The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-03
THE MAN HE NEEDED.
BAD ED WANTED THE EDITOR WHO
WROTE HIM UP.

He Had Three Pistols, a Hunting Knife
and other Weapons, and the Editor Nat
uraIIy Quaked In His shOes-HOw the
Bad Mans Character Was RehabiIitated.
One day George lift, who publishes a
very warm paper in a damp basement in
Pocatello, was over in the neighborhood
of Ross Fork when one of the seven men
who had been very intently regarding
him from the front of the saloon across the
way walked over toward him. In that
part of the country, where, owing to the
frequency of reports of Indian hostilities,
every man went armed, lift would have
paid no attention to one revolver and a
winchester, but this man had three pis-
tolls a hunting knife and a thing that
looked like slunshOt, well as the reg
ularly ordained rife.
"Mister, he said, addressing lift, "the
boy behind the bar says you print the pa
per down at Pocatello."
Zone of them, - lift answered, wishing
he knew what was about to happen.
"A paper down at Pocatello " said the
walking artillery battery, 'sOme time ago
alluded to me when went down there as
witness in the court as havin killed three
men in Texas an as bein wanted by Pin
kertons for various offenses.'
''When was that?" the editor faltered.
Gin March of last year"
ST came to Pocatello in September, p"
lift said, much relieved.
The man with the weapons looked dis
appointed.
say. Amt that disapp'intin nowP Sure
you didn't come in February, mister?'
my dear friend, assure you that I
didn't, and in any event I should not
have published SUCH
"Hold on, mister, hold on. Don't talk
so fast. A man down in Pooatello who
~ 49,
and judge
"But surely you don't hold me response
BILE for what libeIer and perjurer and a
base assassin of character says, do yOu?'
Mister the other said gladly, "by
them words know your just the man 1
want. Now don't git skeered. You don't
understand me. I'm Ed Hawkins, an
I've got a reputation as a bad man in these
parts.
81 shouldn't think so Mr.. Hawkins.
p
''Not Mr.. E0wk1ns, but Ed. Bad Ed,
If you please. Yes, sir, I've got a reputa-
ton fer bein killer, but betwixt you an
me I amt Nat rally I'm peaceable an
calm, an I wouldn't do nothin serious
ag'in the law if was paid fer it. But as
longs I'm Bad Ed I'm an honOred citizen
an git free liquor all 1 please. Things
was gittin a little bit dubious with me, an
folks was wonderin why didn't do some
ShOOGln aW1ll0 ago, DuG Wnen GnaG ROca-
tello paper came out an said what I'd did
in Texas respect an esteem come back to
me on a galIop. That paper statement of
my badness has KEEP me goin fer IS
months, but the boys is kinder Evorryin
in an intimatin that I never had a
sheriff after me in my life, an that Bill
Pinkerton don't give a cuss where I am
hidin. Now, sir, if you will kindly step
acrost the way an inform these people that
am not only what you said year ago
last March
'eBut didn't write it and''-
mo, of course not. But blame it all,
man, cant you p tend when another man S
happiness is at stake? You say that you
did, an that am all that you wrote at the
time of that trial, an that also am the
things you said few minutes ago. Do
it, mister, an patch up my record as bad
man. An here's 50 fer your trouble. You
can send me your paper"
So lift went over and rehabilitated Bad
Ed Hawkins character for him, and after
taking one fearful drink with the killer
he broke for his train, which was pulling
in. A few minutes later he looked back
from the rear platform and saw Mr.. Haw-
| kins violently firing two revolvers and
chasing very small Chinaman down one
street while the tOwnspeople fed for safety,
and he knew that Bad Ed was putting the
finishing touches to a demonstration which
would keep him in hOnors for at least an
other year.-Chioago Record.