davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
CHAPTER VI.
Nothing but Floss Thief, Anyway"

"Nothins but Floss Thief. Anyway"
The island teemed with early sun.
flowers and hints of goldenrod yet to
come. The fine, white, sandy soil
deadened the sound of the horses
hoofs. They seemed 10 be spinning
through. space. Under the cotton,
woods it grew duslly and still.
At the toll house dngy blackboard
in state OF weird dilapidation, with
team OF Shaggy huckskin ponies, stood
waiting. lin drew up. Two men
were lounging in front OF the shanty,
chatting to the Gilman.
Hello, JIM" called one of them, a
tall, slouching fellow with sandy col
oring.
Now, how the devil did you git
so familiar with my name" srowled
Jim.
"The Three Bars is gettin' busy
these days - spoke up the second man,
with an insolent grin.
You bet 1t is" Dragged jim. When
the officers O the law git to sleepin'
with boss thieves and rustlers, and
take two weeks to arrest bunch Of
em, when they know prezactly where
they keep thirselves, and have to
have special deputies app'inted over
EN- hye or six times and then let
most O the bunch slip through their
myers us time for some one to git
busy. And when Jesse Black and his
gang are so desp'rit they pizen the
cheif Witnesses"
A gentle pressure on his arm
stopped him. He turned inquringly.
Il wouldn't say any more" whisper
ed Louise. Lets get on"
The hint was sufficient, and with the
words. Right you are, Miss Reporter.
well be gittin' on" Jim paid his toll
ana spoke to his team.
Just wait a bit, will you?" spoke
up tho sandy man.
What for?"
We're not just ready"
| We'' We are shortly,
we arn't' and We don't care to be
passed, you know"
he spoke indirterently. In defer
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

refreshing GOODNESS crept over the
hard. baked earth. Still. there was
nothing but distance anywhere in all
the land. and a feeling Of desolation
swept over the girl
The moon came up. Then there were
miles OF white moonl;Gh and lonely
plain. But for some time now there
has been light in front Of them. It
is as If it must he a will-O,tho wisp
They never seem to get TO it. But at
last they are there. The door is wide
open. A pleasant odor Of bacon and
coffee is waited out to the tired trav-
elers.
Come right in." says the CHEEKY
voice OF Mary. How tired you must
be, Miss Dale. Tie up, i'm and come
in and eat something before you go,
Well, you can eat again-tWo suppers
won't hurt you. | have kept things
warm for you. Your train must have
been late. Yes. dad is better. thank
you. He'll be all right in the morn
ing"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

snugly in the seat, and then the blood
burned hot and singing through his
bronzod, tough skin, for suddenly in
his big honest, unframed sensibilities
was born the consciousness that the
boss would have slowed away the lady
first. It was an embarrassing mo-
ment. Louise saved the day by climb
ing in unconcernedly after him and
tucking the linen robe over her skirt.
at will be a dusty drive, won't it?"
she asked simply.
Miss, you're a-dandy," said Jim
as simply.
AS they dove upon the pontoon
bridge, Louise looked back at the little
town on the bluffs and felt momen-
tary choking in her throat. 1t was a
strange place, yet it had tendrils
reaching homeward The trail be-
You'd was abscurely marked and not
easy to discern. She turned to her
companion and asked quickly: Why
didn't Mary Gomez"
Great guns, Did forgit to tell
you? Wilistons got the stomach
ache to beat the band and Marys got
to physic him up gin to-morrer. We've
got TO git him on that stand II it takes
the hull Three Bars 10 hoi him up and
the gal a pourin' physic down him be-
tween times. Yep, Ma'am. He was
pizened. You see, everybody that ate
any meat last night was took sick
with gripin cranps, yep; but Willis
ton he was worse'n all, he bein' a
hearty eater. He was a stayin in
town over night or this preliminary
business, and Dick Gordon he was
took, too, but not so bad, bein' what
you might call light eater The boss
and me VIC drove home after all,
though we'd expected to stay for sup
per. The pesky coyotes got fooled
that time. Yep. ma'ar. no doubt about
it in tho world. Friends o Jesse S
that we amt able to lay hands on yit
pizene6 that there meat Yep, no
doubt about it, Dick was in an awful
sweat about you Was bound he was
a comm after Won hisself, sick as he
was, when We found Mary was of the
count. So then The boss was a comm
and they fit and squ1bbed for an hour
who could be best spared. when T.
comm IN, settled it in a iiRy by
offerip' my services which was gladly
accepted. When there's pizenin' goin
on, why, the boss5 place is hum And
nothin' would do but the boss's own
particular outfit lie never does things
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
CHAPTER VII.
The Preliminary.

