The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15

]
| observed in tone audible to the sew
/ eraI interested bystanders that Mr..
/ Bangs would be pleased 20 have the
] Ieadin' citizens Ticker up at the Palace
Hotel bar. later in the eveuin'." and
proceeded 20 escort the young man 10
the hosiery In question.
The name OF the hotel and the hotel
itself bore not the faintest resemblance /
TO each other It was barnlike wooden
building. two stories high. painted
white. The boards were rough. and the
/ paint consisted of but a single coat. Al
though at that time CoGeyyilIe was
rather proud OF the Palace. later. waen
the boom" came. 10 was turned into
/ feed store. and a brick building took
its name and occupation. And IL made
a much better feed store than il had
hotel
Hall an hour later. when Bangs found
himself one OF six others seated at
long table. covered with a soiled cloth.
in the large. low dining room. he be
came fully aware that he was an object
OF TO little interest. Swarthy faces ap-
pcared az the dirty windows. and rough
looking men paused az the door on their
way 10 the barroom 10 size up the ten
IderfOot" He ate his bacon and eggs
with a littIo show OF self-Consciousness
- he could. and when he had finished
he strolled into the street 10 see some
thing o. the town. He was wandering
labout at random. when Curley came upon
him with the question. .Whar YOU been.
hey"
Just walking about" replied Bangs.
flushing. for he did not altogether like
Curley's unsolicited and persistent
ohaperonage Il can do that without
giving mortal ofense TO the population,
I presume"
You get gait on and come with
me-" said Curley shortly The leading
citizens or CofreyvnIe have been invited
to Ticker UP with We. and the hotel bars
damned with EN-. They won't stand
bein' KEEP waitin now they's rounded
, up"
That's not my lookout 1 didn't in
vite them retorted Bangs. but never
theIess he walked quickly along with his
appointed guardian
Yes. We did" said Curley: through
, me. / know what's in this hyar town.
, and when a strange tenderfoot wants
!, to hitch with the population. invitin'
o the Ieadin' citizens to Ticker up is a
good way to begin" after which i'm
portant piece OF Information he trudged
o on in silence.
Arriving at the barroom. Bangs con-
cIuded that the proportion Of leading
y citizens in Coffeyville must be uncom-
. monty large. AS Curley had said, the
place was TANNED with them. The
? newcome- was beginning 10 be accus-
o toned 10 being stared at. so the uniform
In 81
r. in his direction hardly Disconnected him
o There were fierce eyes and gentle keen
]. eyes and bleared. bright eyes and dull.
j but the expression in all OF them was
g one OF curiosity
d CurIey diverted attention from the
20 New York by climbing on rickety
- table and delivering a speech.
j Boys" he said this hyar is Bangs.
g Bangs has come to invest in good old
e Kansas land. and he's came 10 the
r star county OF the State Bangs halls
from New York. boys. They've heard
back thar about this rIsin' young me-
= tropolis OF the glorious West. Bangs
q has came out with greetin's from our
sister city. to show that she don't hold
no jealousy because OF our tremendous
strides to'ards progress and greatness %
This brought forth cheers but wher
4 Curley further announced that Bangs
. was DESTROYS Of "shakin' hands al
g around and havin' Cofeyvile's promI-
nent citizens jine him in a red eye
10 round up" the cheers developed into
7 howls Bangs shook bands with every
i, one IN the room. and took his drink o
. bad whisky with the rest. He would
have asked for water. had not signif
10 cant glance from Curley deferred him
Then Curley did the honors. and afte1
Curlev. Bill. the station master. anC
- I after him Jake. the landlord OF the Pal
!, ace Hotel, so that Bangs, who was quit,
unaccustomed 10 so much drinking, no
80 10 speak OF the quality OF the drink
=. withdrew from the crowd around the ba
=. and retired to a corner OF the room. Her
~ he was joined by BnI. who. promptI
IS coming TO the point. asked him in
hoarse whisper II he had as yet bough
.e any land from Curley. Bangs replied
that he had not.
l. We'll" announced Bill Il ain't 90
y nothin' 10 say agin' Jim. only l neve
II kuowed him to get the short end Of
n trade: so il won't hurt ye tenderfoot. Z,
10 keep yer eyes skinned" Then he adde,
in a lower voice: Don't 90 nothin' t
II rifle him up. il we kin help. Jim's SOM
shakes as "A bad man. ] tell We
o.. Just then Curley came up with III
a proposition that Bangs should see tn
. town" The Eastern man acquiesccd
and a few minutes later found himself il
. the Palace dance hall, among sixt-
rough looking men and a dozen hardI
= less rough looking wmen. who were di
viding their time between dancing q
~ drinking still more disrcputable liquor
The atmosphere was redolent Of cigar
cite smoke, and the absence OF cuspidor
had not improved the condition OF IN
floor.
- With the Information that ne Nigh
scratch for himself for while" Cur