The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-04
lie Wasn't Thirsty
toriginal.l

Ioriginal.l
 "GrassP'
 The word was shouted from a dozen voices, the occasion being the entry of a tenderfoot into dance room near a railroad station in the wild west. He was a delicate looking little fellow about i've feet six inches high, with thin flesh or, rather, no fat on his bones, and as he heard the salutation and saw the revelers' eyes all leveled at him he looked somewhat embar- rassed.
 There was no tougher place in the territory than the scene of this fandan- 20. The women present were by no means out of place with the men, whose costume was sombrero, woolen shirt and trousers tucked in boots, To every mans hips were two big revoly- CTS, which, in keeping with the brim of bis hat, Topped up and down as heI danced. Since there were far more men than women. q dozen of the for mer were sitting around the walls of the dance house, and 1t was these who saluted the stranger.
 "Show us the last city dancer
 His feet's purty enough fur a gal''
 Look at the taper waist of him"
 Though the position was embarrass- ing for the tenderfoot, he was good na- tured and laughed at the jokes cracked at his expense.
 Come, SisSie; have drink
 The last speaker put his arm through that of the stranger and be- gan to force him toward the bar.
 I'm not drinking just now" said the unwilling man.
 Not drinking! Well, who ever heard the like of that? D'you reckon you're too fine to drink with this crowd"
 No, drink usually, but just now 1t wouldn't do for me to drink till after the middle of next month"
 By this time there was lineup, The men were jostling the little tender foot, showing him up against the bar The glasses were ulleu'
 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 1t beT
 The little stranger began to change in his exterior. A resOlute look came over his face, very different from the good natured smile with which he had received the jokes at his eXpepse.
 My friends he said, If it's drink or fight. "Tu fght-that is, if you'll give me a chance. You see, I'm un- armed. and if l had dozen revolvers wouldn't know how to use 'em. The only way for me to fight out of this is with my fists"
 Bully boy! Form ring, Clear the hall"'
 The crowd pushed into the center of the dance room, showing the dancers back. Then began a 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 un- strapped his belt with its twin reyOly- CTS, tossed them in corner, then sent his hat sailing after them. The tender foot took or 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 1t 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 of 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 at which his predecessor had failed. Just as he was about to land a 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 a 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 sented to play with him there seemed nothing else to do but to let him alone.
 That's all right" said one of the toughs "In these parts when a man isn't thirsty and has the stuff in him to prove he isn't thirsty he does as he