Morris tribune., 1912-09-13
tanned The BULLY
Dramatic Incident Of Pioneer
Days In Tennessee.
A STAGECOACH ADVENTURE.

The Thrilling Scene When the Terribly
Calm Stranger cowed the Insulting
Desperate, as 1t Was Described by
Henry Clay, Who Witnessed 1t.
Upon a certain occasion in his early
manhood Henry Clay was travelling in
a public stagecoach in Tennessee. His
fellow passengers were young lady
and her husband-the latter evidently
an invalid-and a man in the front
corner so muff1ed up in fur lined
cloak that his features were concealed.
He appeared to be rather under than
over the medium size and was evil
IDENTITY enjoying a refreshing slumber.
By and by big, brown faced.
brawny Kentuckian got into this
coach, smoking rank. coarse grained
cigar. He gazed around fiercely. as
though he would impress upon the
minds of his new companions that he
would chew up and swallow any one
who dared to interfere with him. In
short, he was half horse and half ALL
gator, with goOdly sprinkling of pan
ther and grizzly bear thrown in. He
pulled forth huge volumes Of smoke
without the least concern for the com
fort of his companions.
Presently the lady. who seemed to
be growing sick. whispered to her hus-
band, and the husband, in the politest
manner possible, asked the stranger if
he would not. throw away his cigar, as
the smoke greatly disconnected his
wife. With an impudent. staggering
stare the fellow replied. interlarding
his speech with several oaths:
II reckon I've paid for my place.
I'll smoke as much as please, and I'D
like to see some one try to stop me-"
He looked dangerous as he glared
around, and it was very evident that
he was used to Quarreling and strife,
and, Furthermore. struggle with him
might have been a deadly one. The
young man who had spoken to him
Shrank back and was silent. The lady
lowered the sash by her side for a
breath of fresh air.
Mr. Clay felt every gallant instinct
of his soul aroused He considered fol
a moment whether ne should interfere
and found himself reluctant to draw
upon his own head the brutal violence
Of the gigantic rufian. In that Their
lawless country he knew that his life
might be sacrificed unavenged He
| knew himself to be physically IN
equal to the contest, and he thought
after all, it was not his duty to risl
his life in some quiXotic manner.
Clay was settling back with pity fol
the insulted and disgust for the insultel
when suddenly, but very quietly, the
cloaked figure in the corner assumed
an upright position. parting the blurred
mantle without particle of excite
ment. thereby revealing the small, wei
knit. muscular frame of a man plainly
dressed in a closely buttoned frocl
coat. with face rather pale and pai
of bright eyes that cleaned like pol
| ished steel. and those strange eyes
| quickly attracted the attention of the
lclOCIOuS NSuluChldu
With a terrible calmness this mar
passed his hand under his collar at the
back Of his neck and deliberately drew
forth long, glittering and ugly look
| ing knife from a sheath in that sin
gular place.
stranger" he said. my name is
Colonel James Bowie. we'll known in
Texas and Arkansas, If you do moi
| put that cigar out of the window ir
less than fifteen seconds I'll put this
knife through your heart as sure as
DEATH"
| Clay said ne would never forget the
expression of the colonels eyes at tina
moment. They told; as Enthusiastically
as signs can tell, that the threat wouIC
certainly be fulfilled. and this convic
ton evidently impressed itself upor
the mind of the offender -. -.
During a very few seconds his eyes
met those Of Bowie. With all his brute
| strength he was the weaker man. and
he quailed With a muttered curse he
threw his cigar away. upon. which
Bowie coolly returned the knife to its
sheath and. without another. look OF
word. refolded his cloak about him and
lay back as before. ...s..: g., 49,
At the next stopping PLACE the, Ken
tuckian got out and took a seat with
the driver New York Telegram.
| p. IT, nna~An