Very early in the morning Of the
day set for the preliminary hearing of
Jesse Black the Young owner OF the
Three Bars rode over to Velpen. He
identified and claimed the animal
held over from shipment by inns per-
suhsion. Brown gave possession with
q ruetul countenance.
First time Billy Brown ever was
taken In" he said, with great disgust
Langford met with no interruption
to his Journey. either going or coming,
although that good cow-puncher Of his,
Jim Munson, had warned him to look
sharp to his pistols and mind the
bridge. Jim being of a somewhat
belligerent turn IF mind. his boss had
not taken the words with seriousness,
AS for the fracas at the pontoon, cow
men are touchy when it comes 10 a
question Of precedence, and it might
we'll be that the ilhammable Jim had
brought the sudden storm down on his
head. Paul LangfOTd rode through
the sweet early summer air without
let or hindrance and looking for none,
ne was JuDlldNt. NOW was w lIilH-
tons story verified. The county at
torney, Richard Gordon, had consid-
cred Willistons story, coupled with
his reputation for strict honesty
strong and sufficient onoush to bind
Jesse Black over to appear at the
next regular term OF the circuit court.
Under ordinary circumstances the
state really had an excellent chance
of binding over; but 1t had to deal
with Jesse Black, and Jesse Black
had fourished for many years west of
the river with an unsavory character.
but with an almost awesome reputa-
ton for the phenomenal facility with
which he slipped out OF the net in
which the LAWN the person Of its
unpopular exponent, Richard Gordon
was SO indefatigably endeavoring to
enmesh him. The state was prepared
for a hard aght But nowhere was
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

ence to Louise, Jim waited. The men
smoked on carelossly. The toll.man
fidgeted.
You go to he'll. The Three Bars
amt waitin' on no damned boss
thieves" said jim, suddenly.
His nervous team sprang forward.
Quick as fash the sandy man was in
the blackboard. He struck the bays
singing blow with his rawhide, and
as they swerved aside he swung into
the straight course to the narrow
bridge of boats In another moment
the way would be blocked. With a
burning oath Jim. keeping TO the side
Of the steep incline till the river mire
cut him off, deliberately turned his
stanch little team squarely and
crowded them forward against the
shaggy buckskins It was team
against team. Louise. clinging tightly
to the scat, lips pressed together to
keep back any sound, felt a wild, in
explcable thrill of confidence in the
strength OF the man beside her.
The bays were pitifully, cruelty
dashed by the enraged owner OF the
buckskins, but true as steel to the IA
so often and so kindly. they gave not
nor faltered. There was swapping
of broken wood, wrench. a giving
way, and the runabout sprang over
debris of broken wheel and wagon-box
to the narrow confines of the pontoon
bridge.
The Three Ears is gettin' busy"
gibed Jim over his shoulder.
IT'S a sorry day for you and yours.
cried the other, in black and ugly
wrath.
I'VE amt afraid. You're nothin' but
a boss thief anyway responded jim
gleefully, as n parting shot.
Now what do you suppose was
their game?" he asked Of the girl al
his side.
Il don't know" answered Louise
thoughtfully. But I thought It not
wise to say too much to them. Yot
are witness, | believe you said
Then you think they are part O. the
gang"
Il consider them at least Synpa
thizers, don't you? They seemed dowr
on the Three Bars
In the Indian country at last. Mile
after mile of level, barren stretche!
after the hill region had been left be
hind. Was there no end to the thirst
inspiring, monotonous, lonely reach o
cacti? Prairie dogs, perched in from
Of their holes, chartered and scoldeC
at them. The sun went down and ;
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

