The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-09-10
AS IT USED TO Be.
IN DAKOTA

1t was with something OF this SEN
sation that. at the age of IA, looked
from my bedroom window in the N
hotel, at Pierre, S. d., back in the
SOS, and beheld the lifeless form OF
a man suspended from the top Of
fiagpole.
Yes, things really happened on the
outskirts of the Sioux reservation
Here was no longer a dreary grind OF
grammar and Biographies, with organ
lied society, especially the severe
faced school mistress, perpetually
challenging and thwarting a boys
right to life, dime novels and truant
fishing excursions.
And on this very day, aye, within
two hours, was to penetrate the
great reservation itself, strikinga of
across the trail in the Deadwood stage.
The lifeless form suspended from
the fiagpole, as ! soon learned, was
that of lawyer named Bell who
some weeks previous had had mis-
understanding with fellow attorney
from Blunt
Bell finally had written to the man
from Blunt: Meet me tomorrow at
noon, half way between Pierre and
Blunt, and we will amcably. discuss
and settle our differences.
The next day after the forwarding
of this peaceful missve the lawyer
from Pierre and the lawyer from Blunt
had each set out toward the appointed
trysting place Bell it seems, tooa
with him an axe and spade. The
discussion was advanced on his side,
with the ak. and he settled the mat
ter, so far as he could. by burying
with the spade, the body of his oppon
ent, and with 1t his own bloodstained
oyercoat.
The overcoat, discovered with the
body after a dlligent search, disclosed
the horrible secret to the searchera
for Blunt. The dead lawyer was o
popular fayorite In his town. and by
night every available blackboard and
saddle horse had been requisitioned in
the cause of summary justice.
do its work that it was not till broad
daylight that Bells body was discov.
cred by his fellow citizens hanging
from the fiagpole in the center of the
town, where | had seen it from the
hotel window.
From this sudden foretaste of real
adventure | was soon brought 70 earth
Boylike. | had spent all but 70 cent?
OF my travelling money. ! had my
stage ticket, but my hotel bill was
of bacon and potatoes at the stage
station would cost 81. | appealed to
the first man I met, who happened to
be former postmaster at Custer
When | told him my brother was cash
Ter of bank In the Hills and gave
him my name, he said: "Oh, that's all
right I'll give you the money and
draw on your brother for it," And
with that, without further question
ing, he put me In funds.
The "trip across the reservation was
long and tedious. Finally even the
prairie dog towns and the passing In
dams lost their interest At this june
ture we met blackboard, driven by Q
tall, powerful looking fellow in a white
sombrero, chaps and all the rest OF
the typical frontier makeup. He was
greeted in cordial fashion by both the
stage driver and the Wells-Fargo ex
press messenger
II was Bill Souter. the first sheriff
OF Meade county, recently seeded
from Lawrence county, and created
into self-taxing and self-governing
bailiwick. with "Scooptown" as its
seat OF government. in the face OF DIT
ter and contemptuous opposition from
the good taxpayers OF Deadwood
Bill was looking for a soldier from
Fort Meade who had secured his dis
charge. drawn his pay and skipped
without paying his bills at Scoop
town"
When Bill was told who the kid"
was he promptly invited me to come
with him in the blackboard
"I'n beat the stage into the hills by
eight hours" he said, and youll be
a burned sight more comfortable"
Attracted partly by this promised
shortening OF the Journey. but more
as believe. by the romantic fascina
ton of Bits presence. ! promptly &C
cepted the invitation.
Bill had not yet secured his man.
but he had learned his whereabouts
and we came upon him at the very
next stage station. The man was
standing in front OF the station as we
drove up Bill laid a short. smooth
bore gun across my knees and asked
me to hold 1t while he got out and
interviewed him. The interview was
brief and to the point Bill whipped
ont his two large six-shooters. poked
them in the ex-soldier's face. and told
him he had come to collect a few bills
for some people in "Scooptown."
There was not shadow of criminal
charge against the man and, accord
ing to eastern codes. no ground what
ever for the Intervention Of a sheriff
The man demurred. but Bill told him
II he didn't pay mp he would shoot
him full of holes And Bill looked as
II he meant it. The man had the