The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-01-19
The Professors Gun:
@:@:=:@:@=::@ 90
BY Franklin Welles Calkins.
III is something over 20 years since

TT is something over 20 years since
u accompanied small military
expedition, under Lieut.. Isaac Murphy,
which went from the Rio Grande west
ward to establish q new post in Ari-
iona. Several ':tenderfoots." sbehteup.l
on prospect and discovery were q.
lowed to travel with the command over
q route beset with dallger from attack
by hostile Comanches and Apaches;
: and although the lieutenant did not
admit it, think he was not altogether
displeased by the addition to his fight.
ing power 81 the half-dozen we'll
armed, well-mounted and well-pro-
visionedS civilians. ;f3fEii* ~
But at Socorro weAwere Joined by an
individual, a fresh arrival from the
north. VINO attached himself to the
expedition without so much as by
your leave. gentlemen" A tall, I'M
calmly, cadaverous and solemn person
he was. his age guessable at anywhere
between 80 and SO. He was cross
eyed and SO near-sighted that he wore
cumbrous, large-bowed spectacles to
correct his vision. He had the thin
cheeks and hacking cough of con-
sumptive. Moreover, he had no rid
ing animal. and the two burros he had
been able to buy in Socorro. to which
point his goods had been sent, were
So heavily laden with his trappings
that they looked detected ss.st vi
See here, Mr.. Man." said Lieut..
S Murphy as We fokeRoamp; .syou cant
travel with this outfit. You're phys
ieallX nnfi1 for the trips and my, two
wagons are loaded to the limit
q mo trouble to you, trust, sir
lh-mzm." satd the stranger, who had
aIreaily been dubbed r'the Professor. :
No real disability. sE-h-m4m. just
lay touch OF bronchb rhoea- zzhsps - ]
mn thfs stlrY Atmosphehe great help
Sslf" & he spike in As calm. decisive
tone, but coughed at every other SEN
tence. s'I'll come on in your rear, sir;
can't ride in saddle on account of gas
tritis-h-m-m-just a touch, ktr!"
Good gracioua!" smuttered Murphy.
Bronchitis, gasfritis, rtosszeyes, false
teeth, and afooA Well.astr," lie added,
in a louder tome for tie man was APP
parently somewhat deaf. 81. :I suppose
We must leave a trail behind u.s.
The tall stranger bowed grayely and
went on with packing his burros, a
task which he accomplished with sur
prising neatness and speed. When we
moved away from Socorro he fell in
respectfully behind our six-mule
f0h ~
.weaFied swing for the s24-nile stretch
which brought u.s. to our first water
hole and %coolly :camped within our
picket lines.
e We'll lose him Tomorrow said
Murphy to his mess. "Cacti!" and he
chuckled contentedly
Our trail the next day led over high
mesa carpeted with prickly-pear, q
mating Of thorns so dense that the
passing of a holf-dozen ''freighters'
could have offered no protection to
feet less well-shod than thoses of q
mule. Yet the professor plodded un-
dauntedly across this stretch, and
much to our establishment, came into
camp at night without limping. B.
Our surprise gave place to i degree
Of respect when We noted that the
professor wore wooden shoes linet
with chamois-skina He certainly hal
proved himself an experienced tray.
eler-and now his cheeks were showing
sunburn and his cough seemed les,
incessant a.
To the ruder jokers Of the command
the professor afforded unlimitef
amusement. His ungainly figure ant
lantern jaws, his "butter-milk eye
and double back action eye-gear,'
his air Of intent gravity when pack
Ing. unpacking. or when cooking BIZ
meals, his big gun case, which meas
ured the length Of . purro an,
whackAd It's patient bearer. now an,
Zen, upon the Jaw, his CAREFUL,
rded and never-opened packs. hi
al owlishness- all furnished n
fun to the cavalrymen.
g. .-...- CO. :. 3, go