The National tribune., 1901-09-12
ROUGH RIDING.
"Hav. you ever heard of Kansas Jay
tContInned from first page.l

tCoStinusd from first pRge.l
"Have you ever heard OF Kansas Jay
hawkersr he asked in whisper.
/ nodded my head
well, that's what they are. They
came yesterday evening, and have just
taken complete possession of the ranch.
As I'm alone here, just now, they haze
souls my own. You may have trouble
with them. Keep your eyes all around
you. Are you heeledT'
I informed him that each one OF us had
pair Of good Colts Nays" under our
overcoats.
How many of yep he asked.
What you see, FIVE soldiers here, and
three Pixies Peakers out in front with the
wagon. But l don't know as l can count
on them for a fight. These here are re-
liable pointing to my comrades. How
many Of themT / asked.
! Nine" he replied; "but IL you buck
right up to 'em, and don't let 'em get the
drop on you, ! believe you can bluff 'em
off"
AS I was the only one of our party
who had known Costello previously, he
had confined his remarks to me, and
| spoken in low tone, so that the other
boys did not hear, except word now and
then, our conversation, but / found op-
portunity to explain the situation to
them in few words without at
| tracing the attention of the JayhawkerS,
one or two Of whom now sauntsred up to
US and in a friendly-appearing manner
asked a lew questions as to where we
were from and where going; but their
real object seemed to be, as | was just
then paying Jack for our drinks, to try
to see how much money l had. l did
not crafty them, however, as l fshed up
just silver enough to pay the bill, and in
answer to their questions, to give them
hint that it was none Of their business,
curtly replied that we were from the
West and were going East. And in re-
turn asked the questioner:
Where are you fellows from, and
where going"
80, jist travelin' for our health" he
replied.
We had all kept our overcoats closely
around US, and the long capes hanging
down concealed all outward appearance OF
our pistols. Several OF the Jayhawkers
had gone to the front door to take look
at our team, and l heard one big fellow
who afterwards found to be their leader,
or Captain, as they called him-remark:
That's fine lookin' mule
Hadn't we better trade for him, boysY
Hearing which L walked to the door to
see what they were up to, and found
them inspecting the Pixies Peakers' team,
"44ANAI a. DtIOit
of pony and a mule, the latter being
much the larger and better animal. After
seemingly satisfying himself of the good
qualities of the mule the big man came
back into the bar-room and remarked to
me indifferently:
We need that mule, pardner, and as
| always hate to see a mismated team,
I've got an old pony out in the corral
thatll just about match yourn. I'll have
him hrOnpht alrf and r1ata ba ~
And calling to one of his men, without
giving me any further attention, he or
deTed him to go out in the corral and
bring old 'Gipsey' out in front and We'll
ut these fellers out in a nice matched
team in no time"
| yentured to remark quietly:
Il don't think we want to trade that
mule. He suits us very WELL"
You don't seem to understand me,
stranger. It's me that wants to trade,''
he remarked, as though astonished that so
Insignificant a thing as l should offer a
remonstrance.
But" l mildly suggested, 81 always
heard that it takes two to make bar
gain"
so it does-me and the mule. WHY.
my boy" he replied, with q contemptuous
smile, you're as green as grass. You
amt posted in war time usages You've
been out in the wilderness too long. Let
me tell you that nowadays in this part
of the country the strongest party makes
his own terms. The other feller's wants
cuts no hgger in the matter"
80, WELL" l added, then it all hinges
on which is the strongest party
Now you seem to be gettin' it through
you. You savyy, hey? A man with
wooden eye could see which party's on .op
here" And with that clincher he walked
up to the bar and called for another
whisky, while l motioned to my fellows
to come out to the wagon, on reaching
the opposite side of which, out of view Of
the Jayhawkers, we held a hurried con-
sultation.
A PLAN TO BLUFF THE HIGHwAYMEN.
Very little talk was necessary, as the
boys all cOmprehended the situation thor
oughly, from what they had heard and
seen. l stated to them that in my opin-
ion 1t would never do to give way to the
robbers in the matter of the mule II we
did their next move would probably be to
demand our money, pistols or anything
else we possessed that they coveted.
Our only way out was to bluff them
right off, even if we had to fight, but that
was confident that a strong bluff would
win without firing shot
The boys seemed TO be all of the same
opinion, and unanimous in pledging me
their support, declaring they would not
give way tO tho rnhhar- ON ;pob. +olt;no