Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-06-09
A Trio of Jokers

The Wichita Beacon Of last Thursday
has reminiscent story from an ex-citizen
ofMedicine Lodge now living in Guthrie,
recalling joke in which three well
known former old-timers were the prin-
cipals. This story was printed many
years ago but will bear repeating:
Scattered throughout the length and
and breadth Of Oklahoma are men who
lived once at Medicine Lodge, Kan.
And all Of them are proud Of it. In fact,
they think that Medicine Lodge receives
daily the close attention Of Providence.
When these former citizens Of Medicine
Lodge get together in reminiscent way,
all other parts Of the United States be-
come a desert, with Medicine Lodge
shining green and outrageous in the sand.
Medicine Lodge had more practical
iokers than any ether town in Kansas in
the early days" said one Of its former
inhabitants lately. 81 laugh every time
think Of the trick Tom Doran and
Ryan Stark played on Tom McNeal
when the three went to Kansas City to
spend some Of their short grass money.
The three were panopled in all the
beautiful garments known to the dandies
Of Medicine Lodge, and were soaring
serenely along the streets touching ground
occasionally to assuage thirst and crafty
curiosity.
"Doran and Stark conspired against
McNeal, and decided that they wouId
complain to the first policemen they met
that McNeal was a confidence man that
was trying to fasten himself upon them
BY saying that he lived at Medicine
Lodge and knew them, at least by rep
utation. They had tried to rid themselves
of him, but without success, and felt sure
thathe meant finally to rob them. They
knew, Of course, that McNeal would
protest and try to laugh off their trick as
joke, wheleupon they would assure the
p5liceman that this was positive evidence
of his guilt. as he was total stranger to
them.
Soon they met policeman and Do
ran and Stark began to squawk. They
were strangers from the country, unaccus-
toned to the ways Of the city. and de-
manded that the bunco man be taken
down to the station and locked up.
McNeal grinned when the policeman
took hold Of his arm, and said: Now,
you fellows think you are smart, don't
you2 We all h,e together in the same
town, down at Medicine Lodge. officer,
and they are trying to have some fun
with me- What liar,' exclaimed the
conspiTators. Officer, that man is a
crook. We knew he would make this
kind Of talk, and we won't stand for it.
We want him arrested and taken down
to the station.
The more McNeal protested his in
nocence the more convinced became the
policeman that he had pinched crook.
AS he led McNeal down the street Nc
Neal roared like mountain lion in a
Texas panhandle. He denounced Do
ran and Stark in every imaginable term,
and swore vengeance when he got loose.
Doran and Stark walked at some distance
an the rear, wild with delight at the sue
cess Of their scheme. McNeal was tax
en- to the station. where he had little diff
Guilty in proving that he was law abid-
ing citizen Of Medicine Lodge, and had
been mistreated. He was so glad to go
free. however. that he was ready to for
give Doran and Stark when he met
them and, ike a true son Of Medicine
Lodge. he stood the gaf. and lay in wait
until he could find victims fox his own
wiles."