The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-07
BY II. W.. PHILLIPS.

DEDDY and I were alone Mt tho
II lake beds. He sat outside the
cabin braiding a leather hat band
eight strands and the "repeat" fig
ure-an art that l never could master
I sat inside, with n one-pound
package of Bull Durham tobacco
beside me. and newspapers within
reach. rolling the days supply OF
cigarettes.
Reddy stopped his story long
enough to say: Don't use the Mis-
souri, Coyote kid--that paper burns
my tongue take the Pioneer;
there's plenty Of it," Well, as ! was
saying, Id met a lot Of the boys up
in town this day, and they threw rs
many as two drinks into me; l know
that for certain, because when we
took the parting dose | had a glass of
whisky in each hand. and had just
twice as many friends az when /
started.
When / pulled out for home I felt
mighty good for myself-not exactly
looking for trouble; but not a-going
10 dodge il any. either. l was war
bling Idaho" for all / was worth
you know how pretty | can sing.
Cock-eyed Peterson used to say il
made him forget all his troubles.
BECAUSE" says he. you don't notice
1t when n man bats you over the head
with a two-by-four."
Well, / was enjoying everything in
sight. eve a little drizzle of rain
that was driving by in rags of wet
ness, when a fat-faced swatty at Fort
Johnson halted me.
Now, it's a dreadful thing to be
buttcd to death by a nanny goat, but
for a full-sized cow puncher to be
held up by a soldier is worse yet.
To say that I was hot under the
collar don't give you the right idea Of
the way I felt.
why, you cross between the last
rose or summer and "A bob-tailed
hush'" says /, "What dyer mean?
What's got into you? Get out of my
daylight, you dog robber. or I'll walk
the little horse around your neck like
a three-ringed circus-come. get a
move. and pull your freight"
II seemed that this swatty had been
'chucked out Of the third story OF
Frenchy's dance emporium by Bronc.
Thompson. which threw a great re-
spect for our profesh into him. Con-
seauently he wasn't fresh like most
soldiers. but answers me as polite as
q tin-horn gambler on pay day.
Says he: II just wanted to tell
you that old Frosthead and 40 braves
are some'ers between here and your
outfit, with their wal paint on, and
blood in their eyes. ~cayoodling and
whoopin' fit to beat the band. and IL |
you get tangled up with them l reckon
they'll give you a haircut and sham |
poo, to say nothing Of other trim
mings. They say they're after the
crows, but it's a $40 bill against a
last year birds nest that they'll take
on any kind Of trouble that comes
along. Their hearts is mighty bad.
they state. and when an I%njun's heart
gets spoiled, the disease is infectious
you'd better stop awhile"
' ,"TS oiu ITDSlHtIu anu YOU, Il
too!' says /. IF he comes cow-hop-
ping on my reservation. I'll kick his
pantalettcs on top of his sc~alp-lock.''
a right. pardner." says he. Its
your own funeral. My orders was to
malt everyone going through; but
a whole company. so you can
nave II your way. Only, if your
friends have to take you home in a
don't blame me. Pass,
friend!"
so ! went through the officers
quarters 40 niles an hour. letting out
2 string Of yclls you might have heard
70 the coast. just TO show my respect
Tor the United States army.
this has always been my luck:
make a band wagon play.
somebody's sure to strike me for nv
Or else the team gocs into
me ditch a mile further on. and
out about as happy rs a small
saiicr dog at a bobcats caucus.
some fellers can run in a shiny ca
100 that 'ud make the hair stand m
2 ouftelcr robe. and get away with
Just like mice; but that nin't me.
sing a l'ttle mite too high in the
'e'lar, down the roof atop Of
so II was this day. Old johnny
socked 1t to me, same a.
usual