The state herald., 1901-06-28

Wud ye have another shootin' Donny-
brook? an me a-bearin' av all the
aivilment, same as twuz last year?
Wild the riputashun av the camp. too!
In the name av innisince. have ye no
heads for an emergency"
Dillon was clearly in earnest, and
when 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 mine-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 ofNorth-
western mining towns: II at all distin-
guishable from them. 1t was by 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 the biggest and
brightest and most bemirrored Of the
combination saloons and gambling re-
sorts.
Conceive, then, his popularity. He
was the patron, the philanthropist, the
benefactor Of the town. And thus was
1t that we were called in conference.
to be assistants to him in one Of his
great humanitarian functions; the
mayor and the sheriff by reason Of
their political headship: by some
small commercial standing. being at
that time the Galena manager of the
M. mining and smelling company. The
Fourth Of July was hard upon us. and
Dillon was committee hunting that ac-
tion might be taken to prepare for the
advent Of this glorious day.
The mayor. the sheriff, and sat In
back room Of the saloon, listening in
tently to Dillon's harangue. After he
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 Of 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 surmise the others from
1t.
I'VE wull begin" says Dillon, 'in
the morning. wild what ye might dis
hignate toorymint. This is the way
av 1t: We wull have rounded up a
bunch av thin divils av bronchos. an
we wull also have rounded up bunch
av jolly bhoys; we wull beguile the
bhoys to the backs av the broncos. an
we will give the best busther av thin a
foine fat purse-which he wull spind
immejutely. This. ye may understand.
is legitimut. wild excitement enough
to kape al the raw idge av their TIM
per. This We wull-" but this Is as
much as concerns US.
Galena was a busy little town. Ev-
cry man In Montana that could dis
tinsuish pay stun from pyrites or iron
extolled II, and It was an actual center
Of vast expanse Of stock country.
Dillon's was the extreme inner point
of this centrality: the meeting house
and council chamber of prominent cit
izens. the rendezvous Of wide assort-
ment Of the erring human animal. Dill
Ion had need TO be a splendid whip.
and he was. Skittish leaders or sullen
wheelers. vicious or gentle. all alike
felt the strong hand on the box.
A 1w SoH L..
the coming Of the popular event. Dill
Ions ANTS" This own word) was hun
dred, and . number Of others came
down handsomely. But In the interval
between the statement OF the Idea and
the day OF fulnllment there arose the
necessity for some modification In the
plans. Dillon had relied on procuring
4 number OF bad and unbroken horses.
and on having the many volunteer
riders break them On time. o. some
thing Of that sort. When the trial was
made. however, II was found impos-
sible to bring together the required
number OF sure-enough bad horses;
that Is, horses which could be depend
ed on to mako excitement under any
circumstances: 70 . big list OF Snapped
and sombreroed competitors could not.
consequently. be accommodated.
II was decided that each Of the two
great COW valleys which converxed
near Galena should set up It's best
man. the most superlativeiy regal OF
its king busters. This concentrated
interest. which. when the eve Of the
great day really arrived. was possibly
several degrees beyond blood tempera-
ture.
Tho morning Of the Fourth dawned
In all the chsstc radiance Of July In
tho foothills. such = day a. recon-
pcnses man for year lived In = hut.
100 miles from tho nearest railroad
artery. and. ~ they say In Montana.
''oniy half mile from hell"
Directly after breakfast those ranch
people from tho rival valleys. and
from all adjacent sections. who had not
been fortunate enough TO get In tho
night before. began to concentrate In
the camp.
Dillon drew mo out 10 the vcranda.
by me sowi. 'twuii be beautiful" says
he. I'VE have brace av tho beasts
as wud misharsc tho divil. an tho
bhoys arc foinc an achin' for tho
sport. Yen see ut tho day. me SON."
He was In mcrricst spirits himself. and
I should have enjoyed some OF tho Of