placed them inside the house. He
nut the door and looked out again. The
ght was very still, starlight. He could
e the horsemen and hear their horses. |
lent horsemen at night in Thorn county,
ways bad. He looked around at his
lack. The heavy sod with which he had
mixed up the sides was ample protection
lless they forced the door. But two could
ay at forcing the door. He went inside
Id threw water on the fire.
What was their game? Geranium Jim |
atched through chink in the door. The |
ovid stopped three hundred yards away.
hen one man dismounted and crept slow
forward. Would Jim fire: He could. |
Ut why kill? II might not be necessary. |
ne man got so close 10 the house that Jim
uid no longer see him. What was he |
ing to do? Presently the man could be |
ard climbing slowly TO the roof Jim |
atched sharply now. Then the tin stove
pc loOSened from the stove and began IN l
through the roof. Jim waited !
he stove pipe out, the two legs came \
rough Then the man dropped 70 the 1
'or. At the same moment Jim gagged
m. He tied him hand and foot and set
n in a corner.
Then he went TO the door and looked at
G group Another man WAS aoproarbirvt