The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-07-04

THE POT LUCKEES HEARD THE ADVANCING
MUSIC WITH QUAKING HEARTS.
good enough fer the Gap They're goin
to have a band from Frisco, 20 pieces at
$3.50 fer the day. Talk about the valley
band! Why, it wouldn't draw handful
of picnickers if the woods was full OF
'e1n this Fourthl''
'That's the worst deal they've give US,
iceptip the picnic May day two year ago.
groaned Johnson, as the stage ratified away
land he went inside to sort the mail.
Lets go down and shoot up the
town." said Ike Bledsoe, suddenly arous-
ed by the clatter of the stagecoach from
his nap on one Of Johnson's benches.
I'm peacea5le man, but there's some
offenses that calls fer a gun play exclusive,
and if I'm any jedge, feller citizens, this
here's one of 'cin; to be done up right and
left by an upstart of a town that every
body knows wasn't nothin better n a sub
nrb to Pot Luck q few year ago.
-'Wait till 1 read you this, boys" broke
in johnson, bouncing out of his office
with letter in his hand. "Bein chairman
of the Fourth of July committee, I took
the liberty to open it. Now listen:
ITO the Honorable Chairman ard Members
of the Fourth of July Committee and FelleI
Citizens of Pot Luck in General, Greeting:
"Surmisin that you don't intend to celebrate
this year and known the patriotic sentiments
of your citizens We extend you cordial lnvi
4ation to come down and picnic with US.
THE FOURTH OF July COMMITTEE OF DUTCH
BILLS GAP
"P. S.-Dont trouble yourselves to bring
lunch baskets; we'll have good music and
plenty to eat and drink. and it won't cost you
a cent.
Now then, that's a polite invitation
81 81
Easy Bill What's the matter with 'cept-
in it?''
"'Ceptin it - roared Ike ~ never felt
more like shootin friend than l do like
pIuggin you this minute johnson, fel
!swallowin an insult like that. Come on,
,fellers I'm pcaceable citizen, but I'm
goin down TO interview that Fourth Of
July committee at the Gap, and if there's
a man in Pot Luck that packs gun ant
won't follcr me he's Il coward, and ! cal
lick him.
'.Oh. hold on Ike" said johnson
''sion't be goin off half cooked as you IT
always dom This here invites ell a josh
nothin but n bluff They don't mean
word of it any mUre'n they expect US t,
'cept it. But look a-here, boys. Cam
you see they've dealt Us the very cards W,
need to beat en It their own game
What's the matter with our 'ceptin thi
invite and raisin the biggest crowd Po
Luck ever seen and goin down there anC
.monopolizin that $3.50 dance music anC
lwipin all their eatables and drinkables of
the face of the yearth:"
'Ceptin johnson dignity as postmaste
and justice of the peace of Pot Luck, neve
1known to be ruffied before proved un
equal to the strain of so extraordinary al
occasion He fairly screamed out the fina
words, emphasizing them with a swipe o
lhis big fel5 hat across the top of a bench
illustrative of the clean sweep he proposed
making of the viands of the luckless pic
inickers at the Gap. His mastery diplo
macy was at once recognized by shout
and cheers of approval, in which tn
voices of Ike Bledsoe and Easy Bill sound
ed ioudest and longest. Pot Luck wa
ready to act as one man. johnson
strategy, Bills executive ability and Ike
zDratory had been the brilliant features Q