morrow for ru3'lin' that thcre very
crtter from the Three Bars ranch?
mo, dldn't Brown answered
shortly. ANY casc?'
81 guess yes, Williston o tho Lazy
S saw this very crittcr on that island
where Jesse Black holds out" He
proceeded to relate minutely the story
to which Williston was going to swear
on the morrow. But" he concluded.
"Jesse's eoin to nght like hell against
bein' bound over
well. we'll" said Brown, perpleXed
ly. But the brand, Jim, it's not
yours or Jcssc's either
"Quainted with any ] r ranch in
these parts queried jim, shrewdly
Il amt"
well, neither am l." confessed
Brown. "but that's not sayin' there
amt one somewhere. Maybe we can
trace it back
"Shucks!' exploded Jim.
Maybe you're right, Jim, but !
| don't propose TO lose the price o that
animal lessn / have 10. You cant
for it. If it's yourn. why, of course,
it's yourn 1871, want to be sure first.
Sure you'd know him, Jim? How
could you be SO blamed sure? Your
boss must range 5000 head"
"Know him" Know Mag? I'd know
Mag eff my eyes were full O. soundin'
cataract Hes an old and tried friend
O. mine. The meanest critter the
Lord ever let live and that's a fac =.
But the boss calls i'm his maggot.
Seems to actually churish kind O.
lection for the Ornery critter. and
says the luck O. the Three Bars would
sort o peak and pine eff he should
ever git rid O the pesky brute. Maybe
he's right. Leastwise the critters his,
and when a things yours. why, it's
yours and that's all there is about it.
BY crack, The boss is some mad,
You'd think him and that wall-eyed.
cross-grained sOn-oi-a-gun had been
kind and lovin' mates these many
years. Well | ain't met up with this
ornery critter for some time. Hullo.
there, Mag! Look kind O sneakiS
now, don't you. vearin that outland-
ish and unbeknownst J r ?"
Bill Brown thoughtfIlly surveyed
the stee: whose ownership was thus
so unexpectedly disputed.
you hold him" insisted lin. EFF
he amt ours, you can send him along
with your next shipment. can't you?
What you wobblin' about? Amt afraid
the boss II claim what amt his, are
/ you. Bill Brown
We'll, can't hep myself, I guess
said Brown. in tone Of voice which
told plainly of his laudable effort tc
keep his annoyance in subsection tc
his good fellowship. You send Lang
ford down here first thing in the morn
ing. If he says the critters his'n that
ends it,
Now that he had convinced his
quOndam acquaintance. the present
shipper, TO his entire satisfaction
Jim glanced at his watch with os
tentatious ease His time had come
If all the minutes Of all the time &c
come should be as short as these Al
had been. how soon hc Jim Munson
cow puncher. would have ridden then
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

The two cowboys at the corner table
had long since finished their supper
They now lighted bad-smelling cigars
and left the ROOM TO Louise's great
relief Munson rose, too ile was back
very soon with a neat little runabout
and a high-spirted team of bays.
"Boss's private explained Jim with
pride. "Nothin' too good for a lady,
so the boss sent this and me to take
kecr o it. And O you. too, Miss he
added. as an afterthought.
He held the lines in his brown, mus
cular hands, lovingly, while he slowed
away Louise's belongings and himself
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

all into the past. But his get away"
must be clean and dignified.
Likely bunch you have there" he
said, casually, turning away with un-
assumed reluctance.
Fair to middlin," said Brown with
pride.
"Shippin' to Sioux City. you said?"
yep"
well, so long"
80 long, shippin' any these
days, Jim?"
Nope Boss never dribbles 'em
out. When he ships he ships. Amt
none gone over the rails since last
fall"
He stepped of briskly and vaulted
the fence with as lghtsome an air as
though he were bent on the one err
rand his heart would choose, and
swung up the track careessly hum
ming tune. But he had a vise-like
grip on his cob pipe. His teeth bit
through the frail stem. 1t split. He
tossed the remains away with a ges.
ture of nervous contempt. A whistle
sounded, He quickened his pace, II
he missed her--well, the boss was a
good fellow, took lot OF nonsense
from the boys, but there we're things
he would not stand for. Jim did not
need to be told that this would be one
OF them.
The platform was crowded, The
yellow sunlight fell slantingly on the
gay groups.
Jaw, Munson. you're blufiin'. TESTED
the mail carrier. You amt lookin'
fer nobody; you know you amt You
amt got no folks. Don't believe you
never had none, Never heard Of EN-"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
If not by personal acquaintance, Ger
tainlY BY lnarSAv.

If not by personal acquaintance, Ger
tainly by hearsay.
Then came the first great surprise
Of this affair Of many surprises. Jesse
Black waived examination. 1t came
like a thunderholt to the prosecution.
1t was not Black way OF doing BUSH
ness, and it was generally believed
tina. as Nuueon had so forcibly
though ine,cganly expressed it 10
Billy Brown, He would fight like
hell to keep owl Of the circuit courts.
He would kill this incipient Nemesis
in the bud. What then, had changed
him? The county attorney had rath.
or looked for hard fought defence
shifting Of the burden Of RESPONSE
bility for the misbrandnS to another
who would, of course. be off some
where on a business trip. to be absent
an indefinite length Of time; or it
might be he would try to make good a
trumpcdup story that he had but late
| ly purchased the animal from some
Indiana cattle-ownor from up country
who claimed to have bill-cf-sale from
Lancford He would not have been
taken abach had Black calmly pro-
dlccd a bill of-sale.
The absoluteness OF the surprise
flushed his cloan-sh2ron face a little.
although his crave immobility OF ey-
preston un9erv IT not 4 flicker. II
was n surrriso. but it was a good
surprise. Jesse Black was bound over
under good and sufficient bond to ap-
pear al the next regular torn Of the
circuit court in December. That much
accomplished. now he could buckle
down f4r the biz Gcht How often had
/ he been shipwrncE. IN tho eNftir-
gards ~ the ~oo,r,. -o-,o-,,ah,a dec,s-
iors ~ .Oid ,,ac..s..,.o a,d his tind
,rbis ti,ro 49, rs, q ,.,,r,cla no had ee.
c,nod sacde md ,hoals and sunton
rool,, ond rodo :, da.,, v,.tor
! ,ysro NJ o,riqh-o0roent swant over
tn, ,r,,.o,,
"noss" he vbis,ored chat gal re.
norter's hummer
How so2" wbtsnorcd Langford.
ar,nsod IA rrooo,5,1 IN tale an in.
te,eetod If hastv Inventory NJ her
charms "vrat n r,tite little person.
oqe ~ n, srro, Air,,st too coIor,ess
thorcb WV In, ebo CAM VIOLA a
=
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

