Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-02-09

u y
foot that joined the Diamond +"
outfit last beef roundup? Well, say he
was holy terror
1t come about this way. Our wagon
was at Cherry Coulee; we was just after
having dinner, and the boss, old Rowe,
was going round like bear with "a sore
head, bullyragging at yerybody and
everything This was because two of
our top-hands had got huffy and pulled
out that morning; consequently some
Of the boys was beginning to kick most
outrageous at the thought of having 10
do extra night herd work.
Cherry Coulee amt far from town,
and we used often 10 have people come
out TO look at our outfit when we was
camped near town so when we seen
a dudish-looking fellow with Chris
ty-stiif hat and a stand-up collar come
a-walking towards the wagons we just
supposed he was another OF them east
ern tourists who was nosing around,
and we didn't pay any attention TO him.
But he walks up 10 the cook, who was
monkeying round the fire, and says he:
Mister, which OF you might be vhe
boss here?'
The cook just pointed at Rowe, and
the dude walks up to him and says
quite pleasantly:
II heard in town this morning that
you wanted man, so I thought would
come out and get the job"
Rowe looked at his "Christy- hat,
his stuck-up collar, his silk tie, his
boiled shirt, and his pretty clothes, aud
then he says, quite slowly:
And what kind of job might you
be looking for?"
"Why, punching cows, of course" said
the stranger.
"Yes?" said Rowe. And what do
you know about cow-punching, and
where might you have punched cows
Down in Missouri says he, still
smiling most pleasant.
Now, perhaps you don't know it, but
there amt no cow-punching in Mis-
souri,, in fact that same place is pretty
much Of hayseed state, and regular
ne~tirv ulece for orceu horns and ten-
derfeet; so when the dude said he
came from Missouri Rowe kind Of
looked AT him and saiG.
And what outfit might you have
worked for down there"
"Well, l worked for my pap" says he.
Pap had nigh on to 20 COWS and | had
to drive them down TO the pond TO wa
ter; pap used to ride the old bay and
l used to ride Molly; sometimes I'd ride
Jim, the mule. Oh, I've had quite lot
Of riding, | can tell you. Nav said
could ride we'll"
That so?' said Rowe. well, guess
I haven't got no job for you"
What" said the dude, looking
mighty surprised. perhaps you think
L can't ride good enough"
"And that's no lie" said Rowe, who
was getting a bit tired of him.
"Oh, but hold on!" says Mr. "Christy-
stiff" you haven't seen me ride. Give
me a show; I'm pretty hard up and /
want job
Look here" said Rowe, you want
a show, and III give you one. You ride
that bald-faced bronze over there, and
if he doesn't chuck you I'll take you on,
anu Whit y ulOIti L III BlNC gOu NOP
wages"
Now. this same bronze was a regular
outlaw and man-killer, and there
wasn't puncher in the outfit who
could stay with him, though we had
some bronco-twisters who were no
slouches either; he was vicious, Bit
ing, striking, whistling, snorting ter
ror, and as for buckino, why. he'd soon
err buck than eat. We called him Gen.
Weyler. 1t did seem rather low down
10 run the stranger up against such a
cyclone, but he was so precious green
he just jumped at the chance.
"All right" says he; will you give
me top wages if ride that horse?"
surely" says Rowe, chuckling to
himself.
"And perhaps you wouldn't mind
buying me an outfit, as I'm broker
said the dude.
"Ill do that" says Rowe. 81 guess
stjcking-plaster is pretty cheap" whis-
pered he TO us boys who was standing
round.
"Here. joe" says Rowe. You GO and
help Cadotte catch and saddle up old
Gen. Weyler and bring him round
here"
Some of the boys caught him up and
drove him round TO the back of the
mess tent, roped him, threw him. blind