The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-12-16
A STORY OF
BYGONE DAYS
TOLD 1Y AN OLD SETTLER OF
THIS SECTION.
The Scene is Laid In Gaming
Room-A Thanksgiving Supper
and a Fatal Fight After
the Supper.
(original)

well, hello uncle jim, When dld
did you get in? Just arrived. how
long are you going tn be with US,
oh, say. you are not going back 80
early, well, | declare. why don't you
stay longer cant. got to get back
TO the old lady and the boys That's
too bad You surely can stay day
or two with us, can't you. How are
all the old folks back on wild Horse
Creek up in the Mountains? All
well. am glad to hear that. SO you
don't like the town and want 20 get
back as soon as poss blc. Well come
around TO spend the evening with us.
Can't oh yes you can, come spend
the night VIII you come, all right.
We will look for you.
The above conversation took place
in the streets Of Ardmorc a few days
ago between young man, and one
OF the old frOntiersmen, who lives
up on wild Horse Creek. The young
man had known old man Johnson
Hor a number of years, and the old
man had been in this section of the
territory and helped 20 carve the
present empire from wilderness.
The object Of the young man was to
get Uncle Jim johnson to spend the
evening with him So that he might
hear some Of the stories of those
days that are now matters Of history
when Bill Dalton and his gang ruled
the roost
Uncle Jim spent the evening with
the young man at his house. The
night was one Of those winter nights
for which this section of the coun-
try is famous, when one would rath'
er stay in at home and watch the
flames lick the backlog of a big
piece of oak. A misty drizzly nIgnL,
about the middle Of December.
The young man had not been mar
ried very long, and lived in one Of
those neat cottages in the south
western section of the city. on n
sloping hill The furnishings were
not elaborate, but comfortable, and
the hearthstone of the home was
brighter by the ruddy face Of tho
sweet wife, Nell, who thought that
Ben, the young man, was her only
Lord and Master. The couple were
all to each other each wrapped in
the other Their home was theirs.
and Ben had paid for 1t from his
hard-carned money and furnished it
with savings that he formerly
spent in cigars and pool rooms. I'm.
Gle jim was a favoritc with the young
fellow, and Ben was fayorite with
Uncle Jim. Ben had for some time,
several months, since his marriage,
onicayorcd to get his old friend to
visit him at his home. His nest as
he called It.
Uncle Jim had come to town TO
purchase few things for the holi-
days for his grandchildren and chill.
dren.
After the evening meal all sat
Nlpuuu lut HI's anu lll' bih man 6'e
10 musing and seemed TO he in a re-
fectivn mood. Neither OF the young
folks disturbed the old man. Ben
knew a story was in store for them;
one OF those true stories OF the olden
days, in this section, when the range
was open, and what Is now a cotton
field was a prairie, and cowboys and
outlaws roamed at will Finally the
old man opened up, and told tho
following incident in his career.
1T was just such a night as this
about twenty years ago, on Thanks
giving ! believe, when | changed my
course in life. II happened this way
A lot Of us young bucks who had
come to this country from very near
ly every state IN the union, some had
past histories and some Of MS had
wandered here in search of healtl
and work. | came from Pennsylva
mia, and just happened here. II | re
member right, | came on cattle
train from Kansas City, and dropped
off anG .ell in with a bunch of boys
who were employed on the l07 ranch
We came 10 the post that night tc
attend big supper given by
Frenchy. Frenchy was going to ge
married and close up his gambling
room. He wanted to give a send of
to the boys, all of us who had beer
good patrons of his crap game, his
poker game, both draw and stud, AM
some few of the outfit were fond o
faro. In those days | used TO like
TO roll the wheel Well, our outfit
from 1O7 all came in dressed in ou
best bib and tucker, new red shirts
CtnHu,v hot,