Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-30

ed in neighborly way against the
blue shirt of a Chinaman, while a
large negro with face like black
Botticelli angel grinned and cleaned
his white teeth In sport with a dago
from Monterey In a chair in far
Their corner tenderfoot lay in a.
drunken sleep in his soiled evening
clothes, which he had donned three
nights before to prove to the tormenG-
ing habitues of the place, who since
then had not allowed him to grow
sober, that he was a gentleman.
A half-breed at faro-table watched
with tolerant amusement the antics Of
those in his game. to outwit him. The
smell of the sawdust and the human
mass Of unpleasantness grew stronger
as the men played. changed money,
and 5.5Nick's corks; flew and glasses
clinked. Over the entire place there
hung curious sense of respectabili-
ty. Low-muttered oaths were not un:
common but Nick sturdy and grim
with his watchdogs-two large sig
shooters-ly con the shelf behind
the bar, had certain straightness Of
purpose and crude sense of right and
wrong that won respect from the het-
erogeneous mass of his followers.
The passing of the Limited would
have caused sufficient amount Of ia.
terest, but its stopping was a momen.
tous occasion. The rude platform out
side was only shipping point for cat,
tie. not stopping place for through
passenger trains. There was rush Of
some of the inmates from the room,
but to a number of them the game
was at it's vital point, and Pete's lazy
call Of Jacks up" quickly chained the
attention of the more eager of the
players.
But to Nick 1t meant new trade, and
his battered and SCARED face grew III
to one ebullient smile as McSorley, the
engineer In his jumpers, with begrim.
ed face and hands, and Dan. the dap
per Pullman conductor Of the Over
land Limited entered the saloon. Nc
Sorley was hopping his sweating face
Say, Dan. who's the English swelIs
in the priyate?" he asked as he look.
ed back at the luxhrioGsly fitted car.
1.-THE Earl Of Kerhill" Dan answer
ed. as they veered towards the bar |
Been out to the Yellowstone The
old man let EN- have his private car
Must be the real thing, chr"
Mcsorley grunted his approval Of
ing Lets have drink. Whats
yours, DAM"
They reached the solicitfous Nick
"Whatll you have, gents q
"A bottle of beer for me; Mac" Dan
answered his companion s question
Then. with English tips still pleas
ant memory, he added, "But this is on
me-"
Nick began opening bottle of beer,
and its foaming contents were, soon
filling the glasses. AS he served he
inquired: whats up. gents? ,Tain't
often the Overland Limited honors
Maverick with CALI"
"Washout down the road was Nc
LIQUID slid down his parched throat. i
with visions of many strangers visit.
Ing his bar
Dan was surveying the place with
an nnsympathetic eye.
Not longer than we can help. you
bet" he answered Expecting orders
to move every minute. ,-.-.a- /,
1'uI 1NiCh WdS uSteTIHiHSu 10 Dc
affable. "Pity; Mavericks worth see
in Who's in the parlor-car?"
English people-Earl Of Kerhill and
party" Dan replied. Then he moved
down the bar with McSorley both |
carrying tleir half-consumed beer.
Southern cow-puncfer, Pete, who
had. gone from ranch to, ranch, finding
life too hard at each, leaned back on |
his. stool until he rested against oDe
end of the bar, Through the windows
he could see Shorty, one OF Jim Car
ston's men. coming along in animated
with several other men Of
the Epglishman's ranch.
TN my opinion the calm serenity OF
this here metropolis is about to bel
tore wide OPEN A nudge from Punk