The Yale expositor., 1901-06-28

WIZ the rlputaSnun aV inc camp, 100! ,
In the name av innisince, have We no
heads for an emergency"
Dillon was clearly in earnest, ana
v hen man of his racial characteris-
tics is In earnest things are likely to
happen, whether the scene of action be
Spitzbegen or Timbuctoo. His indig-
nation at our stupidity-at the
mayors, the sheriff's, and 1nine-was
offensive; but we could offer no sug
gestion that might stand for us as
combatant. There were men in the
camp with official titles. and men
very prone to swift and accurate shoot
ing, but these collectively were as
naught before the breath OF Dillon.
Galena was like most other otNorth-
western mining towns; If at all distin-
guishable from them, it was by a slight
accentuation Of that air of bonhomie
which is more or less apparent on the
visages OF all Communities 'of the
genus.
Dillon owned and genially pre-
sided over one Of tire biggest and
brightest and most bemirrored of the
combination saloons ind gambling re-
sorts.
The mayor the sheriff and I sat in
back room OF the saloon, listening in
tently to billions harangue After III
had given us every opportunity to sug-
gest ways and means for the day of en-
tertainment, fruitlessly, he elucidated
to us his own idea or a program which
was voted on and adopted by unani-
nous and immediate consent. This
narrative deals solely with the first
number of the program, so you will be
compelled TO surniso the others from
it.
I'VE wull begin" says Dillon. in
the morning" wild what yo might dis
hignate a toorymint. This is the way
av IT: We wull have rounded up a
bunch av thin dfrils av bronchos, an
we wull also have rounded up bunch
av jolly bhoys; we wull beguile the
bhoys TO the backs Nv the broncos. an
we will give the best busther av thin a
foine fat purse-which he wull spind
immejutely. This, We may understand,
is legitimut, wild excitement enough
to kape aft the raw idge av their tim
per. This we wall" but this is rs
much as concerns us.
a goodly purse was collected against
the coming of the popular event. Dill
Ions ANTE" (his own world was hun
dred, and a number of others came
| down handsomely. But in the interval
| between the statement of the idea ana
| the day of fulfillmant there arose the
necessity for some modification in the
/ plans. Dillon had relied on procuring
| a number OF bad and unbrolIen horses,
| and on having the many volunteer
riders break them On time. or some
thing of that sort. When the trial was
made, however, It was found impos-
sfble 20 bring together the required
number of sure-enUugh bad horses;
that is, horses which could be depend
ed on to make excitement under any
circumstances; so a big list of Snapped
and sombreroed competitors could not,
consequently, be accommodated
The morning OF the Fourth dawned
in all the chaste radiance of July in
the foothills, such a day as recon-
penses a man for year lived in a hut,
$50 miles from the nearest railroad
artery, and, as they say in Montana,
only half a mile from hell
Directly after breakfast those ranch
people from the rival valleys, and
from all adjacent sections, who had not
been fortunate enough TO get in the
night before, began to concentrate in
the camp.
Dillon drew me out to the veranda.
by me sowl twill be beautiful" says
he. I'VE have brace av the beasts
as wud misharse the divil, an the
bhoys are foine an achin' for the
sport. Yell see mt the day, me son. y
He was in merriest spirits himself. and
/ should have enjoyed some OF the ef-
fervescence of his rollicking barney;
but his answering sense of duty to the
day compelled him to drink more fire.
quently that l had reason to believe
my experience and capacity would
4 permit, SO l was forced to abjure his
society.
| ADOuJ ~ lie BOl On Il ldDlS SOIleHOW,
and announced the riding, and invited
the contesting busters up to throw dice
for choice of horse. This called forth
uproarious yells of applause. One of
the contestants, the North Valley rep
resentative, was not present, but his
mentor was. with full power to act.
This latter, however, an old ranch fore
man, with badly bowed legs and a
crooked back. called out renewed cheers
by remarking that he 'reckoned it
didn't make much difference about the
THROWN, as Curlsw war satisfied with
Almost any boss"
But the South Valley contingent de-
! INJURED at this, and Dillon routed 1t as
| unparliamentary. So old Joe and the
South Valley man cast for choice. and
the throw was Joe's. He grufIly chose
the horse that should be nearer the
corral gate. Then they shook out
again for precedence in order of rid
ing. and this time the South Valley
broncho buster won, electing TO ride