Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-04-11

GrS, as tOfu 10 me Dy NdrlOuS anu sun
dry citizens of Paradise, Ariz.:
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
to have faith, respect his conscience
and be honest. He 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 things remote, like Pom
pei 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 a refined and intellectual &C
quaintanceship A well-marked lido
syncrasy in his character was his fear
of bodily injury. 1t was more thai
timidity; it was abject physical cow
ardice. AS moral courage and sense
of duty were among his most prom1-
nent traits, his utter lack of physical
courage was accentuated.
Developing tubercular tendencies
during his last year in college, this
studious, quiet, timid young mar was
given a letter of credit and much adj
vice by his busy father. a channels
skin undervest and a cloud-burst OF
tears by his loving mother, and de-
parted for Arizona to seek the robust
health his physician predicted an out
door life in that latitude would con-
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 vas short and slight, hin
and pale of face, holl~ow-chested, and
with a scholarly stoop to his shout
ders. The spectacles he wore were
rendered necessary by extreme near
s~ightedness. Following a custom of
the free and unfettered west, lone
some Linthicum dubbed him "Runty"
at their first interview, and Runty he
remained to the end of the story.
Mr.. Smithers neither drank,
smoked nor gambled. He did not know
how to load or fire a 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" 1t 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 vas everything
that they were not.
But when Billy Earle's broncho
stepped into a hole and broke Billy's
leg instead of the broncho's, 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 a
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 p%artook OF
the cup that cheers and also inebri
ates, and did what Big Bill Jernigan
described to me as some promiscu
GUS shootin' with various deleterious
results" and Paradise decided, in sol
.emn conclave a marshal was needed
Lonesome Linthicum, straight, 1.-the
supple. gray-eyed and fearless, would
have been unanimously selected a
the time, but that al election wa
deemed the straight and regular
method to pursue.
On the day of the voting some joke
conceived it would be great fun tt
cast a ballot for Runty Smithers. Be
ing unselish, he shared his jest witt
a few friends, who followed his exam
pie and explained the humor of thu
occasion to a few of their friends
And when the votes were counted,
was found the humorists were in tn
majority. Runty Smithers was elect
ed marshal of Paradise by a vote o
SO TO rs. Paradise sat up and be
gan to take notice.
- "A Hb6LllS Wd5 IIdDLlly SulACu 3
Three-Fingered Pete's saloon and
resolution was offered providing TO
a committee of three, which commit
tee should call on Mr.. Smithers, ir
form him that the whole matter wa
a mistake, direct his attention to hi
manifest unf1tness for the position
and request his withdrawal. AS h
question of the adoption of the resoll
ton was about to be put, Lonesom
Linthicum, the defeated candidate
stepped into The room.
CHANGING over his audience, b
said:
Boys, I have just come frol
Runty Smithers. He has heard the r
suit of the election and has take
the matter seriously. He has e.
pressed his deep regret that | shoul
have been defeated, but is firm
the belief that our republican instit
tons are based on the theory that ii
will of the majority must prevail. +
Is anxious to justify your judgmel
In his choice by doing his duty homo
ably and we'll. You. elected Run
marshal Of Paradise. The electie
was fair and square. You cannot
you shall not-humiliate him by as
ing him to withdraw. Boys, Run
Smithers is going to be marshal
Paradise! | say it.! And, by Go
the first man that bats an eyelid
contradiction Of his authority Will k
me or / will kill him!"
Paradise was used to followil
II nnaaome'a leads. The humor OF d