Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-05
Calamity
Joe
AfterWard Called
Cupid"
By CLARIssA MAcKIE


you can sup on trouble now, boys"
declared Hen Morgan.
"How's that?" queried his compan-
ions curiously.
This here gent approaching, him
who is to be line rider on the Flying
v along with the rest of us. is the
champion dispenser Of bad luck. Wher-
ever he goes he brings calamity with
him."
1--WE heard about him. then. Amt
his name Joe BlissT' asked Pete Will
lis.
"Yes. They call him Calamity Joe
because of the sure woe that camps on
his trail perpetual" answered Morgan.
They sat about the door of the mess
house and watched the shambling
forms of horse and rider approach
them.
Presently the horse scuffled to a
standstill and Mr.. Joe Bliss threw a
long leg over the saddle and stepped
to the ground.
"Howdy. gents?" he said. looking
gloomily down at them.
"Howdy, Joe?' said Morgan sadly
LET me interjooce my feller suffer
ersr' and he gravely mentioned the
names of his companions. who all ex.
changed mods and muttered "howdys"
with the newcomer.
What happened over to Flamms"
asked Morgan as Bliss sat down and
rolled cigarette.
Measles" replied Bliss stoically. ~
never had 'em in my life, but old
Flamm seemed to be afraid I'd catch
'em. so he fred me. I'd only been there
week"
The next morning they rode forth to-
gether, Joe Bliss ahead and the FIVE
following in a broken line
Seems to enjoy his bad reputashun." +"
remarked Morgan to Freeman.
"Quite some! been looking for
measle spots all the morning." return
ed Freeman.
ut won't be measles this time. He
/ changes his calamity every time he
changes a job. Well get something
else as sure as eggs is eggs" muttered
Morgan.
IF he plants any calamity on this
here outfit he'll sure get his de-
clared Freeman violently. and some
how Joe Bliss heard the words.
Il got ter do something to get rid of
that reputation" he admitted to him
self and thereupon thought long upon
the matter.
And it bore startling results. 1t took
some time to accomplish, but the ma
ture of Calamity Joe's vindication of
his i'll name WIFI go down in the his
tory of Poorgrass county.
Several weeks passed without any
thing unfortunate occurring to bear
up the evil reputation of the new man.
Then one day Joe Bliss received leave
Of absence and was gone all the morn.
ing. At noon as his fellow riders were
eating lunch on the fringe of the scat
tered herd of cattle Joe rode hastily
up to Morgan.
Gents" he said excitedly, there's
| SOilIC III hlSllGSS gOuQtI III Iodll
canyon. Picnic ladies they are. and
some yaller minded individual has
stampeded their horses. What's them
delicate females goin' to do?"
"Huhp calculated Morgan. Where
they from?"
"They say they are saleslades from
Finklestein's dry goods emporium in
Eagle City"
What they picnicking so far from
home for?" demanded Freeman.
"Skeered-plumb skeeree for fear
old Finklestein will change his mind
and call 'ern back on the job. Why,
them girls is so upset about how
they're going to get back to Eagle City
that they can't enjoy their lunch no.
how" exclaimed Calamity Joe.
| "Finklesten's, in Eagle City?" que.
ried Smith suddenly. why, that's
where l bought this here handker.
chief. She was a queen. that girl
wasv'
WAS she a blond?" asked Jepson
eagerly. 81 remember a peach of a
| Olond In tlnkleStein'S. who"-
mary blond" was Freeman's EN-.
phatic reply. "She was a dark eyed
queen! I'll so over, Morgan, and help
my lady friend out of trouble"
Huh! You don't even know her
namew snorted Morgan contemptuous-
ly. II guess I'll move along over there
myself. l bought a shirt in Finkle-
STEMS last week, and l want to ask
the red haired lady got it from If it's
a fast color" His handsome face
flushed defiantly.
"Mebbe there amt a red haired lady
to the picnic" said Smith disagreeably.
"She's therer interpolated Joe Bliss
hastily. 'Mebbe all you gents could
ride over to the canyon and rescue
them danes. | amt much on ladies'
company. and so I'll jest look out for
the critters"
| The five other men consulted togeth
er. and finally all rode off in the direc-
ton of Salt canyon. Meantime Joe,
the harbinger Of calamity. stuck to his
job and manfully did the work of six
herders that sunshiny day.
THAT combination ought TO break
up that there evil reputashun I've got"
he grnned as he rode back and forth
The five men rode single file through