Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Tenderfoot's Scare
IOriginaL.1

EE:StL tOu1u " Gil Aft NOtlI VI III III
fiction. tboNgh he came 10 the same
end as all desperadCes. Long after
Billy had been put out of the way 1t
occurred one evening TO Zen Hicks.
who was I good deal OF Il practical
joker, TO play the part of the famous
bandit. Ben got number of hangers on
in the town where he lived, the scene
of some of the Kids most famous oper-
atoms. men who would do almost any
thing for the drinks, to play the subor-
dinate characters TO his leading man"
The coach had just come in; gentle
man fromithe east alighted and after
supper HtI 4 cigar and strOlle1 about
the town. One of the confederates ap-
preached MIN and entered into CONVEX
sation.
"Like,the country. Stranger"
Like it? Oh. yes. so far as I have
gone. 1 haven't seen much of it as
yet"
Fine country, but some of the peo-
pie are mighty tough. See that Teller
over there with his cordurOyS tucked
in his boots and his sombrero pulled
down over his eyes? Sulky lookin',
amt he? Well. that's Billy the Kid
as that Billy the Kidf' exclaimed
the stranger at thought he was
dead
Don't you believe it, replied the in
fOrmant They reported him shot to
keep strangers from stayin' away from
here, but BilIy's too quick and too dan
gerous to be caught"
Good Gracious." said the stranger.
paling.
81 tell you what you DO" said the in
fOrmant. IF you want to be sure of
bein' let alone, just treat him. that's
all. Billy is a man of honor in some
ways and has never been known to
meddle with Il man he has drank with"
The result of this advice was that the
stranger invited Billy to drink, who
said he never drank except in a crowd,
and the gang was included in the invi-
tation
The ruse worked SO we'll that it was
kept up occasionally for months with
other arrivals, and in some cases the
stranger was induced by various de-
vices to keep the crowd supplied with
liquor for n whole evening. One day
Il young tenderfoOt arrived and was
Coached" about Billy. as usual. He
looked ut the sulky desperate with q
good deal of curiosity.
Would he fight fair, do you think?"
asked the tenderfOot.
Fair? oh, yes; he would with
gentleman like you, but ordinary peo-
pie he'd shoot in the back"
well" said the tenderfoOt. 81 think
I'll go i'll and get something to eat
The steerer went to Billy and the
gang and reported that the stranger
needed prodding. SO when he came
out Billy went up to him with Il swag-
ger and asked if he was the man who
had said that he wouldn't fight fair
The tenderfoOt stated the matter
Alright. but his statement was not ac-
cepted, whereupon the stranger told
him that he would give him an oppOr-
tUuity to show that he could and would
fight fair. I'm not much of n shot"
he added 'but | wouldn't mind u trial
of skill with long knives. The bowie
would suit me, though it's rather a
short weapon"
BY this time the crowd had gathered
round.
Look at his nose" said one. refer
ring to a scar on the strangers right
nostril. Reckon he's had fight with
a catamOunt."
Hes had erysipelas," said another,
noticing that tie stra nger's face was
quite covered with small marks.
1t was plain that the tenderfoot was
bluffing. Billy concluded to meet bluff
with bluff and agreed to fight him then
and there with bowie knives. \ ring
was formed, the principals We're
searched for concealed weapons, and
when all was ready Billy. who didn't
care to 90 any further. said:
See here. young Teller. don't want
to kill you. Set up the drinks and call
it square"
The stranger replied by a quick
air, and BilIy's left ear lost its upper
edge.
'Whew! You air quick. amt you?"
said Billy, stupefed. Before he could
put himself in position the tenderfoot's
knife made a slit in his right nostril.
BY this time Billy was frightened
Hold on. stranger he said Il fight
fair. and l expect you TO fight fair.
want time TO keep the blood from get
tin into my eyes"
The tenderfoot waited while Billy
wiped the blood from his nose and ear.
BY this time the Kid had become very
angry. Suddenly lunging. he made
straight with his knife for the stran-
gers throat. His adversary drew away
on his left foot and gave a quick turn
with his wrist. Billy's knife went up
in the air. described Il circle and, COM
ing down, stuck in the ground thirty
feet away.
stranger said Billy. gimme your
hand. You beat anything with the
bowie that's ever been seen in these
parts. Come and have n drink"
The crowd broke into a gu1aw, and
the tenderfoot replied:
You drink with me and the crowd
too. I've been more frightened than
I've ever been in my life. Nothing /