The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-06-14
N A FRONTIER SALOON.
The Youth Was Not So Much Of q
s'TenderfOot" as He Seemed.

The Youth Was Not So Much Of q
sTenderfOot" rs He Seemed.
A stripping of effeminate rosiness and
neat attire sat in the corner of frontier
saloon, modest, silent and as far out of
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 plainly in
his hat, and it is still in dispute whether
any down was visible upon his lip. But
he was old enough to be smoking cigar
with all the appearance of habit. The
cigar also was not a native of the town.
In fact, the young man made no purchase
upon entering the saloon. Nevertheless
the proprietor could scarcely complain OF
him. The stranger had asked II 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.
A citizen walked out of the back room
and up to the bar He had left a faro
game. and the proprietor was friendly
with him, but respectful-that sort OF re-
spect which is favored delicately with
just enough familiarity to bring 1t out.
1t is proba BILE 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 CON
sidered his due. His dissatisfied eye fell
upon the rosy youth and his cigar. and he
took the glass from his lips and held 1t,
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. sits express tag has huttered
away. I guess" he whispered loosely.
The citizen remembered his whisky
swallowed il, set the glass gently down,
gently drew his six shooter and shot the
cigar to smash out of the young mans
mouth.
Now, l do not at all know what
should have done in the young mans
place. Something sensible, hope. What
the youth did l know l should not have
done. You will see that his behavior
was out Of the common. He stopped
down, picked up his cigar, found 1t ruin.
cd. put it in the spittoon, got a fresh one
out of his pocket, found a match in his
waistcoat, slid it along the seat of his
nice brepches, lighted the new cigar and
settled himself once more In his chair
without q word of protest or an attempt
at resentment. The proprietor saw him
do it all and told about II afterward.
The citizen took the second cigar like
the Grst. Perhaps he went a trifle nearer
the youths lips.
What were the card players in the
back room doing at all this noise? They
all lay FIAT on the floor, like the well
trained. indigenous people that they were.
ninding their own business. For there
was no rear exit
The youth felt In his waistcoat pocket
but brought no match from it. So he rose
with still another fresh cigar ia his hand
and walked to the bar.
"I'll have to ask you for a match" he
said to the proprietor. who at once &C.
commodated him.
Once again he slid the match beneath
his coattalls and, bringing up his own
six shooter, shot the citizen as Instantly
dead as that can be done.-Owen Wister
In Everybody's Magazine.