The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-05
ROMANCE OF The RANeE.

population Of the country is CONFUSING
Itself over the coming OF Prince Henry.
the English coronation and several other
things connected with royalty. there
comes to mind the visit of Lord Hare. OF
England, to Blue Duck Whether his
name was really Lord Hare or not no
one ever knew. but as great many
Sctons of noble houses came down from
/ Winnipeg to inspect Blue Duck land dur
! ing the boom he was taken for what
ne purported to be and entertained.
First notice of his coming came through
I one Of the postal clerks OF the Breckin
| ridge division OF the old Manitoba Road.
Who, writing from Barnesville TO Halvor-
son, OF Blue Duck, said in his letter:
A party OF English blue blOods arc
down here trying TO buy the whole Rec
River valley for fox hunting grounds
Lord Hare is the big gun among them.
/ and he is coming 10 Blue Duck in a week
with his friends. Sell him land an6
! show him the sights. for he has wads Of
dough and is young, and he wants to
know everything
Halvorson carried the letter 10 Gentle
man Ed. and a conference of the leading
men Of the town was held. 1t was decided
that the entire entertainment of Lord
Hare and his party should be left 10 Ed.
foot the bills when the affair was over.
The English lord and FIVE of his
( friends. with half a dozen servants and
q dozen trunks and telescopes. arrived
in Blue Duck a week later, making q
special drive with open wagons across the
prairies. and in that way gaining good
knowledge of the land. All the English
men were young men-not one over %
they had any quantity of money and
clothes and quite indefinite ideas as 10
{ all y hr
frontier" y land agent of the North
ern Pacific railroad accompanied them.
and all their credentials were Endorsed BY
the then Secretary OF the Treasury Win
dom.
My lord" said Gentleman Ed. on being
introduced, we're mighty glad TO see
you. We don't like your country. and
were not up to the handle on royalty, but
when you're on our sod you're our COM
Dany, and what we've got is yours. Hal
Vorson and Anderson here are my part
ners, and were to do the handsome for
you in the name of Blue Duck. You
can't spend cent in this town unless
you want some of our land; but pleasure
before business. What'n you have?"
The six Britons gasped, fixed their mon
ocles on Eds beaming face and waited
for more to be said.
We'll, now" continued Ed, seeing they
were not likely to name their wants. Il
suggest that we have little Red River
Delight. Never heard of that, did you?
That's our best. It's liquid honey full Of
blazes.''
The Red River Delight. home con-
coction of alcohol, was served and six
Englishmen solemnly took the drink and
q moment later Historically gagged.
coughed and wept over the fiery dose.
When they recovered their eyes We're
dripping and their faces drawn.
Later that day Lord Hare gently laid
his hand on the butt of one of Eds six
shooters and remarked:
Really, they say. you know. that you
men can outshoot the world
Why said Ed. quite modestly, Il
don't know about that, my lord, out We
can hit some.''
Anderson was standing perhaps fifty
feet away from Ed ct that moment and
the latter called sharply 10 him:
Look around
The man whirled on his heels facing
Ed-bang, bang, bang-six shots rang out,
quicker than the telling of this. They
were fired point blank at Anderson, and
struck him squarely over the heart. As
each bullet inpinged a ringing, metallic
sound came, but Anderson did no6 fan.
Instead he stood his ground and smiled
into the Mortified countenance of the
Englishman.
Ed took the visitor up to his human
target and showed him six holes in his
rough coat, all over the heart.
You see, he said, my friend has a
metal rib and plate over his heart. He
got jammed in a cattle rush and we
patched him up in that fashion SO that
he's good as new. He don't mind being
shot at a bit"
No. said Andersen, as he slid away,
Its Just fun to know my hearts safe
forever"
little later in the shelter Of the No.
Hards barn Anderson quietly slipped
from under his heavy shirt a thick metal
plate. on which there were six marked
indentations, and he shook out of his
boots six bruised pieces of lead. But
Lord Hare never knew the difference
Il suppose said Ed TO his guests that
night, you'd like TO see q little game"
They indicated that they were willing and
We're taken over TO the No. ! Hard.
where prior TO their arrival all arrange
ments had been made for an exhibition
of real gambling. The play was poker
and six in the game.
As Ed led the visitors up to the table
HalVorson was just saying:
TN open that pot with thousand
steers"
ITS a jack" whispered Ed to Lord
Hare He's Just bet thousand head !
of mis- cattle. The boys don't think any
thing of doing that when things get
bit warm
Another player saw" Halvorsons bet /
as the game progressed and tossed into !
the pot the entire assets of the one pri- {
vate bank OF the town. Anderson bet a I
couple Of thousand acres of land. some I
one disputed mis- word, ugly remarks 4
were made. and of a sudden every man IL /
ne room pulled his gun and commenced (
shooting Ed Showed Lord Hare TO the /
hoor and sat on him, three OF the other 4
Englishmen fed through the door. TAX I
ing part OF it with them; the remaining
two stood stock still, dumfognded.
The noise was over IN a moment and 4
10 one was hurt. Ed apologized 10 .
Lord Hare for his abrupt action, but 4
added:
..The boys are a little coltish at times.
but they don't mean any harm. I Just put
Won dawn 10 get you out Of the line 81
stray bullets. HaIvorscn Won the pot:
In this manner the first days stay OF
the visitors was made agreeable for
them By Blue Duck
The next morning, though Blue Duck
received q surprise. Lord Hare and his
friends were inspecting some OF the best
range horses owned il the town, and
Ed and Anderson were giving q capital
exhibition Of rough riding. one OF the
Englishrnen. a slender fellow Of p. asked
permission 70 ride . superb black owned
bv Haivorson. HIS request vas readily
Granted. but ne woald not mount until
ne had changed his clothes and appeared
il . riding suit and boots.
The hack was d mettlesoule beast
r.lrf IA II f.rff m