Evening journal., 1910-11-23

Johnny" said Peter weatherbee to
his son when his boy left him in the
mountains Of Colorado to 60 east to
college. II want you to study your
larnin hard and don't give too much
OF your time to those games the boys
play at college. Out here when an
eddecated young man onct gets n start
he can top those who haven't the ed
decation. Now study hard and let the
other things 60"
When Johnny returned four years
later his father was very much dis
appointed in his record. He had taken
no honors. stood near the foot Of his
class. but was the athletic hero Of the
season. AS a twirler he could send
ball that few could hit: as a tacker
no man could get past him. Johnnys
father WAS owner and editor OF tho
Rocky Mountain Globe. But the paper
during Johnny's sojourn at college had
been running down. A rough element
had come into the town. which had
started with fine prospects. and so dis
turbed the condition Of things that the
better people were leaving. while no
new respectable settlers were coming
in.
Father" said Johnny, '1t seems to
me that It's the duty OF an editor to
make Il hot for evil wherever his paper
: is located"
"And get shot for doing IT,"
Better be shot than let the other fel-
\ low take the bread and butter away
from you. II the town dies our paper
dies"
Peter Weatherbee consented that his
son should write articles against the
evil disposed. thus awakening the bet
ter class OF citizens against them.
Johnny began by inveighing against
the indiscriminate carrying Of weap
ons. Then he attacked certain men
who ran gambling houses. with others
who made Offices OF the said resorts.
Johnny" said his father. Seems to
me you've weakened yourself You
can't carry revolver since you've
come down on the practice. and these
men you've been larrupin' II shoot you
down like dog"
"They won't go for me. father. I'm
only an understrapper They'll 20 for
you. at least TIL they find out that I'm
the man that's after them"
The next morning Johnny put his
desk in a room through which all must
go to his fathers office. He had hard
" got settled when one OF the parties
attacked in that days issue Of the
, paper came up the stairs.
where's old weatherbeeT he ask
ed. "I'm goin' 10 Kill the
"In there" interrupted Johnny.
The man was opening the door when
Johnny tackled him from behind. pull
ed him to the landing and threw him
! down to the first floor. two hights be
low. He was not killed outright. bu
a died in a hospital the next day.
< 80 much for my football training
Il father" said Johnny "B$ an~rhp-fi
try some other athletic features
=, learned at college"
s. Johnny sat down to write some more
articles attacking other rascals. Over
% his desk was a rosewood baseball IN.
=, laid with gold which Johnny had won
I in college as a trophy. When he was
rallied on his defenselessness he said
. he could use that far better than Il
q revolver. During the morning he
heard n quick footstep at the other
r end OF the hall There's lots in step
' Johnny knew at once what this one
meant. Selling his wooden ball. he
went TO the door. Some ffty feet
away man he recognized as pal
Of the one he had thrown downstairs
was coming with blood in his eyes as
well as his step. Johnny twirled his
= trophy ball. landing It in the right
eye OF the conner and relieving It OF
all the blood there was in It.
The man didn't come any farther.
Indeed. he was taken 70 his home,
where doctor pronounced his case
a fracture OF the frontal bone He
j, died in a few days.
These two novel encounters encour-
aged the good citizens and somewhat
shamed the bad ones. An athletic
gambler vowed he would take Johnny
on his own ground. Meeting Johnny
on the street, he suddenly tackled him
with his right arm and began to rain
y blows on his face with his left nst.
But Johnny had been thus held often
before. He wriggled out like an eel
and landed a blow on his opponents
y mug that capsized him. The man
I. started to run. Johnny followed him,
Il every now and then getting in kick
o At last. after having several times
o served as Johnny's football. the man
e gave out and could 90 no farther.
II Those who saw the last kick the
y gambler received differed as to the
distance Johnny sent him. Some said
It was ten feet. some fifteen. and one
J, man. who claimed to have measured
= the distance with a tape line. declared
g that It was just nineteen feet and
d. four inches.
Id The man suffered from broken coc
W cyx. which 3 the end OF the backbone
lie This being the third man that John
ny had put "out Of the fight" a nun
%, Der Of citizens called on him and tol
- him that they would see him throug
=, ~ what else might be in store for hin
81 Johnny said to them:
Do "While at college I prepared 10
at self for my beginning here. But
nd reckon that. having got rid OF &
st- three worstrmen m the town, the OF
ers will be cowed."
'e' And so It proved. Johnny. havii
paved the way for his usefulness. 70
rapidly in the esteem Of his feilo