The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-09-11

has always come first. l dropped the
canvass to preserve and protect my
bonah. l began at the head Of the op-
position. Perhaps yo' remember Of
reading of the sudden demise of an ed
itor named Gadsby in this state?
walked in on him and quietly said:
"'Suh, l am Colonel Bunker-Colonel
Bunker, sub. Will yo' kindly arrange
to shoot at me at ten paces?'
The First "Affa;r."
"He said he would, sub, and he did,
sub, and l must say that he died like a
gentleman. trusted that my prompt
and vigorous action would have a salu-
tary effect on his contemporaries, but
they only made 1t the excuse to pour
out other walls Of vituperation and in
suit. l was forced to call out and
paid my attentions to a state senator
who was seeking to couple my name
with the scandal. l called him out,
and he was on hand to the minute, and
when he went down with a bullet in
his shoulder he lay like a gentleman.
It was an affair I like to remember for
its urbanity and general good feeling.
"And then came the affair with Judge
Harper. The Judge had questioned my
bravery as a soldier and my sincerity
as a politician, and l waited upon him
in the usual way. He received me as
one gentleman receives another, and
We proceeded to the field of honah with
linked arms. 1t was with all due re-
spect for his many attributes that l
put a bullet through his leg and made
him a cripple for life.
"No less than three other affairs fol
lowed, and all We're beautifully man
aged and strictly according to the code.
That is a thing l can pride myself on
following the code to the very letter.
All Lost Save Honor.
Some of my opponents We're not so
careful, however. Judge Thomas, for
instance, being challenged for doubt
ing that l had the best interests Of our
people at heart in accepting the nomi-
nation, selected Ak handles as weapons
and actually appeared on the field with
one in his hand. l turned away from
him, suh-positively and unqualifedly
turned away-and public sentiment
| bore me out in so doing. Later on,
when the judge was dying Of fever, he
rendered me a full apology and re-
moved the stain from his character
befo' passing away.
"The time may come when gentle
men will seek the field of honah with
ak handles or sled stakes for weapons,
but not in my time, I hope: not in my
time, sub.
"As to the campaign, suh-as to the
campaign-I couldn't travel and fight
duels and make speeches, too, and l
therefore threw the campaign over my
shoulder. Honah irst-ofice second.
The unknown nominee on the other
ticket took advantage of the occasion
to stump the state and make all sorts
Of promises. and when the adorable
and enthusiastic electors came to tho
polls they forgot me. If l remember
right, suh-and l think I do-that un
known and unheard of persons ma
jority was something like $4,000.
II believe the matter was referred
to as a landslide, and some of the pa
pers were unkind enough to say that
l was buried fo'teen feet deep. I was
showed under, sub, but l saved my
honah as a gentleman should, and now
l don't mind if l do remove this dry.
ness from my throat. Thanks, sub.
took you to be a person OF thoughtful
noSS and O~hSorvatiOn. and 7 am pla(
to find that I am not mistaken. Yes
sub, l saved my honor-and here's look
ing at yo,' sub"