Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-10-25
The
Wild West
1t Was Different From What
Johnny Bruce Had
Expected
BY EVELYN THURBRR

Every community adapts itself to its
necessities, In the early days in the
wild west, a horse was about the most
valuable thing Il man could possess,
consequently horse thieves. when
caught, were hanged by the neck.
The tales picturing the conditions ex.
listing In that country in those days
tales usually written by elderly Ia
dies living in civilized eastern homes
were fascinating to youth. They made
the boys feel that they would like to
live that kind Of life Just as one
reading an imaginative description of
a battle would wish to be in 1t. The
real western life and the real battle
are entirely different from these fancy
pictures and altogether unattractive.
But Johnny Bruce, a city boy. hay.
ing read the dime novels of his day,
when he came of age. having fallen
heir to little money, concluded to go
west have look at the country and.
II he liked 1t, would invest his legacy
in a stock of goods and set himself up
for a merchant So Johnny took a train
and was pulled us far on his journey
as there were locomotives to pull him,
then got into stage coach and went
asJ far as that means of conveyance
lasted. Not finding anything rough
enough to suit him he thought he
would go further on horseback. He
had provided himself with wearing ap.
parel made for him after the pictures
Of "Arkansaw Pete" or Tennessee
joe" published In the dime novels he
had read, so he put on the garments
and cast about for horse.
There weren't many horses In the
country at the time, and what there
were. were in daily use. Johnny
spent lot OF time trying to hire or
buy an animal and failed. Then 1t
occurred to him that the here in one
Of the novels he had read, when fleeing
for his life, had borrowed a horse to
speed him In his flight 1t seemed to
Johnny that the time had come TO
put in practice some OF that daredevil
recklessness for which he had come
west He would go to some mans
barn, take horse and, when through
with II, send 1t back to Its owner.
Having located n barn during the
day, at dead Of night he went there,
saddled horse-a coal black steed,
Johnny's favorite color for horse
was black-and mounting cantered
gaily away.
Johnny pulled up in the morning at
a small town and, asking to be direct
ed to n hotel. was shown house. the
person doing 80 saying:
"Madge Barker, she keeps borders
In that ar house; you mought git In
thar, There amt no hotel hereabout"
Johnny went TO the house and was
received by woman with tousled
hair and garments decorated with
grease spots, who welcomed him and
prepared breakfast for him He was
waited on during the meal by Mndge's
daughter. who, had she been better
dressed, might have presented come
ly appearance. She was just Johnny's
ner that she was much pleased with
the young man. She had never-at
least, not In long while-seen any.
thing 80 fine. She asked him what
sort Of a costume II was he had on,
which surprised him, for no had sup
posed II was the kind worn In that
country.
Johnny's first thought was to find
some one to take the borrowed horse
back TO his owner, but he had not
been to bed the night before and was
very sleepy; 30 he deferred returning
the animal TIL he had had nap. He
asked for room and was shown to
one There was a bed in it-that H.
It was called bed though II was real
ly bunk built against the side OF the
room. which was not plastered and
had no ceiling to cover It's bare and
rough hewn rafters. There was mel.
Their carpet nor furniture, except a
washstand with n tin basin on It.
A reaction came over Johnny. Some
how there was no dime novel glamour
about the place. and he was seized
with sudden Of OF Inconsistencies
However. he laid himself down on the
odorous cotton "comforts"-the only
bed coverlDg-without undressing, re-
solving that he had already had
enough OF the wild and woolly west,
and instead Of sending back the horse
he would take II himself and go on
home. Having come TO this comfort
ing resolution he fell asleep.
He was awakened during the after.
noon by several men, who crowded
into the room. "Come, we wnnt you"
Half awake, Johnny blinked his
eyes at them, not understanding what
II all meant One of the men took
hold Of his arm and landed him on
the floor. Johnny fell. but was lifted
roughly on to his feet.
"What do you want with meT he
asked, irritated by his treatment.
You'll find that out soon enough"
said one Of the men, and, taking him
by tho coat collar, pushed him down ths
steep stairway.
On the ground floor there were Madge
and her daughter, looking surprised
LAWS n mercyp exclaimed the lat
ter. who'd a. thought he was a boss
theft"
The remark was the FIRST intimation
Johnny had as 10 the cause Of his treat
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