The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-06-25
PROLONGED HIS TRIP.
Re wsnt fer Two Daas ane vas
1ana Sir Wsatn.

AfAH - = NHr""'
u have had many funny experf
ences in my life sad q Npll knoRn
Washingion correspondent Eho has
Travelled all over this continent and
al the Others, 10 a Washington Star
reporter, ''but tlle reading Of an item
in paper here about s0me cow boys
brings back one that | can never for
get. was not newspaper man -
that time, but was = good telegraph
operator. was n the employ q the
Santa Fe road AZ an extra man.
Whenever an operator az any distsnt
point gBew sick, or bad 10 90 away, ]
was among the men sent TO take his
place At the time / speak Of Dodge
City, Kan, was nothing but . cattle
town; a place where the cattlemen
took cattle to load Tor the Chicago
and Kansas City markets
Zone DAY in Kansas City / re-
ceived orders TO 60 and relieyea man
at Dodge City. was something Of
a dresser in those DAYS, and although
| knew the dislike of the cowboys for
too much swell attire, wore a fine
six hat on the train. There were a
number Of cowboys aboard on their
Eay to Dodge City. ! noticed that
they did not take kindly 20 that hat,
and in a short time they began 10
make remarks about Il. Then one
Of them took II Of my head and asked
that he might inspect IT, They
passed il from one 70 another, and
when we we're down near Dodge City
they told me that such a hi,vas not
a proper thing for a young and good
boxing man. They accordingly
placed il in window Of the car and
shot it fnll Of holes.
Il didn't bother about that or care
much. and this seemed TO pleasc
them. Come with as, they said
when VIC got oil she train At Dodge
City. and 50 they took me to q store
aud bought me the fnest regulation
western hat they could find in she
store. we are going down il the
country for q few miles they told
me, and would Ike 10 have you 20
with u.s. told them | would see
about that reported my arrival to
the station agent. who told me that
/ would not be wanted until Sunday
morning. Il was then Friday. /
thought that II the c0wboys we're Just
going Tor q short run into the cattle
country, as they had intilnated, 1
would 20 along with them. We sst
out and had lots Of fun. When Sat
urdsy afternoon came around ! BE-
gan 10 get uneasy, and asked thsIn
when they Eere going to start back.
They told NE net TO be worried, As
they would take me back all right. l
didn't know where / VAS and 50 / had
10 80 with them. When Sunday
passed began 10 realize that ] was a
sort Of captive with them and that
they had played trick on me SO
I stayed with them then Just to see
the result. had no fear because
they were 8 fine lot Of fellows. and
had just concluded that they were
having fun with me By getting IneoiE
that way. The upshot vas that they
kept me with them for SIX weeks,
having gone into Texas for round.
np Of cattle 70 he drought 10 Dodge
City for shipment. VIXEN got back
10 Dodge City I was 50 ashamed oi
she exploit, that I didn't know whst
10 Do. told the station agent. but
be wouldn't believe me. and told me
vas rot wanted on the road any
more. lwent 10 kansas City and ex-
planned the situation 20 The general
manager. who was mighty mad At
first, but finally began TO see the
joke that had been PLAYED and Joined
! in tbs laugh on me.