Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-10-18
The Tenderfoot
by THOMAS ]. HUNTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. l3il.


tending that he needn't remain ut the
university any longer. Indeed. it would |
have been hardly worth his while TO |
do so, since he would have been |
obliged TO study during several vaca' !
lions in order to make up conditions,
and before he could catch M 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 Il.
the bottom.
Not liking to face his father. whom
he had bitterly disappointed. upon lis
dismissal from college he buried Ills
remorse in the worst part OF the wilf
west He did not seem on hts arrivals
to count for any more in the new
country than he did in the old. In tn.
former. ii 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 vas strong. Ills
loose clothes covered his steel muscles.
and he was rather thin in the face.
He was not in good humor when
he reached his new homo. His failure
in the east had. temporarily at least.
soured his disposition. lie went Into
saloon to buy 4 cigar with which TO
solace himself Half Il dozen men were
at the bar. and one Of them named
Wheeler, seeing q tenderfoOt approach.
turned to him and said:
Betsy, have Il drink"
Thank you very much" said
Thatcher. "Inever drink. That's abou-
the only virtue I have"
WAL. Wen soon take that out OF
you here We haven't got nary virtue
in these parts. Come. step up anu
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 Il
tableau. Wheeler was sprawling on
the floor at the other end II the room.
while the others presented excepted
were wondering how he get there.
It couldn't have been lightning. for
they had heard no thunder. only Il
''biff" The tenderfoot had struck So
quick they hadn't realized that h. hat!
had anything TO Go with the ma tier
Rising. Wheeler drew n revolver frOul
his hip. but one OF the men prest a.
happened to he between him and
, Thatcher. which occasioned delay. 3.
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 o;
them took Wheeler by the arms and
forced him to keep the peace.
Air you armed, strangerY' one OF
them asked Ed.
mo"
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 thi.
announcement
, There's some fun In this" remarke:
. one Of the party. Lets have one q
I them tendefoot fights. Come. Wheeler
/. give me your weapon and have 1t ou
=. with the tenderfoot In his own way
IS Wheeler was SO mad that he onl.
; wanted to get of the tendcrfoot, and
II since the crowd objected to his put
ting 4 bullet in him. he surrendere
= his revolver aud made a rush 10
~ Thatcher. striking him with his bi
81 bony fist ut the same time. Ed wa
I'D not in front OF him when he reache
s. the place where he had been. an
vi Wheeler's fist struck wooden wei
Then Ed seized his antagonist frol
70 behind and threw him over his shou
AZ der Wheeler fell on his back. II
~ was getting up when Ed knocked hi
D. down again then Ed withdrew to T.
other end OF the room, giving his en-
- my a chance to rise.
"A. 1t was evident that this was a ca
ty Of cat playing with a mouse bcfo
Ito deyourinG g. Every time Ed knOck'
Wheeler down or threw him down
IN, got between his legs and toppled hi
rs over the crowd guf'awed.
ell Keep II up" they shouted VIII
the tenderfoot asked his opponent II
M had had enough. ITS the best sho
~ we ever seem
Wv But when Ed saw that he was
,nd forGing IN exhibition for the spect
tors he finished the contest by a bic
m under the jaw that noored his ma
lty and It was evident by the way Whs
In er arose that the contest was ended
ok The crowd gathered around t
victor.
les Stranger" said the man who ~
ell xested the fight. you kin go arou
IS, yere without gun all you like.
eo' any man draws on you there's pier
o. other gIns'Il take keer O. you. A
on, ron needn'' drink. neither"