The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-13
WHEN PINK-EYE SIMPSON TOOK
WATER.

cit was way back in the sos when
they were still working placer dirt on
Tiger crick an weighin' out gold dust
for plug terbacker in Grosenbecks
store that 1 saw Pink-Eye Simpson
take. water" said the old prOspector
in the Chicago News. ssIIe wasn't ad-
dicted to them rotations an I don't
know that anybody ever gave him a
subsequent invite to the same without
Qualifyin' fer the central fgger in a
coroner's inquest. Stin Pink-Eye took
water oncet.
"a teller blew in with a sloppy
chinook along one December. The
boys wus congregated in Grosenbecks
in the front part. He KEEP his bar
in front an his store in the rear. SOS
ter ketch EN- gOin' an comm. When
the Teller fust come in we all took him
fer a kid. He was all bundled I'D in
a little buffalo coat an. had a fur cap
pulled down over his ears. / don't
reckon he was much more'n four foot
high an when he got that coat shuck-
ed an his cap pulled off there wasn't
a great deal left of him. But he wus
mana mighty weazened, sour
faced, red-nosed, red-eyed, hump
backed runt, but he had got his
growth. He looked around him as
then walked up to the bar an called
fer a drink.
"Grosenbeck grinned as he set the
bottle out. I reckon we all smiled
What's amusin' you ? suueaks the lit
tie man. Maybe you find my per-
snail appearance a subjec' O. mirth 2
I Wus smiIin' because I was hap
py,' says Grosenbeck, quite meek.
You've probly skinned somebody
good an plenty, then, says the little
man, pourin' out a bath an 1owerin
it scientific. That the rOttenest irni-
i tation O. Ticker ever I run acrost
Anybody that'd accuse you O. sellin'
whisky would be a liar. Don't look
cross-eyed at me. you fat-faced hip
popotamus. Charge that ter Mr.. Wal
lis. That's my name, an I'm goin'
ter take up my residence in this yer
camp
Now. Grosenbeck wasn't no SLOUGH
when it come ter resentin' an insult,
an he ginerally took a preliminary re-
quest fer credit as an insult-for bar
goods. I've seen him make a, mighty
rapid showing with gun an conduc'
hlmsen credttably in a free-fer-all
lrough-an' tumble. But he didn't make
no hostile plays that time, whatsoever.
He jest looked at the little sawed-off
Your credits good, Mr.. Wallis. Glad
ter be favored with your custom.
Have another with me-
III wait till I'm better acquainted
with you afore drink with YOU says
Mr.. Wallis.
He went out We watched him lead
his mule back along the hill to Billy
Thorsen's cabin, which Billy was off
Loon range. Derned if he didn't kick
in the door an carry in his plumber.
"Grosenbeck had been swallerin'
hard, which was his way when ager-
tated- What is a man goin' ter do
with a venermous peanut-built rack O.
skin an bones like that?' he says. L
could squeeze the breath o. life out of
him with my finger an thumb.
Like hittin' a six months kid a
belt fer bawlin'.' says he a few min
utes later, gnawin' the ends of his
mustash.
Next day Mr.. Wallis Jumped
Danny Cassidy's claim an began de-
velopment work. Danny went up with
a Winchester ter run him off an
comes back thankful that Mr. Wallis
had let him keep the gun. Then he
diverted the water the thaw had
started from Gillicuddys fumes.
THE time he made Pink-eye Simp-
son take water wus when Pink-eye
started out on his spring saturation.
Mr. Wallis wus in at Grosenb ecx's Sc
lectin' his weekly grub supply when
Pink, not SEEM him, on account of
him bein' hid behind a length o. stove
pipe, called everybody to the bar.
ANY on-of-a-gun who hangs back
II be made too leaky to hold Ticker,
he yells.
from behind the stovepipe an strut
tin up ter Pink-eye, DO I understand
that this invite is compulsory he asks.
Have got ter drink because a human
/ AAy cid Will q SfA4AlAul u 14CO1AO4lC swirl
an a cryin' need of a haircut makes
a bluff at homicidal maniac
" Not if you'd prefer not to- says
Pink-eye. I'd esteem it an honor, but
don't insist on it. My remarks were
in a sperrit O. jocularity.'
" You've a poor sense O. humor,' says
Mr.. Wallis. You're enough of a joke
yourself without spoilin' it by tallzin'l
A man who'd drink with you would git
| down into a trough an eat with hogs
That's what he said to Pink-Eyed