The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-11

do so, since he would have been
obliged TO study during several vaca-
tons 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
OF Eds failure at college was athletics,
He stood at the top In baseball, foot.
ball, fencing boxing, running and the
high jump; in his studies he stood at
che 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
to count for any more in the new
country than he did in the old. In the
former, 1t is true, education was not
considered Of much value, the only
accomplishment priced being an ability
to 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
in the east had, temporarily at least,
soured his disposition. He went into
saloon to buy a cigar with which to
solace himself. Half dozen men were
at the bar, and one OF them named
Wheeler, seeing tenderfoot approach,
turned to him and said:
"Betsy, have a drink"
"Thank you very much" said
Thatcher. 81 never drink. That's about
the only virtue have"
"Waal, Wen soon take that out Of
you here We haven't got nary virtue
in these parts. Come, step up and
nominate yer llkker."
mo liquor for me"
The man seized Ed roughly by the
arms and gave him a jerk toward the
bar.
One second later and there was
tableau. Wheeler was sprawling on
the floor at the other end Of the room,
while the others presented excepted
were wondering how he got there
1t couldn't have been lightning, for
they had heard no thunder, only a
"bif." The tenderfoot had struck so
quick they hadn't realized that he had
had anything to do with the matter.
Rising. Wheeler drew a revolver from
his hip, but one OF the men present
happened to be between him and
Thatcher, which tccasioned delay. BY
this time the spectators realized what
had happened and were so struck with
admiration at this kind of warfare
entirely new to them-that several OF
them took Wheeler by the arms and
forced him to keep the peace.
"Air you armed, stranger? one Of
them asked Ed.
mo"
''well, then you're the biggest fool
in this yere territory"
II prefer to protect myself with my
fists"
There was q shout of laughter at this
announcement.
There's some fun in this" remarked
one of the party. Lets have one o.
them tenderfoot fights. Come, Wheeler.
give me your weapon and have 1t out
with the tenderfoot in his own way"
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 for
Thatcher, striking him with his big
bony fist at the same time. Ed was
not in front Of him when he reached
the place where he had been, and
Wheeler's fist struck a wooden wall
Then Ed seized his antagonist from
behind and threw him over his shout
der. Wheeler fell on bis back. He
was getting up when Ed knocked him
down again; then Ed withdrew to the
other end Of the room, giving his enc
my chance to rise.
1t was evident that this was case
Of cat playing with a mouse before
devouring it. Every time Ed knocked
Wheeler down or threw him down or
got between his legs and toppled him
over the crowd euffawed.
Keep 1t upr' they shouted when
the tenderfoot asked his opponent If he
had had enough. Its the best show
we ever seenr'
But when Ed saw that he was az.
fording an exhibition for the specta-
tors he finished the contest by blow
under the jaw that floored his man,
and 1t was evident by the way Wheel
err arose that the contest was ended.
The crowd gathered around the
victor.
Stranger" said the man who sug-
gested the fight, "you kin go around
we're without gun all you like. Eff |
any man draws on you there's plenty
o. other guns'll take keer o. you. An
you needn't drink, neither"
Wheeler made no attempt to renew
the fight. On the contrary, he adj
mired the manner in which the ten
derfoot had downed him and Singer
ed toward Ed with outstretehed hand.
The tenderfoot bad the good sense to
bury the Ratchet, and the man he |
thrashed has since been hfs ardent |
friend and admirer.
That was Ed Thatcher's introduc- |
ton among people who were at
heart much as other people, but who
had been modified by being their own
defenders instead of being protected |
by the law. The tenderfoot is now |