The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12
IN A FRONTTER SALOON.
The Youth Was Not so Much of IA
"'TenderFoOt" ns He Seemed.

The Youth Was Not so Much OF a
''TenderFoOt" ns He Seemed.
Owen Wiser, in Everybody's Magazine.
A STRIPPING of effemlnate rosiness 1nl
neat attire sat in the corner Of frontier
saloon, modest, silent, and as far out Il
the way as he could get. He had stepped
from the train, and he was waiting for
the stage. 1t was starched linen that
he wore; the city showed quite plaiLly
in his hat, and 1t is still in oisp-ts
whether any down was visible upon his
lip. But he was old enough 10 be sIuok-
ing cigar with all the appearance Of
habit The cigar, also, was not a native
Of the town. In fact the young maa
made no purchase upon entering the
saloon, nevertheless the proprietor could
scarcely complain Of him. The stranger
had asked If he might wait there for the
stage, and had thanked the proprietor for
his permission.
Then he had sought his quiet corner
and lighted his cigar.
AZ citizen walked out Of the hack
room and up to the bar. He had LIT
a faro game, and the proprietor was
friendly with him, but respectful; ttat
sort Of respect which is favored de!icately
with just enough familiarity to bring It
out. It is probable that the citizen had
had more drinks than the one he now
took 1t is also likely that faro had not
gone as well with him this morning as
he had considered his due. His dissatis-
fed eye fell upon the rosy youth and his
cigar, and he took the glass from his lips
and held It, considering the stranger.
At length, without removing his eyes.
he inquired: what Christmas tree did
that drop off?"
The proprietor fastened to take this
view. Its express tag has huttered
away, guess" he whispered, loosely.
The citizen remembered his WHISKY,
swallowed it, set the glass gently down,
gently drew his six-Shooter, and sh
the cigar to smash out OF the young
mans mouth.
Now, I do not at all know what I
should have done in the young mans
place Something sensible I hope. What
the youth did know I should not have
done. You will see that his behavior was
out Of the common. He stopped down,
picked up his cigar found it ruined.
put 1t in the spittoon, got fresh enc
out of his pocket, found match in his
waistcoat. slid it along the seat Of his
nice breeches lighted the new olga,
and settled himself once more in his
chair. without word Of protest or an
attempt at resentment. The proprietor
saw him do it all, and told about It
afterward.
The citizen took the second c'gar.
smash! like the first. Perhaps he went
a trine nearer the youths lip.
What were the card players in the back
room doing at all this noise? They all
lay fat on the floor, like the well trained.
indigenous people that they were. mind
ing their own business. For there was no
rear exit
The youth felt In his waist coat packet,
but brought no match from II. So lie
rose with still another fresh cigar in his
hand. and walked to the bar.
"I'n have to ask you for match"
he said to the proprietor. who at once
accommodated him.
Once again he slid the match beneath
his coat tails. and. bringing up his own
six-shooter. shot the citizen as instantly
dead as that can DO done.