Evening journal., 1905-02-16
SHORT STORIES OF INTEREST
Why slade Perkins Was Not Non
inated

Why Sade Perkins Was Not Nom
mated
1T puts me IN mind O. the time they
wanted to run Slade Perkins for sher-
iff," said the stock tender. THAT was
along in the early days, too. We wasn't
so rich them times accordin' to stertis-
tics o. production o. wealth in the gov
ernment reports, but more of us had
money in our jeans ] notice. We wasn't
so cultured, maybe, but we was more
soaiable.
well, the old sheriff. Colonel Cabe.
resigned on account o. bein shot up a
mess by Gold Tooth Wilson, who was
killed out at Borax in the fail o. "a.
We had to have a sheriff and the count
house crowd decided they'd nominate
Jim Calhoun. Jim was "a pretty good
man. but he was sort oslow an easy
goin' an was suspected O. leanin to
sheep Besides which, Al Cartwright,
who was backin him, was gittin' un-
popular an we didn't want to have the
Republicans put up a sheriff who'd beat
us. So when we met in convention as
sembled Lou Barker gifts up an NOM
mates Slade.
"Wen. the convention got on its hind
| legs an howled for five minutes. Slade
was one o. the best men ever come into
this section. He was a little man, but,
oh, nyl Tough as rawhide, quick as a
cat an stout as a bull There never
was a more cheerful loser or a harder
dninker-when he did drink An he
was ightnin' ON the shoot. Tended to
his own business, but took no bluffs.
"Well, Slade got UP an thanked us
for the honor, but respec' fully declined
Al CortwIight, who'd been lool1ln' pref
ty fiabbergasted chirked up. He was
too previous, though. The convention
wouldn't hear to any declining.
g. I move you we nominate Jim Call
houn,' says COrtwdght when he'd fin
ished.
You set down, Al says Grant Liv-
lngston, who was chairman, poundin'
on the table with the butt of his gun.
There's no mo-
Set downr says Grant. 'Slade, he
continues, addressin' Perkins. we all
would hate to see your privit intrusts
suffer but public dooty is public doOty.
If your feller citizens call on you it
amt your part as a public-sperrited
citizen 70 funk An 1 know you amt
goin' ter do it.
was the popular choice, all right. No
lgithn' around that. They stamped an
/ yelled an yelled until hnly Slade gifts
up.
Feller citizens he says, I thank
you fer this flatterin' token o. your ap-
probation. II you insist on nomernat-
in me, O. course can't prevent it. an,
as Grant says, it viii become my pub
lie dooty to accept an to serve II I'm
elected
They cheered him agin.
Before the nominations is closed.
however he says, an' before you git
to ballOtin' 1 want you to study little
on one thing. If I'm elected sheriff
I'm goin' to do my duty without fear
or favor
That's what we want shouts the
convention.
Then that's what you'll git.' says
/, Slade You understand my dooty win
require me TO enforce the laws upon
the statoot books O the territory of
Wyoming. That's all right, then. ]
sorter expected this an posted myself.
sOt up all last night with them stat
Oots an ] find, TO begin with that
there's a law agin' the use o prOfame
swearin' an cussin' with a penalty in
such case pervided. That's one o. the
laws I'm a-goln' to do my level best 10
enforce. There's another law agfn
gamblin', whether craps, faro roulette
poker, chuck-a-luck, euchre or any
other whatsoever to wit. I'm a-goin
to bust up gamblin' in this here SOW
ereign country er have a heap o fun
tryin' it.
" There's several other laws that will
make me hurt the feelin's Of my friends
when I start out to enforce 'em. But
you-jest-bet-I'll enforce 'em. EyeI
know me to crawfish oh a proposition
No. nor you won't now. An I've heard
some criticism o. my srieni Jim Cal
hOun in regards to sheep men. / wani
Z to tell you that a sheep man will gel
jest a square a deal from me as If hC