'Iookin for my uncle" explaiHSd
jim, scrcnely Rich old codgcr from
the state O Pennsylvaney some ers.
Amt got nobody but me left"
Jaw. come OF! What you gyin' u.s."
But jim only walked and slouched
on prime for more adventures. tie
was enjoying himself hugely-when
he was not thinking of pctticOats.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

= 1
haa roaainod ,a..aesi,, ard ,vo,,id
49,, ,ano ,;,ne g. o.,, aai,,n. ,.a o,.ido.n
7, nor,d fail dor,,, and trr4 i,,o,t tor
,ho hIaha- or,,n, aa1 r,iot, ca.do,
would rrnr, ho,, 60 ,,ao a,n ,naanor
tonciea agains4 ;,.nbo, EMO t,,ro
came No uondor 1,nr,ford nos ,ight.
hearted In Al HE nrro~,nt and IN.
hamnorod caroor bo had nevor haforo
received srcb =, ,r~or, IN hi, nrido
and his sense of ,yhat was duo r. ono
Of the biggest out6,, thai raneod ea,.
tIe wost of tho riyor We tn hin, ,vho
had dared tarror ui,h tho co,corns
of Paul Laneford Of the Thron Hars
Williston drove IN fror the Law
s in annie tirno for tho midday ain.
ner at the hoto,-tho hearing was Get
for . o'clocl,--hut hie litt1o nartv cor.
tented itself with = luncheon rro.
pared at homo and hacked neatly and
appeti2inplv I'm a tin brcltat II ,yaq
not likely thoro wouId he q rendition
of bad meat If wou1d he noor no1icv
Still. ono could not ho euro AND IL
was most i,p,or,o,t tbo+ vv;Ilietor o+o
no had ucat th,+ d,r
Gordon mot thor in tho hot st,,r,
little parlor Ct the hota,
4 at was good of van to cone" no
said to Louise with Grave sincerity
81 didn't want IA " co,foeqod rh,,iso
honcstlv. "rm orrai1 IL i, too bio o,d
lonesome for mo ra7, sura should
have zone bact IN volren Iss+ ,iebt
TO catch two aorl,. tr,t, bad a. not
been for Mary she ie eo--good =,
"The wa.-l r. over now that Won
have conou.r.s ,o,,r first ir,n,,,so 10
As" he said
81 cried thorrh batod rveo1f
for it, but / couldn't HELM II. You see
l never was so far from home before"
He was an absorbed. Woodworking
lawyer. Years of contact with tho
plain, hard realities Of rough living
in a new country had dried up. some
what, his stream Of sentiment. Maybe
the source was only blocked with
debris, but certainly the stream was
running dry. He could not help
thinking that girl who cries be-
cause she is far from home had much
better stay at home and leave the
grave things which are mems work to
men. But he was gentleman and
kindly one, so he answered quietly,
Il trust you will like us better when
you know us better and, after few
more commonplaces, went his way.
There's man" said Louise,
thoughtfully, on the way to McAllis-
ter's Office. Il like him. Mary
And yet there are men in this coun-
try who would kin him if they dared
Mary! what do You mean? Are
there then so many cut-throats in this
awful country"
Il think there are many desperate
men among the rus,lers who would
not hesitate to kill either Paul Lang
ford or Richard Gordon since these
prosecutions have begun There are
also many good people who think Mr..
Gordon is just stirring I'D trouble and
putting the county to cXpeose when
he can have no hope Of conviction
They say that his failures encourage
the rustlers more than an inactive
policy would"
people who argue like that are
either tainted with dishonesty them.
selves or they are foolish. one of the
two" said Louise, WITH conviction.
'Mr Gordon bac nm, -t,rcL 80,
The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-08-04
DEMOCRATS WIN
LEH|GH ELECTION
Special Election Results in Land
Slide for Democrats Aver
age Majority About 90

