Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-09-10
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
BILLY KNAPP'S TENDsREOJT

During one spring OF the early sew
entities Billy Knapp ran a species Of
road house or hotel at the crossing OF
the Deadwood and Big Horn trails
through Custer Valley. Travellers
changing from one route to the other
frequently stopped there over night.
He sold accommodations for man and
beast, comprising plenty OF whisky
and plenty of hay. That was the beet
any one could say of It. The hotel was
OF logs, two-storied, with partitions OF
sheeting to insure certain privacy of
sight II not of sound: had three beds
and q number OF hunks and boasted
OF woman cook-one OF the first In
the Hills. Billy did not run 1t long.
He was too restless.
The personnel Of the establishment
consisted OF Billy and the woman al.
ready mentioned. and an ancient Pts.
tol by the name of Charley. The lat.
ter wore many firearms. and had a
good deal to say, but mad never, as
Billy expressed IL, made good This.
In the West, could not have been for
lack Of opportunity. His functions
were those OF general factotum.
One evening Billy sat chair-tilted
against the logs of the hotel waiting
for the stage. BY and by IL drew In.
Charley hobbled out, carrying buckets
of water for the horses. The driver
flung the reins from him with the lord.
ly insolence Of his class. descended
slowly and staggered to the barroom
for his drink. Billy followed TO serve
1t.
Luck" said the driver, and crooked
his elbow.
Anything new" queried Billy.
"Nope."
"Held up?"
"Nope."
That exhausted the situation. The
two men pulled silently for moment
at their pipes. In an isstant the driver
turned to 20.
II got you tenderfoot," he remark,
ed casually. 81 reckon he's outside"
Guess ] ambles forth and sees what
fer q tenderfoot II is" replied Billy, !,
Fastening from behind the bar.
The tenderfoot was seated on a |
small trunk Just outside the door AZ
he held his hat In his hands, Billy |
could see his domelike bald head. Be
meath the dome was little pink and |
white face, and below that were mar
row sloping shoulders, Nat check |
suit and a flannel shirt whose collar
was much too large for him. Billy
took this all in while passing. A.
the driver climbed to- the seat, the
hotelkeeper commented.
Say, Hen" said he. would you
stun 1t, or put 1t under glass case?"
I'D serve 1t lay Tooloose,'' replied
the driver briefly, and he brought his
long lash S-shaped across the four star.
tied backs OF his horses.
Billy turned to a reinspection OF his
guest and met a deprecating smile.
Can get a shake-down here for To.
night?" he inquired in a high, piping
voice.
"You kin" replied Billy shortly, and
began to howl for Charley.
That patriarch appeared around tho
corner, as did likewise the cook. a
black.eyed, red.cheeked creature, Mt.
erward counted by Billy as one OF his
eight matrimonial ventures.
Snake this strangers warbag intiJ
tn shack" commanded Billy. "And
Nell, Jest naturally rustic few grub"
The stranger picked up small
and followed Charley In.
to the building. When, little later.
he reappeared for supper. he carried
the hand bag with him and placed 1t
under the bench which fIanked the ia.
Bile. Afterward he deposited 1t next