The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-11-23
The Tenderfoot
By THOMAS J. HUNTER
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

there after being told BY the president
Of an eastern college he had been at
tending that be needn't remain at the
university any longer. Indeed. II would
have bees hardly worth his while to
] do so. since he would have been
Z obliged to study during several vaca-
tons in order 10 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 be 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
to count for any more IN the new
country than be did in the old In the
former. It 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 bad. temporarily at least.
soured his disposition. He went into a
saloon to buy a cigar with which to
solace himself Half a 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"
WAL. we'll soon take that out OF /
you here We haven't got nary virtue
in these parts. Come. step up and
nominate yer lkker."
mo 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 sprawllng on
the floor at the other end Of the room,
while the others present Ed 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 50
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 occasioned delay. By
this time the spectators realized what
had happened and were 50 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
NO
"well. then you're the biggest fool
in this yere territory"
Il prefer to protect myself with my
fists"
There was a shout Of laughter at this
There's some fun IN this" remarked
|
hem tenderfoot fights. Come, Wheeler.
give me your weapon and have It. out
with the tenderfoot In his own way"
Wheeler was 50 mad that he only
wanted to get at the tenderfoOt, and,
ince the crowd objected to bis put
ing a bullet IN him. be surrendered
IFS revolver and made a rush for
striking him with bis big
ony fist at the same time. Ed was
ot In front Of him when he reached
be place where be had been. and
Vheeler's fist struck a wooden wall
hen Ed seized bis antagonist from :
ehind and threw him over his shout
er. Wheeler fell on his back. He 4
Tas getting mp when Ed knocked him
own again; then Ed withdrew to the
Their end Of the room, giving bis enc
y a chance to rise
It was evident that this was a case OF
cat playing with a mouse before
evOuring It. Every time Ed knocked
Wheeler down or threw him down or
ot between his legs and toppled him r
yer the crowd guffawed. i
Keep It upr they shouted when
le CenderfoOt asked his opponent II he
I'd had enough. Its the best show
e ever seem
But when Ed saw that he was at Nj
riding an exhibition for the specta.
Is be finished the contest BY a blow
lder the Jaw that 6oored bis man, NJ
ID IT was evident by the way Wheel
arose that the contest was ended. =.
The crowd gathered around the III
ctor. fem
Stranger" said the man who sug- dee
sted the fight. you kin 90 around the
re without a gun all you like. Ef co5
y man draws on you there's plenty Der,
other guns1l take keer O. you. An s sfs
% needn't drink. neither" mer
Wheeler made no attempt to renew ih en.
e fight On the contrary, he ad- 1911
red the manner In which the ten c eoSl
-. - = q