Lehigh Okla, Aug 4-At specia
election the Democratic ticket for city Of
ficials was elected throughout, with the
exception Of Mention, Republican, fol
school board: Rice Republican for alder
man, Second ward. Average majority
for Democrats at largein the city about
so.
Officers elected are as follows;
Thos. Carroll mayor, c. K. Harrison
police Judge; John Rogers, City Clerk; Os-
car Dickerson. chief of police; John
Hutchinson, city treasurer; c. E. B. Cut
Ier city attorney Nj F. Landon, city
street commissioner, all Democrats.
BY an overwhelming majority Lehieh
was voted to be city Of the first class.
Bonds win be Immediately voted On to
erect water works. electric light plant,
sewerage and other municipal improve
ments.
The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-08-04
PURE FOOD law
AFFECTS SALOONS
Men who relied on Defect in BillLps
Law to Face Federal Authori-
ties Seven out on Bail.

Muskogee, Okla, August AIS a re-
suit of conference between United States
District Attorney Weekly and Chief Of
Police Ledbetter yesterday morning. sa-
loonkeepers who opened up here Friday
morning relying on defect in the Billups
law to bring them to safety, are to meet
with federal prosecution for a violation
Of the national pure food laws in addi-
ton to the prosecution for violation Of
the state laws.
Prime beer of Milwaukee. ST. Paul and
St. Louis was chucked into the ice boxes
Of the saloonkeepers during the time the
saloons were open, and the wrappers
we're soaked from the real beer bottles,
while the near beer bottles still held their
labels
Under the pure food laws of the GOV
eminent relating to the manufacture and
sales of beers this is violation. Seven
saloonkeepers arrestedNla Saturday S raids
are out on $500 ban sseh, and much
beer was conascated.
The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-08-04
TOM MONROE DIES
FROM APOPLExY STROKE

Tom Monroe. who for number Of years
has been prominent in the affairs Of the
Cherokee nation, died at midnight last
night at bis home near Cleora Mr. Mon
roe about 2 O'Clock Yesterday afternoon
had gone about mile distant from bis
home to neighbofs house and was
stricken while standing at the door. He
was conversing with the neighbor woman
when he complained Of fearful headache
and Immediately sank to 1.-THE floor. He
was helped to chair and Or. Oliver
Bagby Of this city summoned. The
stricken man was then removed to his
home where he died, never recovering
consciousness from the sudden stroke.
Tom Monroe was one Of the best known
farmers In the eastern part of the Chero-
kee nation and always took an active part
in the political affairs of the Cherokee
nation. For two or three terms he was
sheriff under the old Cherokee regime and
was member Of the last senateof the
tribal council, ''
Mr. Monroe leaves a large number Of
friends in Vinita who join the Chieftain
in extending sympathy to the. bereaved
family
The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-08-04
hundred haYe perished.

hundred have perished.
Vancouver wired $4,000 for relief yes
terday and train load Of supplies went
out today Winnipeg dispatched a spe-
cial train with nurses, doctors, hospital
stores and provisions.
Loggers to the number Of eighty in the
camps Of the Elk Lumber company per-
ished in the flames and several settlers
with their families who lived on the line
Of the railroad between Fernie and Michel
disappeared The death total will prob
ably grow larger and may reach 400
When the flames we're consuming Fer
ME all prisoners with the exception Of
five "black hand suspects we're released.
Later they were recaptared and sent to
Nelson Crowds Of refugees have also
arrived at Nelson and an overflow from
Zranbrook. These are being cared for as
much as possible but the condition is pit
liable. In the fight they brought nothing
away but the clothing they wore.
The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-08-04
G. A. PETT|BONE
DEAD At DENVER
Had Been Ill Ever Since Confne.
ment in Jail in Famous Murder
Case Died from Operation

Denver, Col, Aug 4.--Geo. A. Petit
bone, for years prominent in the councils
Of the Western Federation ofMners, and
charged with President Meyer and former
Secretary Haywood with completely in
the murder Of former Governor Steunen-
5erg Of Idaho, died at St. Josephs hos
pital last night from the effects Of an
operation for cancer
Pettbone has been i'll practically ever
since his confinement in the Idaho peni-
tentiary, which began more than year
previous to the famous trials at Boise
Pettibone was never formally tried but
was discharged after the acquital Of Hay
wood and Meyer He leaves a widow.