The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
JACK VARDMAN, SQUARE MAN
EVENED UP WITH FRIEND Ms
WIFE HORSEWHIPPED.

An Indian TER ItOry Romance That Mar
rowIy Escaped a Tragic Ending
Forced Ills Friend Railey TO Horse
whip Him to square Up Their Account.
Jack Wardman, who lost his life in
the big Oklahoma food a few weeks ago,
was a man of almost unexampled fairness
said an inspector Of indian agencies. He
was a horse trader and his home was at
Ponca City. In Ponca City, eleven years
ago, wardman figured in an affair that
proved how perfectly square a man he
was.
-Wardman's wife was a half Mexican
woman whom he had married in Texas.
She was a handsome dark woman, devoted
to Jack, and a good housewife. but her
temper was very violent.
Jacks great friend and chum in Ponca
was Ned Frailey, a contractor for Indian
supplies. The two men had punched
cattle alongside of each other on the Texas
n and were sworn comrades and pals
long before either Of them had thought
OF marrying. Jack married his half Mexi-
can girl first, and then Ned slipped up to
Wichita and married a girl he had got his
eye on some years before. She was teach
ing school when Ned got her, and she was
q fine, nice looking woman with a very
sweet and amiable disposition.
Jack and Ned set up housekeeping in
Ponca with their wives, and for a time
things went on swimmingly in so far as
the relationship Of the two couples was
concerned. Then the two women fell out.
Frailey's wife, it was understood, had let
slip some harmless little remark that Jacks
wife construed into an inuslt. Wardman's
half Mexican wife worked herself into a
rage over the remark and overwhelmed
Frailey's wife with a storm OF vituperation.
That stopped the pleasant intimacy be-
tween the two families. Jack and Ned
vent on as usual, never referring TO the
business between their wives. Then one
day, quite a while after the falling out be-
tween III. two women, Frailey remarked
TO Wardman that he deemed it a pity that
their wives couldn't get along pleasantly.
It was a raw subject with Wardman, who
knew tina his wife was to blame, and in his
rawness he made some kline Of a snappy
reply. Then he and his old time pal had
a abort growl. and they went their two
ways, and they didn't speak to each other
after that.
~On st. Valentines day, eleven years ago,
the violent tempered Mrs. Wardman re-
ceived a comic valentine in an envelope
tina had the st. Louis postmark on it. The
address was typew ritten. The comic valen-
tine pictured a black negress in a tantrum.
Being a half Mexican. Mrs. Wardman's
akin was very Dark. Therefore the comic
valentine was like a knife stab to her.
~She knew that Ned Frailey was in st.
Louis ON business. She instantly jumped
to the conclusion that Ned Fraiey had
sent her the insulting valentine.
-Shc did not show the valentine TO her
husband, nor did she say IA word about
the afrair to him. two afternoons later
Ned Frailey was walking down the main
street OF Ponca on his way from the station
to his home. He was carrying a bag.
AT an intersection of streets Mrs. Ward
man suddenly turned a corner and stood
In front of him, not four feet away.
-'You will send me a foul valentine,
will youl' cried Mrs. Wardman, and she
drew a thick rawhide whip from beneath
her cloak.
-Frailey was too much stunned to say
one word. Mrs. Wardman laid the whip
across his right cheek with all Of her power.
Frailey never WINGED nor moved. After
the first cut he allowed the bag to drop
from his hand. and then he folded his arms.
Mrs. WaTuInhI, III "a bJdCc Oi unRONeEudDle
rage, cut him across the left cheek.
she might Just as well have been cut
ting at the face OF a mannikin. Frailey
iust stood and looked at the woman. She
dashed him cruelty across the face, right
and left, about eight more times, every blow
raising a horrible welt and drawing blood,
but Frailey never moved until she had
gone a hundred feet down the street. Then
he pulled out his bandanna, wiped away
the blood and walked to his home, where
his wife was waiting for him.
AN account Of the affair was printed
In all Of the papers throughout the two
Territories next day. and the st. Louis
papers published stories about it,.
sTwo days after the occurrence Jack
Wardman received a note from st. Louis.
The note was from q Young woman who
had been employed as clerk and cashier
In A general score in Ppnca I'M til a few
months before. This young woman and
Wardmau's wife had had a falling out
before the girl left Ponca for st. Louis.
have read in the st. Louis papers the
story Of how Your wife cut Ned Frailey IN
with a whip, the young wOman's note ran.
Ned FraiIey didn't send her that valentine.
IL was Just a piece OF cattiness, and | am
che cat. l sent the valentine to your wife
myself. I'm not a bit sorry J sent il, either,
although l am mighty sorry that poor Ned
Frailey had to stand for such u cowardly
beating through m y act
"In thu same mail Ned Frailey also re-
ceived a letter from the girl, in which she
confessed 10 having sent the valentino to
Mrs.. Wardman.
cit was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
whom Jack wardm an got his note at tho
roSs Office from the girl in 81. Louis. lie
= walbed right up 10 Ned Frailey's house.
Ned and his pleasant wife were sitting in
the dining room. talking things over-Ned
with Is sw ollen face in bandages.
Well, Jack, it's boen some time since
you dropped in on u.s. said Frailey pleas
antly 10 his old time pal. and he rose and
hala am hin hand