The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-11-07
TEXAN TACTICS
copyright. 1902. by the s. 8. Mcclure
Company.l

Colonel Sam Taylor and his daughter
Edith to strike Italian soil before seek
ing to win the young girls love and the
colonel's money. Edith was worth
| winning, and the colonel had fat
| bank account from Texas cattle and
the dividends of two oil gushers. He
wasn't man to brag of his wealth.
| He simply said to the landlord OF the
| Partisan hotel where he put up" for
few days:
1--WE want the best this shanty and
| this town afford, and there won't be
any kicking when the bill comes In.
| I'm not worth as much as the Roths-
! childs-not at this minute-but they
| are expecting to strike at least three
new oil wells on my land at any hour,
and l may buy out your Bots before
l get ready to leave"
1t wasn't two days before an Italian
| count called. He was count with
| four castles and could trace his family
back $50 years without the aid Of
detective.
"Look here, Count Dizzio," said Colo
mel Sam after looking the nobleman
over; Pm plain, blunt man and say
what | think. Did you ever run a
brickyard"
"Sirw exclaimed the count as he
drew himself up.
| "Oh, no offense, you know. I'm will
ing to take on a son-in-law, but l want
| to start big brickyard over in Texas,
and he must know enough to manage
| it. 1t will be all in the family, you
see Texas has the best clay in the
world for brickmaking, and the boom
towns are fairly crying for material
to build with"
The count made an exit becoming
the descendant of a king. His tracks
had not grown cold, however, when a
second one arrived. His wardrobe and
his ancestry went hand in hand. He
had seen Edith as she entered the door
way of the hotel, and his heart beats
jumped from normal to LAG per minute.
Eyes; glad you called to talk matters
over" replied Colonel Sam as he leaned
back in his chair. you have seen
Edith, you say, and you love her."
81 loaf her as loaf my life," replied
the count as he worked the windmill
racket with his arms.
81 see. Can't say that I'm struck on
your shape, but I'm willing to give you
chance. Can you throw lasso,
brand a calf or ride broncho"
The count did not understand, and
the colonel had to go into explanations.
When he had finished and added that
his ranches were all family affairs and
that he would start son-in-law In at
$40 per month and gradually advance
him, he found no listener to his last
words.
There came other italian counts, and
they, too, disappeared after brief talk
with the colonel, but it was not until
they moved on to Italy that there was
count for every hour of the twenty.
four. Counts followed the pair as they
went sightseeing, met them at the
doors of cathedrals and amid historic
ruins and swarmed in the lobbies OF
hotels. 1t took Colonel Sam half the
day and all the evening to turn them
down. Some had titles only two feet
long, and some had titles running into
yards, but to save time and trouble he
|
couraged all of them to the extent of
Offering them various jobs ranging in
wages from $50 to $40 per month and
board and in each and every case his
generous offer was refused with in
dignation. In only one case did Diz.
zio feel that the insult must be wiped
out in blood.
"Signore, you hava insulta me, and
you must fighta me one duel!' he ex.
claimed.
"All right, old boy; have 1t your
way" was the good natured reply. GAS
l am the challenged party. shall Sc
lect revolvers, and If l don't shoot six
holes through you in six seconds I'll
never again claim Texas as my home. y
The count declared that a gentleman
could not fight with any other weapon
than rapier, but the colonel replied:
mo toasting forks or frog stickers
for me. My idea is to kill you as dead
and as quick as possible, and there's
nothing like chunks Of lead to do it
Name your time and place, friend Diz
zio, and look up the deed to your lot
In the graveyard at the same time"
The count retreated In good order
and took revenge by declaring on al
sides that Colonel Sam Taylor was nc
gentleman. But the last Italian count
was the most determined Of. all. He
must either marry money or open q
secondhand clothing store. Colone
Sam was not the man to kick another
when he was down. His daughter lei
the count get crick In the back OF
his neck bowling to her. The idea wa.
to let him down easy, but he refused
to be let down. BY some hook or crool
he raised money enough to follow then
back to London, and he had become
such nuisance that the colonel said:
Look here, Mr.. Dizzio; you'll have
to choke or. The girl doesn't want 20,
for husband. You'd better run home
and not bother us any more"
That evening In the ladies' parlor
which happened to be clear of othel
guests, Dizzie made one last appeal t.
Edith. When she told him 1t was use
less to hope, he drew a stiletto ant
declared that they should die together.
The count was still Hourishing thu
weapon when hand clutched his neck