Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
He Wasn't Thirsty.
lOriginal.l

a tenderfOOt into q dance TOOTH near Il
railroad station in the wild west. He
was 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 sGiutation
and saw the reveIsrs' eyes all leveled
at him he looked somewhat embar-
raised.
There was no tougher place in the
territory than the,scene of this fandan-
60 The women present were by no
means out of place with the men.
whose costume was sOmDrero, WOODEN
shirt and trousers tucked in boots. To
every mans hips were two big revolv-
ers, which, in keeping with the brine of
his hat, Topped up and down as he
danced. Since theDe were far more
men than women. a,GoZen of the for
mer We're sitting arOund the walls of
the dance house, and'it was these who
saluted the stranger.
SHOW us the last city dance!
His feet's purity enough fur a galr'
look at the tapePIwaist of him!'
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 a drink"
The last speaker put his arm
through that of the stranger and ibe-
gan to force him toward the bar.
I'm not drinking just now" saidtthe
unwilling man.
rln r1
the like of that? D'yOu reckon you re
too fine to drink with this crowd?"
No, | drink usually, but just now it
wouldn't do for me TO drink till after
the middle of next month"
BY this time there was n lineup.
The men were jostling the littke tender
foot, showing him up against the bar
The glasses were filed.
"See here, Sissie," said the man who
had invited him, you drinks, and you
drinks right here now, the only ques-
ton being whether you drinks lead or
whisky. Which shall it be?"
The little stranger began to change
i'll his exterior. \ resolute look came
over his face, very different from the
good natured smile with which he had
IeCelNeu lLle jokes dl Ills cAlJcnSc
My friends he said, IF it's drink
or fight, IN fight-that is, if you'll
give me a chance. You see, I'm I'M
armed, and if had dozen revolvers
1 wouldn't know how TO use 'em. The
only way for me to fight out of this is
with my fists
Bully boy! Form a ring! Clear the
hail.
The crowd pushed into the center of
the dance room. showing the dancers
back. Then began clamor as to who
should have the honor of making
mince meat of the tenderfoot. The
man whose invitation TO drink had
been ignored maintained his right. and
the others deferred to him. SO he I'M
strapped his belt with fits twin revolv-
ers, tossed them in Il corner, then sent
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 high
and heavy in proportion, numbered up
TO him. intending to give him one blow
that would settle him. He gave the
blow, but the tenderfoot was not where
IT was intended to land. Before the
tough could steady himself on his legs
after his great effort the tenderfOot's
fist took him under the jaw and lifted
him off his feet. There was a quick
shower of blows, and the tough was
relegated to the corner. his head find
ing 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 the
job OF which his predecessor had
failed. Just as he was about to land n
blow on the tenderfoOts forehead that
spry little man ducked. got him by the
pins, and he went down on his head so
hard that he couldn't get up
One more of the toughs tried his
hand with no better success than the
others. BY this time it was evident
that the tenderfoot was boxer of the
first order. There was some hesitation
about continuing the contest.
step up, gents" said the victor. I'm
anxious TO prove TO you that I'm not
thirsty
But the crowd had had enough of
that kind of fighting, and as the stran-
ger had won at the game they had con-
scented TO play with him there seemed
nothing else to do but to let him alone
That's all right" said one of the
toughs. I'm these parts when a man
isn't thirsty and has the stuff in him
TO prove he isn't thirsty he does as he
likes. Whar did you rarn them tricks
with yer fists. little un?"
I'm the champion featherweight of
the world. There's a chap in Frisco,
the champion featherweight of Ameri-
ca. He's challenged me. I'm on my
way there now. I'd have been proud
to drink with yOu, gents, but I'm in
training. Any drink I'd take would
cost me $1,000. besides not being right
10 my hackers. Good evenin', gents. I
hear the whistle blowing, and reckon
the trains concluded to go on. Much
Obliged for the OpDOrtuDifv of LITTLE