The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-04-17

Blue DUCKS DESTINY
Br 81 cLEvaLANp.


Wien tNe announceEen. COME from
Allen Manvel. then with James j. ain
that a branch OF tho Manitoba Ntslroad
would be buiil into sine Duck, 1aerp
were many Of the town who leA tha.
shis AGGRESSION would prove TO be an
Injury and not blessing to the com
n.unity. The time is less than hun.
dred years distant when the citizens OF
ElEin rose en- masse and protested
against the building OF what
Is now the Chicago & North
western Railway. rhey said it
would destroy the inns and the plank
roads. blue Ducklans neld that their
cattle would be run down and the town
become but the way station Of trunk
llhe. Blue Duck without a railroad
Vas out OF the world in one sense. a
uGding community with an Identity.
with a railroad 1t became a spot on
Zap prey to rapid transit and COM
6etition Accordingly. The message
Travelled southwark to Mr. Marvel
Blue Duck don't want your road to
come this way Go TO Hamar, but
leave us alone
Mr.. Marvel kept that message sign
cd by all the traders, merchants and
cowmen Of the town, for many years,
and never looked az il without a hearty
laugh But he did not change his plans
Tor those of MIR. Hill to make Blue
Duck railway point
The graders and the iron men kept
Cr at their work, and day after day the
rails drew nearer to Blue Ducl. until
they we're scarcely ten miles away. The
night the weary trackmen quit az this
distance from the town Gentleman Ed,
who was an inveterate foe OF railways.
acted His brief message Of the after
noon, sent by couriers to every cow
brought ready response. A hundred
sat their saddles when by the town
pump he seriously announced that no
railway must enter the pace
When a little later he mounted his
Cwn black mare and gave the signal for
a start all of the male population of
Blue Duck was with him. He rode
straight for the camp Of the builders.
descending on their tents and boarding
cars like a whirlwind. The deyasts-
ton he and his men wrought in one
short hour was a wonder The work
men fed to the tall grasses and Mid.
When they came back they were home
less They cursed little. then sat
down and waited for orders from tho
higher powers.
While they were waiting a myster-
ious prairie fire, favored by a strong
wind, came up through the grasses and
drove them with their horses and
mules miles southward The heat
warped the rails already laid; cattle
were driven over the new dump or
grade until it was almost worthless. In
two days Blue Duck had stopped the
northward progress Of more than a
hundred millions OF capital. and as this
was in a land whe7e courts and law
yers were scarce, where the people of
community willed for themselves
what should or should not be, this cap
ital was staggered AS a preliminary
10 recovering from the shock it sent
out an emissary lt was his misfortune
that he wore a silk hat
"Py lam" said Halverson, when be
saw the hat and knew 10 whom it be-
longed, "he vas born to be hung. Me
unk a pIoog hat and a wicked heart go
together. Yump, you sucker" he ex-
claimed. and his lively handling OF his
pistol sent tho emissary into the Air
two or three feet.
'Yump again he shouted. and the
unfortunate visitor did as he
was told. Unfortunately his hat wab-
bled this time and almost rolled from
his head. Half dozen pistols spoke
on the instant and the silk crown was
rlddlod. The emissary fell TO the
ground screaming.
Spare me. gentlemen; spare me-
am your friend.
Veil, said Hslverson You may be
but you don't look 81. You vast not
dressed shoost IKE a friend. You 90
away and tink il over and you may
shange your mind Go far eray
After this the railroad company made
another effort 10 resume track laying
but another wild ride Of the cowboys
ended that effort and made every