Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-12

itors to the metropolis Whether II
was che undesirable amount or at.
Cention paid him by the police or
mere love OF roaming that impelled
Dim tO go west. / am not prepared
20 state AZ any rate. he finally
landed In Arizona where he drifted
around tOr year or so. had his ten.
dertoOt" gloss rubbed %. and when I
nrst saw him was riding range with
the Lone Star outfit. north OF Phoenix.
II he fo,.nd the life rough one he
made no complaint. and being a nervy.
active young fellow. managed 20
keep his end up With the rest
Of the boys. II was the habit
of the cattlemen IN that part
Of the country TO feed their steers on
mesquite beans and cottonwood bark
and nnish up by driving them down to
Salt river valley. where they were tat.
tened up for the market iu the alfalfa
fields. There was a good-sized crowd
IN tie employ of the Lone Star but
as Jack Harrington. the owner OF the
ranch did business on a pretty large
scale. there was always plenty OF work
gor his cowounchcrs. The nickname
of Geutie Dick was bestowed upon
Leehy so,a after his arrival in Arizo-
na- on account of a tendency TO dress
in rather fiashy style. which character
lied him. rs well as a smooth low Of
language probably gained during many
practtce stunts OF talking unwary
strangers TO New York out OF their
hard earned coin
He sOOn learned 20 drop eastern
fashions I'm dress. but his smoothness
Of tongue remained aud Gentleman
Dick with his never failing stock OF
funRy stories and ready Jokes. was
voted highly entertaining companion
by all he came I'm contact with An
other happy gift which endeared him
oo his cO-workers on the ranch. was a
remarkable Quicknes OF fingers which
enabled him to perform various little
sleight OF hand tricks for the edifica-
ton Of the COW punchers. He was con
tinuaiiy performing such tricks as
tearing up a cigarette paper into
pieces, rubbing Il between his fin
gers and then bringing Il out whole.
paiming coins and so on. with the dex-
terity OF a stage magician. These
feats won him unstinted applause from
not too exacting audience and in
the course OF time he became one OF
the most popular men that ever
worked on the Lone Star COWBOYS
are very much like big overgrown chill
dren IN some respects. not much
harder to amuse and ready 60 welcome
any distraction that comes to break
the daily round OF a rather monoton-
Gus existence.
Christmas was drawing near and
Harrington was beset with fears lest
the festive season might prove the
means Of deprjving him OF the services
OF several OF hts best men. In other
words. he was afraid that they would
pay visit TO Phoenix. imbibe a large
quantity of doubtful whisky and for
get that such a place as the Lone Star
ranclse ever existed on the map For
this, as Harrington knew only too
well, was a regular annual happening.
IL was the only time when his men
were given a good chance TO cele-
brate and they always awaited them
selves royalty OF the opportunity The
preceding year had been particularly
unlacky one In this respect nearly
half OF his force having failed TO re-
turn To the rancho. and filling their
places was not an easy task. SO Har-
rfngtoD pondered how TO avert the
schedrSed evil and hnaEy called his
foreman. Jack Andrews. into consul
tation-
See here. Jake" said he, I've been
wondering IL We can't fix up plan To
dodge the troubles OF the usual cele-
bratieD this year Now what do you
say II We give sort OF entertainment,
home talent show In the big barn.
have every one OF the boys do some
little thing, song. clog dance, any
hs2 OF jtnks. so long as Il Ill fiji up
program The idea is To keep them
on the rancho ON Christmas eve In
~ead OF piling OF TO town and loading
up With forty-rod booze OF course
III provide plenty TO drink, but out