The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-02-18
WHY THE FIGHTER REFORMED.
Discovered That the Strangers Spurs We're
Skarp and That lie Could Use Them3'

III
of mining going on around Eogto"n-
placer mining, and Bill was celebrity
all the way down Butte creek from
lupus sNlillsto Chico. There was hard
ly a man of any fighting proclivities in
, that part of California who had not in
the course of his career tried Bill on to
his SORROW.
Bill was shining success as rough
and tumble fighter, depending more on
strength and agility than science, and
his invariably successful experiences
n this line persuaded him that he had
n dead cinch on anyone who w. fool
ish enough to engage with hi n dis
cussion as to who was the = man
This feeling Of security tended to make
Bill arrogant, Eot 10 say naughty, and
his manner to strangers was tinged
with an Oifensiveness as pronounced as
it was unmistalsable. He became fully
persuaded that it Was his bourdcH duty
to harass and annoy every stranger who
came along until the victim was left no
resource but to resent the prOvCcatton
given him and join issues there and
then.
Bill went up to Nimshew one day on
some business. and while he was in the
!;arroom of the hotel talking to somc of
his mining friends Il tall. 81 n man came
riding down the mountains Oh a small
broncho. The Traveller hitched his horse
to post in front of the hotel and walked
into the barroom to get drink. He at
tracted no particular attention except
that it was observed by some present
that he had particularly long legs. Bill
noticed this fact also, and it occurred
to him that il " ould be source Of great
amusement to show his friends what
stride t,lc traveller had and to illustrate
By making him get out of the room at
full speed.
With this laudable object in view, he
responded a1fably to the strangers
cleasant salutation, which was accom-
!aried by an invitation to drink. In
he conversation that ersued Bill made
IN observation to the effect that it
struck E:il as rather absurd that man
Ait,, LEGS as long as those in the pos
session C the traveller, should souan der
valuable tIrc in riding Z bTolien-down
lIOnchO V hcn SO rluci1 mere ground
.ouli lie covered by walking. closing his
cmarl by stating that an ordinary
ic!l rabbit wasn't in it with the man
10 whom he was addressing his CONVEX
Sat:On.
This EctilcI the stranger somewhat,
ard he threw out hint in the direction
81 how much mere profitable it might
prOve to attend to ones own affairs
than to UCirT about those of Others
,"ch Eo.dr"s: vas not calculated to in
duce the ccnrcrsat:on to anguish. Bill
was un:ccustoricd to what he char
acterized as !:acl: 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 10 con-
lition to fight. Bill declined to recog-
ri::a this az valid. and the stranger,
with much reluctance, prepared to
meet IS best he could Bits onelaught.
No time was wasted in scientific dis
lay. Bill closed at once and down they
roth went Oh the floor, Bill, as usual,
On top. But the stranger knew his bust
ness. No one had noticed that the tall,
slim man had on a large pair Of Spanish
spurs, which, contrary to custom. were
sharp. Bill was the first one to make the
discovery. for the stranger, instead of
stru"glt:r, as he ought to have done,
claspcd Bill firmly with his arms. while
he doubled UP his legs and, planting the
spurs on Bill's back near the shoulders,
he shot first one leg and then the other
down Bill's back. He then reversed and
brought the legs alternately up Bills
back. cXert:rg all the time a violent
downward pressure. The spurs being
charp, and Bill having on DO coat, the
ro:nts penetrated the flesh, causing
'rcat pain. Eill howled and struggled
ut TO 10 purpose. The stranger worked
lis Ices rapidly, and with the regularity
If l:istons, literally ripping him up the
back"
B:ll Informed the audience in Ian
ruage which admitted of no misunder-
standing that he had all he wanted,
and he AID ',c stranger were untan@led.
The Traveller set 'cm up and. lrcunting
his hro.cho, resumed his Journey. Bill
went Eac'; to Eogtoyyn n rcfo-ncc ID man.
Re rarely addresses strcrger. and
when lie DOES it is with great civility.
If yon Go;:tt the truth OF this story
stop at Centcrville, on Butte creek, and
ask Bill Hooper about it.-Washington
Post