The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-06-01
A TENDERFOOT'S SCARE
Ioriglnal.l

that could very well be conjured up in
! fiction, though he came to the same
end as all desperadoes. Long after
Billy had. been put out of the way it
occurred one evening to Ben. Hicks,
who was a good deal of a practical
| joker, to play the part of the famous
bandit. Ben got q 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; q gentle
man from the east alighted and after
supper lit a cigar and strolled about
the town. One of the confederates ap-
preached him and entered into CONVEX
sation.
Like the country. stranger?"
Like it? Oh, yes, so far as / have
gone. 1 haven't seen much of 1t 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 he2 Well, that's Billy the Kid"
lis that Billy the Kid?" exclaimed
the stranger. 81 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 Billy's too quick and too dan
gerous to be caught"
Good graciousw said the stranger.
paling.
Il tell you what you do" said the in
Dormant. IF you want to be sure of
bein' let alone, just treat him, that's
all. Billy is man of honor in some
ways and has never been known to
NEEDLE with a 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 1t was
kept up occasionally for months with
other arrivals, AMI In some cases the
stranger was induced by various de-
vices TO keep the crowd supplied with
liquor for whole evening. One day
a young tenderfoot arrived and was
coached" about Billy. as usual. He
looked at the sulky desperate with a
good deal of curiosity.
would he fight fair. do YOU think pr
asked the tenderfoot.
Fair? oh, yes; be would with a
gentleman like you, but ordinary peo-
pie he'd shoot In the back"
"Well," said the tenderfoot, ST think
I'll go in and get something to eat"
The steerer went to Billy and the
gang and reported that the stranger
needed proddiDg. So when he came
out Billy went up to him with a 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-
tunity to show that he could and would
fight fair. I'm not much of a shot"
he added, "but wouldn't mind 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 scar on the strangers right
nostril. Reckon he's had a fight with
a catamount"
Hes had erysipelas." said another
noticing that the strangers face was
quite covered with small marks.
1t was plain that the tenderfoot was
blufing. Billy concluded to meet bluff
with bluff and agreed to fight him then
and there with bowie knives. A ring
was formed, the principals were
searched for concealed weapons, and |
when all was ready Billy, who didn't |
care to go 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
movement His knife glittered in the
air, and Billy's left ear lost its upper
edge.
"Whew! You air quick, amt your"
said Billy, stupeied. Before he could
put himself in position the tenderfoot's
knife made a slit in his right nostrl
BY this time Billy was frightened.
Hold on. stranger" he said. 81 fight
fair, and 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 luDging. he made
straight with his knife for the stran-
gers throat His adversary drew away
on bis left foot and gave a quick turn
with bis wrist. Billy's knife went 40
~ the air described q circle and. com,
lng down stuck W the ground thirty
feet away,
"spapgerP SAID Billy, gimme your
hand You beat anything via liz