The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-04-12

dry citizens Of Paradise, Arlz.:
Archibald Anstruther Smithers was
born of rich and respectable parents,
in the city of Richmond, Ind. His
education was that of the young men
of the middle states. He was taught
10 have faith, respect his conscience
and be honest lie knew there were
people in the world with but little
regard for law and order, for he had
read books and newspapers, but they
figured as shlngs remote, Ike Pom
peii and the fixed stars. His uprais.
ing was on strictly conventional lines;
his scheme of existence was bound
ed by the limited experience obtained
among n refined and intellectual ac'
quaintanceship A well.marked lido
5yncrasy In his character was his fear
of bodily injury. it was more than
timidity; II was abject physical COW
.ardice. AS moral courage and sense
of duty were among his most promi-
nent traits, his utter lack OF physical
courage was accentuated.
Developing tubercuar tendencies
during his last year in college, this
studious. quiet, tlmid young man was
given a letter OF credit and much ad-
vice by his busy father, channels
skin undervest and cloudburst OF
tears by his loving mother, and de-
parted for Arizona to seek the robust
health his physician predicted an out
Ia, hot In
fer.
When Archibald Anstruther reach
ed Paradise his general appearance
must have failed. In many respects, to
coincide with the atmosphere of that
hustling community. Archibald An
struther was short and slight, thin
and pale of face hollow.chested, and
with scholarly stoop TO his shout
ders Tho spectacles he wore were
rendered necessary by extreme near.
the free and unfettered west, lone
some Linthlcum dubbed him "Runty"
at their first interview, and Ruuty he
remained to the end of the story.
Mr.. Smithers neither drank.
smoked nor gambled. He did not know
how TO load or fire n gun and used
a knife only for the subdivision OF his
food. On the few occasions he was
present at alterations between two
or more gentlemen. he had. was in
formed, went white and hot-footed
for cover" It was perhaps but nat.
ural that the rough and ready resi-.
dents of Paradise should hold him at
first in light esteem. He was incon.
gruous-a tenderfoot. He did not fit.
Physically. and In many ways men.
tally and morally, he was everything
that they were not.
But when Billy Earles broncho
stepped into hole and broke Billy's
log instead of the bronchos, Runty
Smithers spent days and nights car.
ing for Billy and loaned him money
for his Doctors bill. And when Pat
Johnson's ten.year-old boy was strick.
.en with diphtheria. Runty brought
bag Of clothes to the house. drove
Pap OFF TO his work and saved the
.child's life by careful nursing.
One night Jake Sweeney partook of
IN" cup that cheers and also inebri.
ates, and did what Big Bill Jernigan
described to me as some promiscu-
Gus shootin' with various deleterloB
results" and Paradise decided in sol
emn conclave marshal was needed
Lonesome Linthicum straight. 1.-the,
supple, gray-eyed and fearless, would
have been unanimously selected at
the time, but that an election was
deemed the straight and regular
method to pursue.
On the day OF the voting some joker
conceived It would be great fun to
cast ballot for Runty Smithers. Be.
ing unselfsh. he shared his jest with
a few friends. who followed his exam.
pie and explained the humor of the
occasion to a few of their friends
And when the votes were counted It
was found the humorists were in the
majority. Runty Smithers was elect
ed marshal OF Paradise by vote of
SO to rs. Paradise sat up aud be-
gan to take notice.
A meeting was hastily called in
Three-Fingered Pete's saloon and a
resolution was offered providing for
a committee of three, which commit.
tee should call on Mr.. Smithers, in
form him that the whole matter was
a mistake, direct his attention to his
manifest unfitness for the position.
and request his withdrawal AS the
question OF the adoption of the resolu-
tion was about to be put, Lonesome
Linthicum, the defeated candidate.
stepped into the room.
CHANGING over his audience. he
said:
Boys, have just come from
'Runty Smlthers. He has heard the re.
suit of the election and has taken |
the matter seriously. He has ex.
pressed his deep regret that should
have been defeated, but is firm In
the belief that our republican institu.
lions are based on the theory that the |
will of the majority must prevail He |
40 nuxtnuu IN fuotifv vour iudomart /