The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-10-01
WHY THE FIGHTER REFORMED.

Discovered That the Strangers spafs Were
Sharp and That He Could Use Then.
Everybody, and q great many other
people, who ever put in any time around
Dogtown either knows or knows of Bill
Norris. There used to be q great deal
of mining going on around Dogtown-
placer mining, and Bill was q celebrity
all the way down Butte creek from
Hupp's Mill to Chico. There was hard
ly . man of any fighting proclivities in
that part of California who had rot In
the course Of his career tried Bill on 70
his sorrow.
Bill was . shining success - . rouRh
and tumble fighter, depending monk
strength and agility than SCIENCE, -
his invariably successful experiences
in this line persuaded him that he had
n dead cinch on anyone who was fool
ish enough to engage with him in q dis
cussion rs to who was the best man.
This feeling of security tended to make
Bill arrogant, not to say naughty. and
his manner to strangers was tinged
with an offensiveness as pronounced as
1t was unmistakable. He became fully
persuaded that IL was his bounden duty
to harass and annoy every stranger who
came along until the victim was left no
resource but to resent the provocation
given him and Join issues there and
then.
Bill went up to Nimshcw one day on
some business. and while he was in the
barroom Of the hotel talking TO some Of
his mining friends tall, slim mnn came
riding down the mountains on a small
broncho. The traveller hitched his horse
to post in front of the hotel and walked
into the barroom to get a drink. lie at
tracted no particular attention except
that II was observed by some present
that he had particularly long legs. Bill
noticed this fact also, and IL occurred
to him that II would be q source of great
amusement to show his friends what
stride the traveller had and to illustrate
II by making him get out Of the room ct
full speed.
With this laudable object In view, he
responded anably to the strangers
pleasant salutation, which was accom-
panied by an invitation to drink. In
the conversation that ensued Bill made
an observation TO the effect that Il
struck him as rather absurd that man
with legs as long as those in the pos
session of the traveller. should squander
valuable time in riding broken-down
broncho when 10 much more ground
could be covered by walking, closing his
remark by stating that an ordinary
jack rabbit wasn't in II with the man
to whom he was addressing his conver-
sation.
This nettled the stranger somewhat,
and he threw out hint in the direction
Of how much more profitable II might
prove to attend TO ones own affairs
than to worry about those Of others.
Such boldness was not calculated TO in.
duce the conversation to languish. Bill
was unaccustomed TO what he char
acterized as back talk, and the traveller
was promptly challenged TO fight. He
failed to see the necessity for this, and
tried to excuse himself on the ground
Of suffering with chills and in no con-
dition to fight. Bill declined TO recoe-
nize this as valid, and the stranger.
with much reluctance, prepared to
meet - bess he could Bills onslaught.
No time was wasted In scientific dis.
play. Bill closed at once and down they
both went On the floor, Bill, a. usual.
on top. But the stranger knew his busl-
hess. No one had noticed that the tall,
slim man had on large pair Of Spanish
spur, which. contrary to custom. were
sharp. Bill was the first one TO make the
discovery, for the strnngcr, instead Of
struggling, a. he ought 10 have done.
cissped Bill firmly with his arms, whiIe
he doubled up bis legs and, planting ths
spurs ON Bilss back near the shoulders,
he shot Afst one lex and then the othes