The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-09
(New York SUM

(New York Sum-
There was seldom any sign of activ-
ity around old man Greenhuts saloon
in Arkansas City until after the mid
die of the day, unless it had happened
the night before that the exigencies of
business had interfered with closing
up the place. On such occasions it
might and occasionally did happen that
there would be considerable excitement.
There had been no business, how
ever, and therefore nothing to prevent
closing up the night before. So when
Jake Winterbottom, Joe Bassett and
Jim Blaisdell walked up the levee to-
gether in the direction of the saloon 1t
might have been expected that they
would find, as Bassett put it. ''Nothin'
diddin' " when they should arrive. New
ertheless, they walked on steadily.
From time to time one of the three
would chuckle Then the next man
would laugh outright and then all three
would break forth in unrestrained mer-
riment for which there was no appar-
ent cause. Then Bassett would smite
his thigh and exclaim, Il wouldn't miss
it for the best mule in Arkansas" or
something equally mysterious.
AS they approached the saloon they
abated the noise of their mirth without
seeming to be any the less amused, and
when they came near and looked in at
the window they were hard put to it TO
refrain from bowls and shrieks Of
laughter.
Old man Greenhut was going up and
down the room. not in orderly fashion
as one who PAGES a quarter deck or a
sentry's beat, but irregularly and even
spasmodically, now walking, now al
most running, and again pausing long
enough to raise his cienched fists to-
ward the ceiling and breathe out fer
vent curses and threats.
He was bareheaded, and his coat lay
on the floor where he had thrown it.
His hair was disheveled, as if he had
plucked at it. The muscles in his good
right arm stood out in punches.
Seizes Trusty Bungstarter.
His bungstarter, lifted from its usual
corner. lay on the bar. and from time
to time the old man seized and bran
dished it, dealing blows of frightful
force and dealy accuracy at some inn
aginary person who, as he seemed to
think, stood before him.
His three friends outside looked on
with huge enjoyment for time, but as
his paroxysms of rage became more
and more violent they became con-
cerned.
HE sure is done gone bughouse, -
said Winterbottom. "Who'r ha' thought
he'd ha' took it so ser ous?"
Hell bust a artery if he amt
stopped" said Bassett.
Lets go in" said Blaisdell, and they
went
When the old man saw them enter
he stopped short and gaZed at them
Earnestly. At first he was surprised
and then doubtful
How come you uns is round so
early?" he asked, with a show of sus-
picion.
1--WE was just strollin' the levee for
to get some fresh air" said Blaisdeli,
AN we come in to see if you was up"
Don't sound right" said old man
Greenhut, "but mebbe you was. Bein'
as you're here, mebbe you mought
know somepin' o., this And he
slammed a letter down on the bar with
fine show of wrath.
They looked at it with ostentatious
curiosity, and when they had read it
looked at the old man inquiringly. 1t
read:
Dear Eb: All is forgave. Let the
past be forgot. Been drinkin' some to-
night, but I'll see YOU tomorrow. Your
Alternate BROTHER BILL
BE you uns cocksure you don't know
nothin' about this?" demanded old man
Greenhut, looking at them with grave
suspicion, and they raised their hands
toward heaven and swore they knew
nothing.
Il think you're lyin'," he said, blunt
ly, IAN the bugstarter's handy case
find it out for certain. You haint seen
h
brother an forgiVes hisself for his own
high crimes an misdemeanors?
There was a stranger up to the
hotel" said Winterbottom, cautiously,
IAN he was talkin' some consid'a able
Bein' as he was drunk we didn't pay
no 'tention."
"Bill can't write" said the old man,
ref1ectively, so somebody must have
wrote this for him. It's him, all right
FIR nobody here knows t my front
name is Ebenezer. an nobody but him
ever called me Eb. Now, who wrote
that letter? If I find out, I'll settle
with him when I'm through with Bill
Again he looked suspiciously at the
three friends, but they kept their faces
straight, and he said:
Il mought as well tell you uns
what's what, bein' as there'n be things
diddin' when this picaroon comes in
here, if he comes. an maybe it's just
as well to have it understood as how
it's justifiable murder case of anybody
maxim trouble FIR me later on.
Possibilities of Draw Poker.
at was through Bill t ] fust seen the
possibilities o. draw poker an how 9
man had ought for to be we'll edicateG
afore goin' out in the world for hisself
Not as l owes Bill no gratitude FIR tbs
teachin. What l RELY owes him CT
be paid with a bungstarter.
He was a'ays a ornery, low-dowr
dog, an onprineipled. Didn't pear Il
belong to the famblyno how. When he't
run away, like he did three or foul
times a year, we useter lock up night:
mighty careful FIR fear he'd come bach
an break in, but he arays did it some
how.
THE last time he come back I'd beer
workin' spell over to Greenville an