The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-11

with the third he was coniidentlal az
the 9Th he was inclined to argue, rs
the seventh went down he began 10
boss the ranch. When the ninth arrived
ne pulled his gun and he didn't last Il
minute. 1t was of this that the poet
spoke when he exclaimed:
at the punch bowls brink
Let the thirsty think
What the people say in Japani
Fust thc man takes a drink
Next The drink takes drink.
Then The drink takes the man.
An uncomfortable thought just then
tnglcd through him. What If the posse
of angry citizens whom he knew to be
rapidly approaching on the trail OF
these men should suddenly appear over
the hill and open an indiscriminate
fire that would include the entertainer
as we'll as the audience? \ bit Of sand
stone rock juttcd ont from a blow out
in the hill a few steps away and he
saw chance 10 make a distinction be
tween speaker and hearers that might
he recognized 10y the coming avengers
Drink. gentlemen, 10 our fortunate
meeting" hc said, passing the bottle
around. and will mount this natural
stage and give you touch of the most
realistic and elegant poetry that ever
poet spun My pardncr wrote II on
the wall Of his cell with n bit of crayon
that u schoolhoy threw at him. His
Taller WAS so taken with IL that he
copied it and handed II around TO his
friends to show what a rare bird he
was boarding. saw one of the copies
of the poem. recognized the handWrit-
ug. and for the first time in months
of weary search learned where my be-
loved friend was soiourning That
night he raised the window and came
out into my arms. can never forget
the Noble words of his immortal verse.
| will now repeat 1t for your entertain
mcnt and enlightenment
Drury mounted the rock and the COW
boys seated themselves In the grass.
Life is hut a game o. cards
which each one has 20 learn.
Each shumes. cuts and deals pack.
Aud each a trump doth turn.
Some turn a high card at the top
While others turn a low;
Some hold "a hand quite full Of trumpA
While others none can show.
when. last q an. spade Is turned
BY the hoary hand Of time.
II always closes up the game.
In every land and cline
No matter what man may win
Or what man may save
TIE dreaded spade turns Up at last
AID digs the players grave
The BOYS had forgotten their peril
and they wanted another drink. The
man hunter. desiring to keep his pres
ent distance from them. swung the
flask over his head and tossed II to
them. saying. Here's to the man who
can catch and drink while the other
smells"
His keenly practiced ears had caught
the almost imperceptible sound Of dis
tant horse boots beating the earth In
rhythmic measure. With dramatic yes
ture and intonation Of voice. he sought
to hold their attention little longer.
"rore's again 70 the fearless men
Who range the plain through storm aud rain,
With friendship true TO the cause they hold
They guard their trust as Ihen guard gold.
One Of the men. who was turning the
almost empty flask over his mouth
paused an instant. Then be sprawle(
out upon the grass with his ear press
ed closely to the ground. But the earth
was no longer needed to convey the
sounds Of beating hOofs. The air bore
them on like the rapid strokes Of
feyered heart upon the human chest.
Listen cried the elOcutionst. I'm
drawing a crowd. Thank goodness,
there IS not much Of our good whisky
left for them
The men sprang up with an oath ana
ran for their horses.
SAY. boys" Drury cried. Both men
turned to look into the mnzzles Of two
revolvers. This harmless good natur-
ed cuss amt quite ready yet to let that
good whisky get away. It's not polite
to leave end In such hurry
The hands Of one Of the men flew 70
his belt.
stop It or I'll drop you came the
command REINFORCED with a revolver
whose unerrng aim was between the
cowboys eyes.
The men stood as II dazed at the I'M
expected attitude.
up with your hands," came the
command. mo foolingw -Four hands
went up just as six horsemen appeared
at the top Of the hill
The posse understood the situation
at once and the marshal recognized the
man hunter. AS they came down the
bill they gave a rouslng cheer.
Mexican Fred, marshal Of Engle-
wood. Kan. soon had the desperadoes
handcuffed and on their way back to
the town where they had provoked a
fight and killed a man.
The man hunter went on his way to
Ashland connecting new rhymes for
the next occasion.