The National tribune., 1903-06-25

fourth O. July:''
THAT so? Hang my skunks if l keep
up with the a.manik at all since | been
out here punchin cows in Arizeny."
''Where you from, Tweezers?"
''From Tom Green County, you Nile
green galoot.'
where's that-up i'll Mizzoury:'
s.No. you tol'able bright kid. it's in Tex
as"
.'Well, hammer me up into fish-hooks
and sell me at half price, if l mightil
knowed you was from Texas, Tweezers.
said AlkaG Ike, with a wink at the other
boys, who were resting under the shade OF
some cottOnwcods near Cold Spring.
How" asked Tweezers.
by your size, answered Alkali Ike.
TweezerS being a very short, spare lit
tie man, Alkai's comparison called forth
much yociferOus comment and laughter
from the band of cowpunchers.
ell. boys" proceeded Alkali. after
Tweezers had been sufficiently tormented,
ito come back TO my 'riginal theme. what
about havin' Il regular old-time celebra-
ton. with some Fourth of July talks and
SONGS and firecrackers, like we used to
have back in the States when we was
~ kids?"
"Where'll we have it, Alkali?" asked
RattleSnake Pete.
Right here in Demon Canyon" said
Alkali. whats the matter with hayin
"a celebration here in Demon ConyonE
he repeated, as his companions were 81
lent
''Nothin', only
"Onty what. Rattesnake?"
'sThe people in this canyon amt eddi
Gated up to lavin' Fourth of July demon
strations. We couldn't get their help"
Help? What do we need of Their
help? Amt we the head and the tail and
the inSdeS of the great Improv ment So
ciety for Demon Canyon and Sliver's
SpriRgs?' Alkaii appealed to them ora
torically.
That's what we are" yelled a hall
dozen cowboys.
Well all this Improvement Society has
to do is to act. and We'll have Il celebra
ton that can't be beat by any State under
the wings of the American vulture."
Three shots fired in rapid succession by
some of his admiring listeners was the
applause elected by Alkali Ike's fight OF
eloquence.
''Hain't Arizony putin in her claim fol
Statehood right aleng?' he pursued. "And
hain't she deservin' of the biggest, bright
est star right in the center of the good OLD
red. white and blue?''
Here more shots by way of showing ap
prevail went off.
That's just what she isl" agreed
Shorty Robbins. "Am't she, Tweezers?' 2
Shes bout as good as Tom Greer
County" admitted Tweezers little slow
'''Bout as good Head over heels bet
ter than the whole of Texas" burst il
Ches DOlliver, 4 native son of the Terri
tory. which he was defending.
Hail to Arizony, the sun-kissed land"
he sang.
''Good for you, Ches," said Aikali Ike
Al. E.
the shoulder. stand up for Ar;Zony, ant
We'll see her star shinin' and a-ripplin' OF
Old Glory yet. That's what we will!
Here's these settlers liyin' at Silver!
Springs and all up and down Demon Can
yon. they haint never honored the Fourtl
since we've been punchin' cows on thi
range. Good people, only just lettin' pa
as they're concerned. Now, as member
of the big Improvement Society we cam
naturally ride round here any longer per
mittin' patriotism to wiggle behind in De
mon Canyon. There's Copper Flat Onl,
four miles across the range from Silver
Springs is preparing for a slambastin BIZ
celebration. They've ordered fireworks
have u Judge comm from Tucson to max
speech, and some railroad magnates vii
be there to study the situa ton of Cope
Flat with view to runnin' that new raj
road through there. Now, Sliver's Spring
is better town-site any day than tn
Flat, there's better ore in sight in thes
mountains and it don't take much Of a
eye for railroad engineerin' to see tina
Demon Canyon is 4 easier place to bull
a railroad than through that rough pas
ieadin' down TO Copper Flat. As activ
members of the Improvement Society,
propose that We take the Fourth of Jul
celebration away from the Flat, captur
fireworks, Judge, and them plug-hatte
railway m1Vu1fpS md tho itrna
for Sliyer's Springs. We can do it,"
That's what we can," cried the COW
punchers, with sublime faith in the MAJ
agement Of their leader. Even Tweezer
turned traitor to Tom Green County an
became enthusiastic.
There's Teddy settin' out on thel
White House steps, wishn' he might h
prancin' round on a broncho, he's got hi
eye on the West" continued Alkali. "H
has faith in us cowpunchers to whoop u
patriotism out here and help the countr
grow. He hain't goin' TO git left on u
boys: Hurrah fo; the Westi Hurrah fc
Teddy, friend Of the cowpuncher.''
Then followed wild intermingling {
shouts, tossing of sombreros, and shot
that proclaimed how much the remarks ,
AIkai had stirred them and filed thel
with an enthusiastic determination to hel
their leader. Just how it was all to be a
complshed they did not stop to ask. The
his plans always carried. Nothing ev,
foiled them.
Alkali succeeded in enlisting the assis
ance of all the cowpunchers in his schen
TO rob ''the Flat of the celebration an
bring ''the eminent company TO Silver
Springs. Even Tweezers promised S
crecy and faithful allegiance to Alkali
cause.
Alkali Ike was very popular in Demo
Canyon: in fact, in all the cattle countl
of the Territory. His popularity even e
tended TO the stage drivers, 10 the ra
road stations, and the railroad employee
When Alkali stated that thing was z
ing to be, those who knew him new
wasted any time doubling that it won
come to pass even as he said. So it w;
with the celebration.
Alkali's gray matter under his sol
brero is bound to carry her through" w
tho prophecy of Rattlesnake Pete
Plans for celebrating at Siver's Sprin
went forward steadily, despite the sizzli
heat and the Summer rains. ''The Fla,
hearing Of the planned celebration to
held at Sliycr's Springs, turned up
nose and with shifts of contempt rcmar
ed:
What can n gang of cowboys do?
will be drunken riot and nobody
spectacle will go TO it. We'il get all t