The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-04

prisoners box sits Jim Cribbins, and
he feels too low-down mean to look
ANYBODY in the face. We all know the
pair. We never thought much of Crib
bins, but SDeers came here with a,
record for being a two-gun man. He
was SO modest that he let others re-
1ate that he has planted 'leven men
The most I ever heard him boast of
was taking ten Sioux warriors prisoner
single handed. He told it in such a
quiet, keerless way that made up my
MIND that he was man from head to
heel. Thar was others of the same
opinion. and for two years past we've
been sorter keerful not to step on his
toes.
LAS for 'tother one. he's let most
anybody or anything give him the boot
and had nothing to say about it He
mas carried no guns and no record.
Right here is where the surprise party
comes In We got him mixed up with
civilization and sized him up wrong
"A week ago Joe Speers buys his
self a broncho, squaw and a pros
pecttng outfit and starts for the Wild
Cat Range to make diskiveries. Crib
bins was one of the men who shook
hands with him when he went Three
hours later he fol1ers on. All the
weapon he has is an old revolver with
out hammer or trigger. AS it was
coming on dark he overtakes Joe, who.
is making camp.
>" What's a-doing?' says Joe, who
is duly surprised to see the other.
'Nothin great replies Jim, ''cept
that l want you to vacate'
LAS how?'
g AS to making yourself skeerce.
This yere outfit seems to be about my
size; and I'm going to run it.
What happened thar, my friends
what happened" demanded His Hon.
or as he rose up in his excitement.
"Speers has two good guns and a rec
ord. Cribbins has no gun and no rec
ord. He only has his mouth to shoot
6CUQr IA ia
dead man before he could whoop
twice, but what follered? He willis. He
don't pull a gun. He vacates and
starts for Sandy Bend, leaving Jim in
possession of everything He gets
pack here at midnight and rouses me
from my bed in the Red Dog saloon to
demand jesttce. When hears the story
looks at him and wonders if I am
dreaming. When hears it the second
time I asks myself if the pit of iniquity
has at last been reached.
Think of it, my friends! A man
with two guns and a record giving up
his whole outfit without even a word
of sass, and then making a night walk
Of fourteen miles to demand jestice-
and tried according to law! That's
what we've come to. That's the civilt-
cation of the Twentieth Century.
argued with Joe. 1 plead with him.
10 go back and pump twelve bullets
into the robber of his goods and the
dispiler of his hearthstone, but he con-
tinues to holler for jestfce and issued
a warrant and here the case is. I'm
going to give him jestice. 1t may not
be according to the statoots of Wyom-
ing, but it will be according to the
statoots of manhood He is given
thirty minutes to show his back to
this town, and once he starts he wants
to keep going. Should anybody think
1t best to expedite his going with a
kick this yere court will be looking
the other way.
LAS to the prisoner. he will have to
pay the seven dollars cost and will
then be set at liberty. He'd better |
saunter out of town during the day and |
take up his abode somewhere else. The |
sight of him yere would be a reproach |
to US who sized him up wrong. That's |
all and the court now stands adjourned |
until some other critter comes bowling |
for his dose of jestice. I hain't saying |
that the higher courts won't reverse |
on me if Joe appeals to his case, but |
1 have decided it according to the |
looks of the thing and shall stand pat |
and look for every American patriot to
back me up-"-(Copyright, 1907 by |
q Fl GIItcIjffa.1