The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-10
tie Wasn't Thirsty
tOriginal.l

"Grass!
The word was shouted from dozen
voices, the occasion being the entry Of
q tenderfoOt into q dance room near q
railroad station in the wild west. He
was a delicate looking little fellow
about five feet six inches high, with
thin flesh or, rather, no fat on his
bones, and as he heard the salutation
and saw the revelers' eyes all leveled
at him he looked somewhat embar-
rassed.
There was no tougher place in the
territory than the scene of this fandan-
CO. The women present were by no
means out Of place with the men,
whose costume was sombrero. woolen
shirt and trousers tucked In boots. To
every mans hips were two big revoly-
ers, which, In keeping with the brim of
his hat, Topped up and down as he
danced. Since there were far more
men than women, a dozen Of the for
per were sitting around the walls Of
the dance house, and 1t was these who
saiuted the stranger.
"Show us the last city dancer
His feet's purity enough fur galP'
Look at the taper waist of himw
Though the position was embarrass-
ing for the tenderfoot, he was good ma
tured and laughed at the Jokes cracked
at his expense.
"Come, Sissie; have n drink"
The last speaker put his arm
through that of the stranger and be-
gan to force him toward the bar.
I'm not drinking just now" said the
unwilling man.
Not drinking! Well, who ever heard
the like of that? D'you reckon you're
too fine to drink with this crowdT
mo, drink usually, but just now ii
wouldn't do for me to drink till after
the middle of next month"
BY this time there was lineup.
The men were jostling the little tender
foot, showing him up against the bar.
| 4 nC SluSScS WGlC hlltu'
"See here, Sssie," said the man who
had invited him, you drinks, and you
drinks right here now, the only ques'
ton being whether you drinks lead oil
whisky. Which shall 1t bef"
The little stranger began to change
In his exterior. A resolute look came
over his face, very different from the
good natured smile with which he had
received the jokes at his expense.
"My friends" he said, IF it's drink
or fight, 'T'll fight-that is, if you'll
give me u chance. You see, I'm un
armed, and If had dozen revolvers
l wouldn't know how to use 'em. The
only way for me to fight out Of this is
with my fists"
Bully boy! Form ring! Clear the
hallw
The crowd pushed into the center OF
the dance room, showing the dancers
back. Then began a clamor as to who
should have the honor of making
mince meat of the tenderfoOt. The
man whose invitation to drink haC
been ignored maintained his right, anC
the others deferred to him. So he un
strapped bis belt with its twin revolv
ers, tossed them in corner, then sem
his hat sailing after them. The tender
foot took off every stitch Of clothing
above the waist, and the group were
somewhat surprised to see that what
ever flesh there was on him was pure
muscle. His antagonist, six feet higl
and heavy in proportion, numbered vi
to him, intending to give him one blow
that would settle him. He gave thu
blow, but the tenderfoot was not where
1t was intended to land. Before thu
tough could steady himself on his legi
after his great effort the tenderfoot''
fist took him under the. jaw and lifted
him off his feet. There was a quicl
shower of blows, and the tough wal
relegated to the corner, his head find
ing q pillow on his sombrero.
There was some surprise manifested
Indeed, when the strongest man pres
ent stepped into the ring no one at
tempted to prevent his finishing thu
Job at which his predecessor ha(
failed. Just as he was about to land
blow on the tenderfoOt's forehead tina
spry little man ducked, got him by th'
pins, and he went down on his head 81
hard that he couldn't get up.
One more of the toughs tried hi
hand with no better success than th
others. By this time it was eviden
that the tenderfoot was a boxer of tn
first order There was some hesitation
about continuing the contest.
"Step up, gents" said the victor. "Tn
anxious to prove to you that Pm no
thirsty"
But the crowd had had enough o
that kind of fighting, and as the stran
ger had won at the game they had con
sented to play with him there seemet
nothing else to do but to let him alone
That's all right" said one of tn
toughs. "In these parts when a mai
isn't thirsty and has the stuff In hin
to prove he isn't thirsty he does as b
likes. Whar did you l'arn them trick
with yer fists, little unf"
Pm the champion featherweight 0
the world. There's n chap in Frisco
the champion featherweight Of Ameri
ca. He's challenged me. I'm on m
way there now. I'd have been prou
to drink with you, gents, but I'm i
training. Any drink I'd take woul
cost me $1,000. besides not being righ
to my hackers. Good evenln', gents.
hear the whistle blowing, and l recko
the trains concluded to go on. Muc
obliged for the opportunity of littl
practice. Come over to Frisco and Sc
the match"
"Gents," said the man who ha
called for the information, "never b'
| fore hoS these nortS heen honOred b