The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-26
AS IT USED TO Be.
IN DAKOTA


stance. and all creation harm0niously
responding 10 youthful heart thr0bsg
Il vas with something Of this sen
szti0n that, at the age Of IA. looked
from ny bedroom window In the n
hotel, At Pierre. s. D.. back IN the
SOS. and beheld the lifeless form of
man suspended from the top c.
fagpole.
Yes. things really happened on the
outskirts Of the Sioux reservation.
Here was no longer q dreary grind Of
grammar and biographies. with organ
ized society, especially the severe
faced school mistress. perpetually
challenging and thwarting a boys
right 70 life. dime novels and truant
fishing excursions.
And on this very day, aye. within
two hours. was 10 penetrate the
great reservation itself. striking on
across the trail IN the Deadwood stage.
The lifeless form suspended from
the fagpOle. as l soon learned, was
that Of a lawyer named Bell. who
some weeks previous had had mis-
understanding with a 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 amicably discuss
and settle our differences"
The next day after the forwarding
OF this peaceful missive the lawyer
from Pierre and the lawyer from Blunt
had each set out toward the appointed
trysting place. Bell. It seems. took
with him an axe and a spade. The
discussion was advanced on his side.
with the az, and he settled the mat
ter. so far as ~ could. by burying.
with the spade. the body Of his oppon-
ent, and with II his own blood-stained
overcoat.
The overcoat. discovered with the
body after a diligent search, disclosed
the horrible secret to the searchers
for Blunt The dead lawyer was a
popular favorite in his town. and by
night every available blackboard and
saddle horse had been requisitioned in
the cause Of summary justice.
So quietly did, the Blunt delegation
do its work that II was not tin broad
daylight that Bells body was discov-
cred by his fellow citizens hanging
from The fagpole In the center Of the
town, where l had seen It from the
hotel window.
From this sudden foretaste OF real
adventure ! was soon brought 70 earth.
Boylike. had spent all but 75 cents
OF my travelling money. / had my
stage ticket. but my hotel bill was
$3.50. and learned that every meal
Of bacon and potatoes at the stage
station would cost 81. l appealed TO
the first man met. who happened TO
be a former postmaster 1T Custer.
When told him my brother was cash
Ter Of a bank In the Hills and gave
him my name. he said: "Oh. that's all
right. Ill give you the money and
draw on your brother for t." And
with that. without further question:
ing. he put me In funds.
ut ZIP aAlOo1 the ltoFINtuOn Vas
long and tedious. Finally even the
prairie dog towns and the passing In.
dians lost their interest. At this june
ture we met blackboard, driven by a
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 BIZ Souter. the first sheriff
Of Meade county, recently seeded
from Lawrence county, and created
into a self-taxing and self-governing
bailiwick. with "Scooptown" as its
seat OF government, In the face Of BIT
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 BIZ was told who "the kid
was he promptly invited me TO come
Win MIN IN tne DuckD0ard.
I'm beat the stage into the hills by
eight hours" he said, fand you'll be
darned sight more comfortable"
Attracted partly by this promised
shortening Of the journey. but more.
as l believe. by the romantic fascina.
ton of Bills presence, promptly ac.
cepted the invitation.
Bin 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
out his two large six-shooters, poked
them in the ex-soldier's face, and told
him he had come to collect few bills
for some people in "Scooptown."
There was not shadow Of a criminal
charge against the man and. accord.