The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-02-21
GUN PLAYS OF HUMORlSTS.
Shooting in Which Cowboys Uscd to Find

continued, / claim it. You comes up
square and pays like gentleman ap3
tote square and tells. Everything
ought to be agreeable. 10 1 invites you
over to the Lost Maverick, where the
boys is, and we proceeds to blow in
this ERE five for drinks
"The young lawyer was not slew to
grasp the humor Of tho situation and
his acceptance of Millers invitation
secured for him forever the friendship
Of every man op that range.
"Speaking Of shooting signs recalls
that trouble that the Barton County
commissioners used to have to keep
signs over the bridge across the Ar.
kansas river at Great Bend. The
irst bridge built was rickety affair
laid on piles and the commissioners
decorated each end with gorgeous
blue signs reading: No riding or driv-
ing over this bridge faster than @
walk.
Hunter and Evans were holding
cattle south Of the river, and the men
made frequent trips to town. The
gayly painted signs were too much for
them, and going out Of town they
would put spurs to their horses, aud
while on dead run shoot at the first
sign, then CROSS tho bridge without
slackening pace, the structure sway.
ing and rocking to their horses hoof-
beats, firing more shots at the second
sign as they passed under it.
ut may seem almost Incredible, yet
it remains fact that within o week
after the signs we're put in place the
letters were cut out 40 that each sign
looked like an overgrown marking
stencil, aud within another week not
splinter Of either remained.
1T was at this ssIae town Of Great
Bend that was best displayed On Incl.
dent OF cowboy humor. It was just
after the Atohieou, Topeka and Santa
Fe railway reached the town, which
was as fax west as the railroad gave
passenger service. The last train out
reached Great Bend al about 8 o'closk
in the afternoon.
"One day there disembarked man
wearing plug hs:. After leaving the
station 'he had to go west for abort
distance to get into the street leading
to town. That street was q contiuua-
ton OF the road into town from the
south and the country where the
southern cattle we're being held in
quarantine.
1.-THE man wearing the tall hat was
about two blocks north when the two
cowboys came ACROSS the railroad track
at . smart gallop. They glanced at
each other as they resohed point op.
posite the man with tho hat, both
their guns came out, there was blend.
ing Of two reports, and two bullets
perforated the strangers hat.
| t'The cowboys we're fooled, however,
for instead Of terrified tenderfoot
making rapid time toward the nearest
shelter, they were greeted With po-
lite bow.
"'How are you. gentlemen2' he
said; 1t pleases mo greatly to be re-.
ceived with such marked distino.
ton
1.-The cowboys were speeohless IN
amazemeut. Here vas new spee:-
men, something altogether different
from anything in the tenderfoot line
they had ever seen. Finally ono found
his voice and said:
Say, stranger, you're a plumb
good 'um, and me and Jim. 'pologizes
for spilin' yer hat. The Rome So
looms the hrss place goin' uptown
where we can lioker up, an IL it's
all the same to you, the drinks is on
u.s. -. -
1.-THE stranger signifed his satis-
faction with this arrangement, the
two cowboys dismounted and walked
at his, side aud they became well 40.
quainted in the quarter mile walk to
Rome. q. ..|......~ .~..,' 49,
IAN hour later they were better 40.
quainted. The stranger. was still
under the escort Of the COW men. Ali
three were loaded with COW town !
whiskey, and the man with the plug
hat, now forlorn and marked with
many dent, was being introduced TO
every COW punoher in town as the
unbranded cayuse that stood tire the
tirst dash and never twitshsaa &c
ear / E::, .f:s,Is. H.. 49,. - IS. z.":