The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-05-06
WHERE HE
LEARNED 1T
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.
This is n story of Kentucky nea,
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

eNH'h't THtneT OF EUROPE tnHn h"er-
lea. nllghted from the coach at a tav-
err and called for supper and room.
Il was nc the end of the stage route,
md the young man was obliged to
proceed 10 his home farther south on
horseback. This was the reason for
his remaining overnight. There was
not much amusement 10 be found In
such place, and aft supper, hear
ing he strains OF a violin in a saloon
across the way, he concluded to walk
over and see what was going on. AT
one end Of the room was bar, and
at the other was the fiddler. who, sit
cling on platform of boards set on
barrels, was playing The Arkansaw
Traveller" There was story con.
nected with the music, which the I'D.
der told. every now and again stop
ping to 20 on with the tune. At Ia
bles scattered here and there were
men. most of them in hunting cos
tunes, playing cards.
At the entrance OF n young man In
civilized dress every one looked up
The newcomer. being embarrassed
was about to retreat when one of the
card players called out:
Don't go. younker. Yore the pur.
tlest thing we've ever seen I'm these
parts. Let's have look at them
clothes"
"Those Clothes" said the stranger.
"came from long way off. As soon
as ! get settled at home I'll probably
go in for the costume of the country"
"Whar did 20 come from, anyway"
1--WE been TO Germany"
Germany" exclaimed every one in
the room. They had never before
heard of any one who talked pure
American coming from across the At
lantic.
what war yo' dom thar?' asked
one.
studying"
Ibid you go from hyar"
eyes. My father lives In the blue
grass region. My name is Morgan"
''All right. sonny. II yo' hail from
old Kaintuck yo're all right. no mat |.
ter what kind Of rig yo' got on. My |.
names Speers. Step up and have
somep'n."
Il don't drink anything except beer.
l reckon ! can't get that here"
Beer. No We don't drink nothln'
hut pure Kairtuck corn juice down
hyar. Step up and have some o that"
Thank you; don't drink whisky"
Don't know how, Ell? Well, Wen
teach yo."
you can't teach me, for I won't
learn"
The speaker reached down between
his shoulder blades and drew forth a
bowie knife a foot long and began TO
poke the young man with its point to-
ward the bar. Several of the others
protested that the young man should
not he forced to drink what he didn't
wish to drink. Others maintained that
II there was TO be n fight he should be
furnished with arms to defend himself.
sis It drink or fight?" asked the man
with the knife.
ut isn't drink" said the other reso-
lutely.
WELL then. It's fight. What weapons
do you like?"
''rd as soon have knife like the one
you're flourishing as anything But
don't wish TO fight. I'd much prefer to
go over 10 the tavern and let you drink
all the whisky you like"
"Give him bowiew cried his enemy.
A man in the crowd handed Morgan
knife OF the exact length OF that of
his antagonist, and he had no sooner
got his fingers about its handle than
his enemy made dash for him with
his knife raised high in the air. The
youngster caught It on his own knife,
making cash in his enemy's hand
from which drppcd the red blood.
Spccrs unlocked his knife and made an
under piss Again the weapon was
cHUrnl. nud Il fresh stream ran from
s. uvurr', unnd Then followed a
~"ri~ q" la~Srs by Speers, Morgan
s.nrr.r, society on the defensive. A
,,rn ''a"- u" could have punctured
I.- vIw,uv in any part of the body he
oansr. uut ne rrfrnined.
Ihr interest IN the fight among the
oulnukcrs was intense, The skill of
Morgan won II number to his side, who
kept calling. "Now's yo' chance, young
un" Let drive" Finish himw But
Morgan contented himself with block
Ing his enemy's thrusts. Finally Nor.
gan called TO the crowd
do you think this has gone on long
enoughT
Eyes. Finish 1t up"
"All right"
Every one expected to see him plunge
his knife into Speers' body, but instead
OF that he wedged his own blade In
between Speers' fingers and the hin
of his knife, gave his own bowie q
fling. and Speers' weapon went up 70
the ceiling and, falling, stood up in the
floor on Its point.
All gathered around the victor and
were eager to hear where he had learn
ed TO handle n knife with such pro,
s1iciency. He told them that three years