The Washington herald., 1912-09-08


ties. formerly of BartlesvilIe. and now
of Dewey, Okla. Is In town and with
him is the S.1oo hat Joe" with what
banks and oil and live stock and a strain
Of Indian blood that goes clear back
to the ark have made has. 10 something
Of an Oklahoma institution SO Is the
skypiece, and the two are close to-
gether as liberty and union" Or any
thing else inseparable.
The hat Is a vast but perfectly pliabie
expanse of white felt, with a noble
hump in the center and a brim turned
up beligerently on both sides. after
the fashion of Joe's nustaches. which
are the only pair In the world that are
exactly like those Of Kaiser Wilhelm.
1t has all the appearances Of an old
Spanish galleon under full sail and II
would hold nearly as many pieces OF
eight
Mr.. Bartles, formerly Of Bartlesvilie.
is In Kansas City now. accompanied by
veracious ex-newspaperman, who de-
poses and says:
Ever hear how Joe came by the sky
piece? Let your eyes rets upon II In
its monumental grandeur for Few
moments. In order to get the fun effect
of the imposing spectacle. remember
that It cost Joe sl,l0o in Jaurez-not
cent less-'sfact"'
There to "Look On"
You see, Joe blew into Jaurez some
years since-those days Joe was about
the best hand with a lariat in Okla
homa and there never was a steer that
had the nerve TO look i'm In the eye
more'n once. Joe was visiting Jaurez
merely for the purpose of lookin' on
didn't intend to take a hand in the rop-
inc Mt oil Ea haa
Ike $500 OF loose cash in his clothes
and buys a good seat in the grand stand.
from which he begins to make uncompli-
mentary remarks concerning a certain
Mexican persons style, of handling
rope. After two or three had throws
his Mexicano Mexship begins to take
notice OF the comments from the stands.
He singles out Joe and remarks that he
has about four bushels of the coin of
his country to bet that the Gringo in the
grand stand doesn't know what he is
talking about
Now, there's nothing in this to ex-
cite Joe particularly, but alongside OF Joe
in the grand stand is a certain reckless
friend of his when We will call Wicked
Bill
".Betcha the best lid in Jaurez We
don't dare to call that Greasers bluff.'
drawls Bill. rolling a cigarette. That's
all-and that's low the big show began.
The gent in the arena was growing
hot under his bandanna He was re-
ferring to Joe Bartles. formerly of
BartIesville. in language that must have
been highly spiccd, judging by the noise
II made.
, BartIes Bets Four Bushels.
Mr.. Bartles gathered from the rather
free translation of Wicked Bill that the
minion of Porfirio Diaz was describing
him as an understood tamale, an in
sipid mess of chilli con carne, or possibly
a half-baked fritole.
." 1t strikes me- said wicked Bill"
guilefully, that them there remarks is
against the peace and dignity of the
United States of America, and the boom
in metropolis of Dewey, Okla. S.
shut up invited Mr. Bartles Don't
you know I haven't got my boss here
and / couldn't ride with dignity in one
OF these Mexican saddles? That. more
| over. / don't like their ropes, and I've
got rheumatism in my arm. 1t having
\ hung out the Pullman window all last
night?'
The Mexican still kept up his little
| serenade of musical blasphemy. Mr..
/ Sartles borrowed the makin's from Bill
| rolled one. blew the smoke in the direc-
| ton of the agitated rope artist with the
| rosewood complexion. and casually in
quired what was eatin' on him. The
Mexican replied with another reference
to his four bushels OF deprecated cur
| rency.
Don't get excited. compadre.' ad-
vised Mr.. Bartles. Save your strength
| to dig up the aforesaid change. How
much do you bet that l can't get the
next raging longhorn in the first loop?
| By which the rope spinner from Dewey
meant that he was willing to wager real
money that he could take what he re-
| ferred to. as a 'hatband lariat' and as
| limitation COW pony and get the next
| steer released on the first throw.
| Mcxicans Arc Willing.
THE Mexican was willing to bet. So
were a few of his enthusiastic friends
This Gringo with the Kaiser Wilhelm
fmperials was their meat. In very few
minutes by Joe's open-faced ticker bets
covering his $500 were up. he had Dor
rowed the aforementioned imitation COW
pony and hatband lariat and was facing
the corral.
Joe admits he was nervous. The
pony didn't seem to like GringoeS any