The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-26


well filled was the Catholic church
where the Mexicans worshipped. 1.-The
Lunger" drifted in there, but he
couldn't understand a word, and he felt
all the more alone. There seemed to be
mighty little in life for him That
Christmas day was seven years ago.
He hasn't forgotten It, and he never
will. Living through that day. was the
final breaking of home ties for 1.-The
Lunger." He broke them-that is, as
best he could. He tried to forget what
he had left, by force of circumstances,
and to accept what was offered him.
There. is a saying among those who
live in the alkaH and cacti country that
if a person will just stick it out for
year or two they'll be so acclimated
that they wouldn't go back to civiIiza-
ton if they could.
THE LANCER" struck out with his
eyes shut to do in Rome as the Romans
do. Before the next Christmas he had
changed his derby for a broad briIn-
med soft hat with a leather band
around it; his white bosomed shirt had
given way to blue flannel; his patent
feathers were replaced by high
heeled riding boots and clank-
ing spurs; his coat was square
style; he could roll brown paper
cigarettes in a 20 mile wind; Green
River no longer brought tears to his
eyes; he knew every turn of faro and
naQ MS own system LOT D0al1IlB IOu-
lette; he was proprietor of an Angora
goat ranch up the valley of the ella
river and he rode in the biggest saddle
on the smallest mustang in the coun-
try
The only form of civilization he
meant to retain was his ability to keep
books and to do the short hand court
reporting at the court house when
Mexican was tried for murder. He
didn't have to do much office work and
ha 1or- crOnd needed the
money to keep his goat ranch and his
roulette system going, so he excused
himself for not giving up short hand
and bookkeeping.
a. The Lunger' is a gOer, was the
remark made by many.
81 tole him he'd forget the states and
this kid glove bizniss in year, said
the bartender who still doled Green
River out of the same bottle over the
same counter at the White House.
If any man looked and acted as If
he had forgotten the life he once knew,
1.-The Lunger'' did. He wouldn't let
himself think. He never read a news
paper although the Denver papers
reached the town two or three days
after they were published. He was
happy go lucky.
1t was one Christmas eve five years
after 1.-THE Hunger" reached the town
that I saw him sitting in the same
White House saloon. The proprietor
had announced that the special attrac-
ton at the White House, in celebration
of Christmas eve, would be 'mooslc,
and he had hired all the musicians in
town to make up the orchestra. The
saloon boosted of badly thumped ana
out of tune piano. That. with bass
fiddle minus one of the four strings.
a trombone that cracked and crashed
like a calliope, a snare drum, two small
fiddles and a guitar made up the or
chestra- It took more Green River tnan
cfx To IeITR In0 FNT2 al
played mostly by ear, and ''Natchez,
1.-The Cowboys Lament" johnny Nc
Doodle Ding. Ding, Ding" and similar
selections made up the repertoire.
The room was hazy with tobacco
smoke wher I went in. The click of
the roulette ball was heard above the
noise of the players about the tables.
the clink of glasses on the bar and the
distinctly marked time of the waltz the
orchestra was playing.
1.-The Iunger' was sitting in the
middle of the room aStride chair with
his arms and chin resting on the back
of the chair: the back of the chair be-
ing in front instead of behind him for
he had long since abandoned the con-
ventional manner of using a chair, ex-
cept at table and then, with the back
in front, there was a barrier between
him and the food.
He was smoking brown paper cigarettes
as fast as they burned up He kept one
foot, and the clankng spur, marking the
the bottle of Green River was set out for
him and he invited all hands to the bar
He was rather quiet, said nothing more
than 'howdy as an acquaintance came
into the room. The orchestra was hav-
ing a laborious time playing after the
Ball. but after three false starts the
players got away together. although one
the 1urching of overloaded Mexican
who ran into the end of the fiddle bow
sweep. I didn't see much music in the
playing It was amusing to me. Per
haPs smiled led little unkn9wlnggly, as
The selection was ended. The piano
player was catching up with the rounds
of drinks he had missed and was rolling
a couple of cigarettes to last through the
next number. A couple of cowboys were
| mouth organs before they forgot it. 1.-The
Lunger' turned and looked at me
This may sound like SIDE sho nov! or or
a quiet voice. but it's like. grand opera
to me. That's the only kind of music
years ago. Jose, the Mexican undersheriff
/ who has been in the pen for three differ
f fhe meaTeat to Be Reaske we have our
you?''
CT heard Thomas orchestra once IN
New York.. said The Lunger' as he
rolled another brown paper
Il hope these fellows will keep sober
enough to play all night he remarked,
for the musicians
Say, when you get back to your home
/ find out for me what piano and a pa t
ent piano player machine would cost and
| let me know, will your he said and his
! ewes frightened at the thought.
| I've wondered since if he ever bought
the piano and mechanical piano player.
JAYHAWKER JOTS.
Mr.. Yeast leaves Columbus to make a
raise in st. Louis.
Sedan is after municipal waterworks, or
most any other old kind
An apron from far off Korea was a part
/ of q Shower at Liberal.