The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-05
THE LESSON HE LEARNED.
He Wanted to Re Tough. but He Was
Cured of 1t.

Cured of 1t.
The leading man of this dramatic in
cident is now a well known and mild
hammered citizen of Butte with nice
family and a wide circle of friends who
respect him. For these reasons, and
a modesty he acquired long subsequent
to the events about to be related, the
purposes of the story will be served
as well by calling him Jerry Cullens as
by disclosing his true name
Back in 1878 Cullens was a young
man and the height of his ambition
was to be a tough cowboy and hard
citizen. He had been herding cattle
down in California, but he grew rest
less and longed to see more of the
world and to find a wider field in which
to grow bad, so one day he QUILTED
and started for Montana. A month or
six weeks later he pulled up in front
of old Bill Sweets place in Boulder
now Judge Sweet, If you please, a duly
elected and qualified and acting jus
tce of the peace at Boulder and pro-
prietor of a store and irrigating' ditch.
Cullens rode up to Sweets saloon, lead
ing heavily laden pack horse. Gull
lens presented a picturesque appear
ance with his cowboy accouterments,
wide brmmed hat, long hair. goat skin
snaps, smoking a long Mexican cigar
cite, tobacco juice running down the
corners of his mouth; Winchester
rifle and six shooter strapped to his
great Mexican saddle, pair of revolv-
ers and a wicked looking bowie knife
at his belt. Riding up in front of
Sweets saloon he halted his outfit,
unslung his rifle and swung off his
horse with an air of thorough and COM
pIete badness" With his Winchester
in his hand, his big spurs and high
heeled boots rattling on the hard
ground and then up the door steps,
he entered the irrigating ditch, and
then with an ugly swing, approached
the bar, or rather the rough pine board
on stills, which served as bar. He
thumped his rifle on the floor as he
leaned 1t against the bar and then gave
bad look at old Bill, who was sizing
up the newcomer with wonder and
amaZement.
Cullens pulled dollar out of his
pocket and threw it carelessly upon
the bar.
Throw me out some tanglefoot, old
| man, and be damned quick about it,
he said, in a tone of voice as tough
as he could make it.
Where are you from, young fellow"
| asked old Billy in mild and concili-
atory way.
Never mind where I am from, old
| geeser." replied Cullens, land set UP
| the poison"
young fellow. you want to be
| damned tough, don't you?" asked old
| Bill.
"Oh, I don't know" responded the
| bad young cowboy, and at the same
| time laid his left hand on his hip.
| the action throwing back his coat and
| exposing the big bowie at his belt.
Old Bill Sweet observed the move
| ment and calmly reached over the bar
| and took the knife and with the other
| hand he grabbed Cullens by the long
| hair on the top of his head. Before
| the bad young man realized what was
up the old man had cut a big bunch
of the hair off close to the scalp.
You need your hair trimmed" OBJ
served old Bill as he cut off double
hand full. "I'll keep this bunch for
my pipe, as I am out of tobacco"
Cullens didn't shoot, and he didn't
swear, and didn't give vent to any of
his long pent up wickedness, but he
just stood and stared at old Bill Sweet
and looked surprised.
Did you say you wanted drink of
whiskey?" asked old Bill.
Yes, Mr.. Sweet, If you please" said
Cullens just as mild as the most gen.
tlemanly little Sunday school boy could
say it.
"You are not half as bad as you
think you are" observed Sweet after
Cullens had finished his drink.
mo, SIR" said Cullens with increas-
ing meekness and humility. and then
ordered another drink. Wont you
please join me in this drink, MI
Sweet?"
II never refuse" said the old man.
After that, SO the story goes, Cullens
was SO tame that he would eat salt out
of old Bills hand, and the making of
very bad cowboy was spoiled.