Evening journal., 1911-11-17
The Tenderfoot
By THOMAS J. HUNTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

NeuulnS tnaL ne neeun remain at lne
university any longer Indeed, it would
have been hardly worth his while to
10 so, since he would have been
obliged to study during several vaca-
ions in order to make up conditions"
and before he could catch up his class
mates would have been graduated and
started in their careers. The cause
pf Eds failure at college was athletics.
fde stood at the top in baseball, foot
Pail, fencing, boxing. running and the
nigh jump; in his studies he stood at
the bottom.
Not liking to face his father, whom
he had bitterly disappointed, upon his
dismissal from college he buried his
remorse in the worst part of the wild
west. He did not seem on his arrival
% count for any more in the new
country than he did in the old In the
Former it is true, education was not
considered Of much value, the only
accomplishment priced being an ability
0 shoot quick and straight. Ed did
not even show that he was strong. His
loose clothes covered his steel muscles,
and he was rather thin in the face
He was not in a good humor when
he reached his new home. His failure
i'm the east had. temporarily at least,
soured his disposition. He went into a
saloon to buy a cigar with which to
solace himself Half dozen men were
at the bar, and one Of them named
wheeler, seeing a tenderfoot approach,
turned to him and said:
Betsy, have a drink"
THANK you very much" said
Thatcher. Il never drink. That's about
the only virtue ] have"
"Waal, wen soon take that out of
you here. We haven't got nary virtue
i'm these parts Come, step up and
nominate yer likker."
"No liquor for me-
The man seized Ed roughly by the
arms and gave him jerk toward the
bar
One second later and there was a
tableau. Wheeler was sprawing on
the floor at the other end Of the room,
while the others presented excepted
were wondering how he got there.
pc couldn't have been lightning, for
they had heard no thunder only a
"biff." The tenderfoot had struck so
quick they hadn't realized that he had
had anything TO do with the matter.
3 ,Rising. Wheeler drew a revolver from
his hip, but one Of the men present
happened to be between him and
Thatcher, which occasioned delay. BY
this time the spectators realized what
had happened and were so struck with
Nadmiration at this kind Of warfare
entirely new TO them-that several OF
x them took Wheeler by the arms and
Fforced him to keep the peace.
n -Air you armed. stranger" one Of
d them asked Ed
"No"
"Well. then you're the biggest foo
in this yere territory"
Il prefer to protect myself with my
FISTS"
There was a shout Of laughter at this
announcement
There's some fun in this remarked
Zone of the party. Lets have one o
them tenderfoot fights. Come, Wheeler
Ngfve me your weapon and have it out
twith the tenderfoot in his own way
y Wheeler was so mad that he only
wanted TO get at the tenderfoot. and
since the crowd objected TO his put
ting a bullet in him. he surrendered
his revolver and made a rush fol
hsThatcher, striking him with his bis
Ebony fist at the same time. Ed wa:
( mot in front of him when he reached
the place where he had been, anC
.Wheeler's fist struck a wooden wall
'JThen Ed seized his antagonist from
behind and threw him over his shoul
der Wheeler fell on his back. HC
SAwas getting up when Ed knocked hin
down again: then Ed withdrew to the
other end Of the room, giving his enc
my a chance TO rise.
Y 1t was evident that this was a cast
of a cat playing with a mouse before
devouring it. Every time Ed knocked
(, Wheeler down or threw him down o.
: .got between his legs and toppled hin
Asover the crowd gu1fawed.
|, keep it upr' they shouted whel
n the tenderfoot asked his opponent If h
had had enough IT'S the best SHOW
we ever scent!
ID But when Ed saw that he was af
fording an exhibition for the specta
i tors he finished the contest by blow
Nunder the jaw that foored his man
!, and it was evident by the way Wheel
er arose that the contest was ended.
The crowd gathered around Tn
n victor.
In stranger" said the man who sug
gested the fight. "you kin go aroun'
yere without gun all you like. f
M any man draws on you there's plent
4 o other gunsT take keer O. you. Ar
n you needn't drink. neither"
Wheeler made no attempt to renev
the fight. On the contrary, he ad
mired the manner in which the ter
v derfoot had downed him and staggel
ed toward Ed with outstretched hand
The tenderfoot had the good sense I
y bury the hatchet, and the man b
thrashed has since been his arden
n. friend and admirer.
That was Ed Thatcher's introduc
\ ton among a people who werc q
heart much as other people. but wh
had been modified by being their ow
defenders instead Of being protecte
by the law. The tenderfoot is mo-
the governor Of the territory.