The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-01
THAN BURNING
Was the Rate of Leslie Hines
MOney-Spending.
ONE THOUSAND AN HOUR
For Three Years, Was His
Average Squandering.
ONE THOUSAND AN HOUR

/ on one long, unbrOken speree IS now ali
! but a bankrupt in a Nebraska court and
broken in health. Leslie B. Hines, but
| three years ago a cowboy in Cunning coun
| ty, awoke one fine morning to find him
self. not famous, but rich. the possessor
OF IS 00O. 600 bequeathed by a deceased I'M
Gle. Now ne is famous but poor, and the
mann1r OF his squandering his sudden
riches constitutes the most extraordinary
narrative or unbridled extravaganza that
has ever been heard Of.
Wasted by disease and dissipation and
tortured by dreams of misspent fortune,
the prince of the prodigals lies dying
on a Nebraska ranch.
His name is Leslie 3. Hines. In three
years he has spent all but fraction
of three million dollars. This is a million
dollars month, two thousand five hund-
red dollars a day. A fraction over or
under will not mater much in Leslie
Hines account, now that ne is dying.
In the rhirty-six months OF Leslie Hines
career he has bought up hotels for an
afternoons pleasure chartered special
trains for an hour. brought champaign
terrapin and pate de fois gras a thous-
and miles for banquet, and streUn the
streets Of western villages with gold.
When the burnt-out stick of this prod
igal rocket landed, after a long deErous
flight. the remnants OF the fortune we're
gathered together and placed in the
hands Of a guardian, regularly appinted
by Nebraska court. So It comes about
that Leslie Hines will probably have
enough TO buy pumes for his hearse
and silver trappings for his coffin.
The evil that men do lives after them.
Not much of a heritage either Of good
or evil Will this young man leave behind
him. Throughout his life he mas shown
a sort Of astounding mediocrity, which is
sometimes worse than either judicious
wickednes osr misplaced charity.
Three years ago Hines was a cowboy
in Cummings county, Nebraska With his
chaparajos of cowskin, his lariet, sombre-
70, and clanking spurs he drove the cat
tie around the buttes, rounded them up.
threw and bound them for the brand
ing, broke the wild spotted bronchOs, or
shot wolves with his six-shooter from
the back Of his running cayuse.
He had no apparent ambition beyond an
occasional sportive display at some border
shindig, or spectacular blowout with
revolver trimmings, at one of thes mall
and remote town throughout Nebra ska.
Occasionally he had seen and admired
gamblers dressed in loud checks and girls
in red calicoes, but the attainment OF
dress such as the Nebraska gamblers
wear or the favor Of red-cheeked girls
in red caliooes, were beyond his widest
dreams.
Half dollar day on the rough plains
winter and summer, storm and shine.
is not calculated to expand a mans mind
to any extent.
Sometimes. it is true Hines would talk
of the future with bob" Hicks. his side
side partner and fellow cowboy, but the
utmost limit of their ambitions was a
small ranch of their own, with appropri-
ate wives and horses.
If we can only save up two hundred
dollars. We will buy some heifers and
start a ranch of our own Bob" Hines
would say. when we get our pay this
month. let's put it in the bank and make
Il start"
But the frontier village saloons would
clear them out regularly at the end of
each month. and they would ride back
20 the range with aching heads and a.
burden of good resolutions.
Hine had said that he was an ornban
He also claimed that he had no relatives
living Nobody Will bother about nv
viii when 1 die" he used to say.
One day dapper-looking man drove up
70 the double Z ranch in a dusky buck
board and asked for Leslie Hines. He's
out on the ranch somewhere" replied a
cowsoy who was plating quirt of raw
hide. Has he been up to some mischief"
oh. no. replied the dapper man. His
uncle in Butte has died and left him
5000 600"
Great Jehosephat! Wait heret Ill I git
him."
In few minutes the cowboy was riding
like whirlwind over the plains after
Leslie Hines.
In short time Hines and his side part
ner, Bob Hicks. rode in from the range
on horses that were ready TO drop from
exhaustion.
The 5awdry stranger explained the sit
ua.ion- Up went Hines hat with a wild
flourish. Now We'll set our ranch for
fair, Bob" said he.
You bet replied Bob.
Hines did NOT wait for his ear,-,- -.
rode away 70 C,har5ron WITH - $50
Bob
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