The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-01
Old Sport Cells Of
Really Dot Weatber

The Old sport had discarded MS vest
and his ample paunch hung in a broad
crease over natty yellow belt. In his
hand he carried palm leaf fan with
which ne strove to chase away the beads
of perspiration that gathered on his coun-
tenance and trickled down mis- neck
''O-o-oh. what shall we do to be saved
ne sung softly. as he put a russell leather
Oxford tie on the rail at the base of the
counter and stretched out his arms be-
seechingly.
Hot, amt it, Johnny" he murmured.
Johnny looked around for the bung
starter, but not seeing it contented him
self with growl IF you think you're
doin' the amiable by such remarks as
that you are shore overlookin' a turn" he
said. You amt got no scoop on your
idee, not by dern sight. l reckon two
hundred boys that's visited this here
foundry today and said exactly the same
thing in somewhat different langwidges.
But if it's any consolation to you, I'm
willin' to concede that it's hot an lay my
hand down before the draw. The ques-
ton is. what'ell are you goin' to do about
it?''
This was one of the longest speeches
Johnny had ever made and the Old Sport
was duly impressed 4 didn't aim to
harrer your feelin's none, Johnny" he
began. my remark was merely intend
ed as the openin' wedge to the entertain
in conversation We has about once in so
often. 1 throws out that hint about the
heat merely TO find out whether you
thinks this is some hot or not see YOU
does, but this amt hot weather. Johnny.
It's Klondike when it's stacked up agin
some of the weather we used TO have
over in Virginia City. Why, Johnny,
I've seen it so hot over there that Pat
dissent hang a beefsteak out in front of
his shop for fear it'd begin to fry right
on the hook.
Hot? Why this amt more'n a summer
resort zephyr. One Fourth of July over
in Virginia the camp had run out of
matches. Some of the boys had sent back
to the states for fireworks There was
crackers an pin wheels an rockets with
no limit an there we had nothin to set
EN- off with. Well. we wondered what
we was gOin' to do. 1t was a cool day.
bein only 200 in Pats ice chest, an there
wouldn't be no stage in with matches for
week Fin'lly one of the boys, seems
TO me it was Charley Goodwin, but I
won't be shore. got an idee.
III tell you what he saws. I'll ro
over here to the Blue Blaze dance han
an git drink of ticker. AS soon as
swallers 1t begins TO blow on a twfg
Oh grease wood he says, an if 1 can't
raise some fire that way it's all off with
our Fourth of July doins.'
Well, we figured around a good hit
Wastin' time when we might've been
playln' bank, or gOin' against the eagle
olrd wheel in the White Wolf. After the
debate was conclooded, we takes a vote
and the proposition carries unanimous
Charley, or whoever it was had the idee
staked out, goes an gifts his drink an
then, before his tank had time to cool
ne blows on the crossword
Johnny, as shore as I'm standin, In
this foundry at his minute, that grease
wood ketched fire about the second blow
ana the fireworks was the biggest thing
we ever had in Virginia, barrin' the time
We lynched One-eyed Mike Flahertv for
lertin tenderfoot skin him out'n his roll
at single-handed draw"
Johnny looked his disbelief of the story
out ne didn't put his doubt into words
The look was enough, though, to evoke a
snort from the Old Sport. "Hah," he
said You don't take no stock in the We
racity of this here "Reminiscences. I see
You wants some proof. You amt willin
TO take my past record for double ace
nush truth-tellin' into consideration
We'll III just show you, if you're from
Missouri 80
As he spoke the Old Sport dug into a
coat pocket Johnny snickered when a
couple OF white chips and an ace of dia-
monds fell on the floor. The Old Sport
flushed trifie. but continued his search.
Presently his eyes lighted with triumph.
He drew from eapacious pocket the
charred end of firecracker
Here" he said, holding it I'D COM
piacently, II thought some day I might
md gent who'd copper that tale so I've
saved souvenir. This here fragment
Johnny, is all that's left OF the Virginia
celebration been tellin' about. This very
cracker was set off by the fire from the
greasewood which was sot to blazin' by 4
blast of Blue Blaze whisky in the dim an
hazy past. Now 1 reckon thatn hold you
for a while, hah."
It's on me, 1 reckon, Sport said
Johnny, humbly and with something like
awe in his voice. THAT shorely must have
been hot weather. Whatn you have?"
The Old Sport drank mint juIep with
a little orchard on the top of it that
Johnny fixed up. Then, as he started for
the door Johnny gently pulled a messen-
ger call with the idea in his mind of
sending out after some winter underwear
He was swearing softly TO himself as he
turned back and began wiping off the top
of the counter with a towel Hot? Oh. I
guess not" he soliloquized. IF this wea-
Their was as hot as some of Sports tales,
it would cook a stack before man'd have
time TO git it down on the deuce to win
or lOse''