Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-04-08

|
they ever tackled"
Then you boys will stand by me:
Ryan questioned.
"Of course we WILL" one of them an
swered. Were paid to work for you
and we've not got any love for settlers
Well see that your fence is not cut and
that your cattle are not bothered.
That's all right" Ryan said, but
there is something else want you 10
| do"
What is it,
81 want this paper squelched."
well squelch it,
81 want you to ride over to Prairie
City tonight and clean the thing out
root and branch. Burn the once,
| smash up the old press and chase the
editor out of the country"
We'll do 1t"
Just after supper that night the cow
boys loaded their pistols carefully ana
buckled them about their waists. linen
| they brought out their horses. saddled
and mounted them. and rode away in
the direction of Prairie City at maj
gallOp. Just before they reached the
town they came to a halt. One of them
said:
"Now, boys. we don't want to take
any reckless chances in this business,
SO we had better be little cautious. |
guess that editor is a spindle shanked.
goggle-eyed old rooster from the East
who'd drop dead at the sight of piss
toll, but still he may be a varmint OF
different color. For all we know he
may turn loose and 20 to pumping lead
into us at the rate of about sixty bull
lets minute. 1t will be safest to kind
Of slip up on him and take him un-
awares."
The others agreed to this proposition.
and accordingly they rode quietly into
town. dismounted and tied their horses
and noiselessly approached the Eagle
office. \ light was shining through a
window Of the little one-story box
building. and by one common impulse
the cowboys stole cautiously forward
to this window with view to peeping
into the room to see how the land lay.
On one side Of the room they saw
rickety old typestand containing half
dozen cases of type. On the other side
stood an old press. while in the center
there was a uncovered goods box
which answered in the place of an I'M
posing stone. Up at the end of the
room was a small table at which was
seated woman.
The woman's elbows rested on the
table and her face lay between her
hands. She was sitting directly In front
of the window, apparently looking
straight at it. SO the cowboys had
good, square view of her features.
They saw that she was young and
pretty. not much more than child
and very sad. There was a deeply
troubled expression on her face, and
once they saw her brush tears from her
eyes.
"The editors wife or daughter, l
reckon one Of the cowboys whisper.
ed.
Guess So" one Of the others replied:
"and like as not the old whelp's been
abusing her"
I'm going in and talk to her." the
first speaker announced. "You chaps
wait outside till come back"
"A good idea" another agreed. 1--WE
want to see little more into this bust
ness before We do anything rash"
The cowboy walked around to the
door and entered the office. He passed
across the floor and stopped just before
the little table at which the woman was
sitting. He took Off his hat, made an
awkward bow and said:
Good evening, lady. l hope l find
you WELL"
A shade Of fear passed over the
woman's face and startled look came
to her eyes when she saw the mans
huge pistols and noted his cowboy At
tire. Still. she answered calmly and
bravely enough:
Il am quite well, thank you. Is there
l can do for you?"
why, don't know. reckon NAV
be I'd like to see the editor of this ma.
per-"
II am the editor"
well, but l want to see the man
your father or husband, or whoevar no
is"
There is no man here. I am all
alone"
You don't mean that you are run.
ming this paper all by yourself.
Yes, sir, except for the help of bow.
who manages the press for me-"
The cowboy whistled, then stood
staring at the woman in smazement
At last he ejaculated:
well. II that don't stump mo
woman running paper all alone with
no men folks to help her! Gee. but it
must be lots Of hard work.
1T Is. but l don't mind that. I'd ho
willing to work night and dav II
could Just manage some way to keon
the paper going"
You're not figuring on stopping II
ire you?" ~
Yes. III have to stop it. can't get
enough money to buy any more paper
Ny mother Is sick and have to hnv
medicine and things for her. Poor