Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1902-05-11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Written for The Republican by
Walter T. Gregory

waiter l. OTeSOTE-J
When the news that the battleship
Maine had been blown up in the harbor
of Havana on the 18th of February,
1898, reached the world, Willie Jones,
the hero of this tale, was pursuing the
even tenor of his way as a COW puncher
for the X Bar L company on the New
River range in southern Arizona.
Willie had been born on the western
border of civilization and though his
fond parents did what they could in
trying to give him an education, even
though a most elementary one, Willie
scorned book knowledge. and while yet
a very young limb he severed his con-
nection with school after throwing his
primer in the face of his teacher, with
whom he differed on a trivial matter.
Willie rejoiced in his freedom, and
while his mother shed tears over him,
demonstrated and pleaded that she in
tended him for the ministry, and that
an education was indispensable to one
of that noble calling, Willie shifted con-
temptuously and said he did not want
to be '' 'Hgious,' and was bent on being
a cowboy so that he could fight Indians
and ride bronchos.
He had his way, and though he had
not yet attained the dignity of long
trousers, he could swear and ride as
we'll as any cowpuncher on the range.
and could give points to the best of
them on judging a mount. As for
handling a gun, well, once after he had
reached mans estate, he shot the curl
out of the mustache of a new arrival
named Morris, who was not acquainted
with Willie's accomplishments and IN
dertook to differ from him.
The real trouble was that Willie had
long looked in the direction of Sal
Meeker. the red-headed, freckled
daughter of a neighboring ranchman,
and though he never had mustered suf-
ficient courage to tell her how much he
adored her, he was most prompt in
warning other male bipeds to admire
her from a respectful distance. Sal,
girl-like, resented this monopoly of her
charms, and when Morris appeared on
the scene, she simpered and ogled and
made such telling goo-goo eyes, that
the unsophisticated victim trembled
with happiness when in her presence.
Sal did not care for Morris, but what
daughter of Eve does not like admira-
ton? He was far from being an
Adonis, and Sal secretly scoffed at him
for being as ugly as baId-faced COW,
but she Dragged on his good looks to
Willie until the latter, boiling with
rage. vowed to have it out with his
rival. He lost no time in telling Morris
that he was pie-faced interloper. and
gave him warning that admitted of but
one Interpretation that he CMorris)
was off his range. and that if he had
any regard for his health he had better
move little farther on. Morris was
not lacking in courage, and demanded
to know who gave him a mort
gage on the person of Sal. WilIie's
eyes blazed ominously, and he pulled.
puff and report followed, and the
next second Morris felt for the left end
of his mustache, but it was gone. He
concluded that perhaps he was wrong
and left, leaving Willie in undisputed
possession of the field, and the girl.
Willie's triumph was evanescent. for
when Sal heard of the disposition that
had been made of her quondam lover.
her strawberry locks curled and siz-
zled with just indignation. and she
forthwith dispatched a summons for
Willie to appear.
He obeyed the mandate and entered
her presence with a suspicious weak
ness about his knees, for he knew what