The commonwealth., 1907-11-22
THE COWBOY.
[original.l

his own while cowboy. N was no,
known that he was a college bred mar
and an athlete, for he never told them
20. He was not graduate; he had
taken 50 much interest In foils and
boxing gloves that he had no time fol
study. When he was sent away from
the university be didn't 60 home; be
went west and took the first job offered
punching cows.
He was sitting In the Alhambra sa-
loon with glass OF whisky before
him. A party Of men were at the bar,
among them Traphagan, the worst man
IN the territory. A little Mexican girl
came In with an empty beer bottle
and asked for a quarters worth Of
your most" meaning the most the
barkeeper would give for that sum-
that is, the poorest. She pushed
against Traphagan. who, looking down
and seeing greaser girl, batted her
with the palm of his hand and sent her
sprawling on the floor.
Arnold was a fool to give way to
impulse with man like Traphagan.
He should have either shot him or let
him alone. He gave him blow under
the Jaw and sent him after the little
greaser. Traphagan was quick to
draw. even though on the floor, but
one Of the party caught his arm, and
the bullet went through the roof.
Fists or nothingr cried the crowd,
and Traphagan, accepting the issue,
went at his adversary for a boxing
match. He was done up in two rounds.
He acknowledged his defeat and set up
q round of drinks for the crowd, in
Arnold, insisting that the VIC
tor should drink. Arnold accepted.
keeping his eye on the man while
thinking.
One day later on Arnold was riding
lfter cattle. Traphagan was following
lin at distance with a rifle. Pres
'ntly the latter came upon the body
II a man with hole In its skull.
Evidently there had been murder.
looked at it and was
truck by an idea. Dismounting, he
ook the murdered mans belongings, a
ew small articles, then rode on.
Some hours later he found Arnold
noozing on the veranda of tavern
nd slipped the dead mans property
nto his pockets. Then he went In to
he bar and told those gathered there
hat he had seen murder and Arnold
vas the murderer. They all went out,
wakened the sleeper, searched him at
suggestion and found the
rticles.
The dead man was identified, and |
he articles found on Arnold were |
roved to have belonged to him. This,
nth Traphagan's evidence that he
ad seen the murder, was sufficient, |
the undeveloped state of justice
that region, to satisfy the untutor.
q self constituted court, but those
rho had seen the fracas between
le prisoner and his accuser gave an
ccount of 1t and, showing a motive.
lrew discredit on Traphagan's testi-
lony. The Judge was puzzled.
II dislikes muchly,' he said, when
We hearn one side Of case to hear
le other. 1t allus mixes me up
While he was deliberating what to
., who should appear but the little
reaser girl whom Arnold had cham
|oned and said she had seen the mur-
Or.
"Who done itT asked the Judge.
She pointed to Traphagan. l.
The Judge, If he had been puzzled
sfore, was now thrown into absolute
This case Is a bad un,"
remarked, "and I see no way outen
but to hang 'em BOTH
"Why not let us two who have been
,cused Of the murder fight 1t outw
lid Arnold.
That's a good idea, judge" one Of
le men who had seen the fracas be-
veen the two and longed to see an
her. "Let 'em decide 1t with fists"
Make It guns" said Traphagan, "and I
u agree"
mo" said the Judge reflectively;
we hearn the witnesses tell that the )
'wboy, who's leetle feller, topped I
~. big feller, without a gun, and
link it's for the eddicatlon Of this }
re community to have him show us
Nv he done It. My decision is that :
e weapons be fists and the fight
mes Off at onct, the man that gets !
'ked to be hanged"
This satisfied all parties except Trap
lgan, who saw the tables turned ;
uarely against him. Nevertheless he
as obliged to submit. A ring of on
okers was formed, and the battle be-
n.
Arnold saw the advantage Of pleas =
8 the court and played with his an
gonist. Now and again he permitted 4
m to gain an advantage, but newer to J
I In q blow, but after every advan- 4
&c he gave his accuser punishment 4
t enough to knock him out but to 4
ow his own skill. 1t was interesting 4
men who knew no weapon. save 8
wder and ball to see the big man !
yed with by his smaller antagonist. 4
nally when Arnold saw that Trap I
gan was likely to fail to come up to 4
e scratch he landed blow that sent X
m half q dozen yards and down. 4
lis ended the battle. \
Arnold. now that he was safe. was \
willing to see his enemy branded for J
srime Of which there was such slight Z
oof that be was guilty. He took the '
easer girl aside and asked her II she !.
q really seen Traphaean commit the !
lrier. =
No. slr," shs replied. \
Have you told this lie to ave me =
70 punish him, cr bothr' :
Both" IN 3, =