Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-01
drew a silver dollar from his pocket,

timed He wished he were back in his
caboose. AS they reached the door
Nicks voice rang out in stentorian
tones.
wait minute!" There was 10
gainsaying his command. Dan halted,
Nick, leaning far over the bar, held
in each hand watchdog. II don't
allow no tenderfoot to Sc bad Ian
guage in my emporium. We do strictly
family trade and caters particular TO
ladies and children"
Dan and McSorley stood under the
Ilevelled guns. A shrek of mirth
shook the crowd. All had stopped
playing and were watching the situa-
ton. Finally, when there was no
doubt as to the ridiculous position
of the train officials and the laugh had
subsidized, Nick dropped the guns, and
with low bow turned from the bar,
leaving them free to go. Dan and Nc
Sorley quickly disappeared, Dan wild
| ly expostulating while McSorley vain
Ily tried to calm him.
Nick went back to the players.
Pete he asked, what has Cash
got agin the Fnglishman?"
Pete, nothing loath to tell his yarn,
especially as he had been winning all
the afternoon, drawled the informa-
ton so that all at his table could hear.
well, Jim's outfit has been heard
to openly express the opinion that
Cash can't tell the difference between
his cattle and Jim's."
"Rustling, eh?" the Parson inter.
rupted.
| Pete nodded.
Serious business"
Il $50 r.,t{ 10
in these here parts. ! see the
Englishman stand off a greaser down
at the agency, and I've got wad Of
the long green to lay even money that
Cash can't twist the British lions
tail whole lot-not a whole lot.
Any takers?"
up "sure thing" The men with him
4 pective merits of Jim versus Cash
| Hawkins.
Meanwhile, seated at table in the
centre Of the room were Shorty, Andy
and Grouchy They had heard nothing
of Pete's and the Parsons converse
ton. They were intent on mild game
and were awaiting Big Bill, who was
i to meet them at the saloon. None Of
them saw Big Bill coming towards
them until they heard the slow, deep
voice saying: Boys, Cash Hawkins
is in town. The boss asks as special
favor to him that you will avoid Cash
and his gang and try to get out OF
town without collision"
Bill was giant, over six feet tall
with a great leonine head. He had a
strong face with piercing eyes. The
mouth, "a large cash." as Shorty des
cribed it, could at times give vent tc
!. loud outlaws of laughter and at other
Brighten one as it Strengthened into
) two lines of grim determination. Fol
two years he had been Jim's right
hand man, and his devotion to the boss
was the beautiful side CT Bills life
5 Forty years ago he had been born y
a prairie saloon; the woman who bore
him died the night of his birth. He
never knew who his father was, anf
the uphringing he received was from
a handful of miners who had adopted
him. AS soon as he could toddle he
began to try to do for himself Little
errands he volunteered and long be
fore most boys even on ranch were
anything but a nuisance, Bill was con
tributing oravely his share to the biz
game of life. Save once, to Jim, hi
never spoke of the past. He had drift
: ed to Maverick twenty years ago, am
except at intervals, when he took {
notion to better himself, he was usu
ally at the COW town.
On one of these occasions when h,
was trailing the country he met Jim
II who was looking for man to direc
e the practical side Of his affairs. Bill
l had never met gentlemen who treat
ed him as Jim die and in return b.
! gave his body's strength and all tn,
scheming devotion Of his brain in hi
|, endeavor to benefit Jim's complicate,
e affairs.
e The three men looked up at Bill
I who slid into chair at their tabl
b and started new game with them.
r Say Bill" Shorty began. 'if Gas
e has his war-paint on there amt no us
distributin' tracts on love one another
e "Und, Bill" Andy added, "und sa
s for peace-dot's me, Andy. But sa,
Bill, rustlin'-cattle stealing-yo
!. know Particular when it's our cattl,
9 Cash has got LOT wit circle-sta
brand which original is a big G 70
S Carston. Say" he wildly went on, bt
n coming more incoherent as his ten
S per rose, "und if we stand for it-yo
g know-und say-we got to git out (
g de business"
+. Grouchy leaned over to Bill an
5 shook his head "Say, wouldn't wor
for man that would stand for It,"
!. Still Bill said nothing. but listene
$ gravely to the storm of protests thu
the message from Jim to the boy
], had provoked
L IF the peace of humanity
worth damn, you got to shoot hill
o up whole lot It's this delicate CO..
9 sideration for the finer feelings of
bad men which encourages 'em
Shorty, in his nervous, jerky name
fairly shook the table with his vibr
lions of rebellion.
Then Bill spoke. He was in symp
thy with the boys, but he had his 0
ders from the boss-that was enoug
for him
well, you know Jim. 1t amt like
he'd ask you to show the white-fe
Their nor to stand no nonsense. Only
here Bill paused and said impre