The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-01-14
TWO STRANGERS
IN BROWNSVILLE
Learn That Other Sports Be
sides Draw Poker Are Liked
in Long Mikes Town.

Events OF Importance did o succeed
one another with startling rapidly in
Brownsville, excepting IN rare occa-
sions when a whole series would be
crowded together In a single evening.
A few such evenings as, for instance.
the one which saw the finish OF the one
eyed man, and the one when Gallagher
was driven from town by Long Mike
In n OF the big mans outbreaks of
sudden fury, had passed into tie n
written though well remembered his
tory OF the little town. but for the most
part the chronicles OF Brownsville, had
they been put into print, would have
made slow reading.
Yet Brownsville was its own excuse
and needed 40 apology. IT was the
port of entry from the outside world
60 the fertile Iowa prairies before tho
iron Sorse was harnessed that later
dragged the prairie products to mar
Ut.
che great Mississippi steamboats,
which then monopolized the carrying
sd found at Brownsville one of
their profitable stopping places, and
the sleepy little burg buzzed with activ-
ity while one of these boats day at the
landing on the levee. When the boat
left the town lapsed into its normal
quietude again.
Unless indeed some passengers should
tarry for the oncoming of another boat.
as sometimes happened. Then there
were doings. For since there was no
occasion for visiting Brownsville with
business in view. 1t follows that those
who tarried sought sport. and of sport
there were the only sturdy sorts most
in favor among the hardy settlers in
the Northwest. Brownsville was then
Northwest.
The roster OF sports was brief. Cock
fights We're there at times. Wrestling
matches were not unknown. Wassail.
as Sam provided IL, or It's substitute,
in the one barroom Of the town, some
times led 20 fights that were among
the keenest delights of living for the
red-blooded citizens OF Brownsville.
Also, there was draw poker. A short
list, none counted 1t Incomplete.
In all these sports. as In the more
serious pursuit OF such business as
there was in Brownsville, Long Mike
III the acknowledged leader. Whim-
steal roisterer that he was h. was, at
once, h biggest man, the most des-
iperate fighter, the hardest drinker, the
kesnest sport. the widest Irishman
and the leading capitalist of the COM
munity.
While in respect OF these things he
had no equal In his home town, he had
NitNOLllJEIGu uOtit AiAAOn6 LnG F. NlSllOTS
who occasionally came. Conscious of
his own superiority he certainly was,
but spoiled he was not. None was
more democratic, none more co~nvivial.
Wherefore IL happened that when two
crossroads gamblers from up the river
stopped over for a boat or two Long
Mike greeted them with hospitality not
to be expected. 1t was near the end OF
the season, and h long winter was at
hand when no boat would stop. Bust
ness was already SC slack that interest
in IL had ceased, and here was the
prospect of some hilarity before the
Information should begin; and Long
Mike rejoiced.
wheeler and Boxer. the two stran-
gers, were naturally elated. 1t was
usually their experience to be regarded
with suspicion III no worse In the com
munities they visited, and to establish
themselves on anything like a social
footing WIS their hardest work, for
they made ne pretense of denying
their profession; but here the leading
citizen of the place had welcomed them
with open arms.
II was true that Sam. the barkeeper;
Gallagher, who was Long Mikes fore
man, and Stumpy. who was Just Stum-
'py, Irish, shrewd and redheaded, re-
garded the two with disfavor. but
prominent and influential as they were
their III favor was u"nimportant IL Long
Mike approved.
Sure, av tn boss'd play thin OWLS
first at poker, him hayin' the luck o.
the blissid saints, now an ag'in.' said
Stumpy confidentially to Gallagher,
"there'd maybe be no harrum. We cd
shtart a foight over the game av It
whit ag'in is, or, chance, the boss
Iloight win their money. But, glory
be, he's ahi FIR the red liquor firsht.
Wen ahl be dhrunk afore he is my
thin two, IN by the time they've
played with us. loike they will. wen be
broke as we'll"
But Long Mixes present mood was
convivial. and he would not be gain
said. 1t did not occur to any one, even
of Stumpy's mind. TO stay away from
the bar room. since that was the only
place in town to spend n time
And all who were there had, perforce,
to drink or to quarrel with Long Mike
whenever he slaked his awful thirst:
and nobody who knew him quarreled
with Long Mike.
SO il came about at the end OF the
third day that only three men In town
were eyen measurably sober. Sam
stayed sober from business principle.
and the two strangers did SO from poll
icy. A situation more to the liking of
the two cross roads gamblers would be
difficult to describe, but when Boxer
suggested to his pal I'm undertone that
e was high time to suggest q little
game Stumpy overheard. and with owl
ish gravity spoke up In opposition.
we do play poker here" he said,