Evening journal., 1912-06-15
A
WELCOME
By ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Indiana. Illinois and Ohio-was the
bowie knife. 1t took its name from
Colonel Bowie its inventor or at least
the man who made it famous by his
frequent use of it. II was twelve or
fourteen inches long and was worn
usually stuck in a belt at the waist.
but men have been known to carry it
hanging between the shoulder blades.
This was probably because when its
quick use was called for a man could
throw his hand up to the back OF his
neck and pull it out in hurry.
1t was back in the thirties or the for
ties that a young man alighted from
the stagecoach that drew up to a tav-
ern in the town Of vincennes. Ind.
now sizable place. but then a back
woods village. He wore bis hair long.
and there was a German cut about his
clothes.
II wonder who that feller is?" re-
marked Bill Thompson. who was sit
ting in the open window Of the bar of
the tavern. He don't look like any
thing ever see in these parts afore."
"Dutchman.' said 81 Griggs
mot a bit Of a Dutchmanl The
Dutch that come out yere don't wear
10 sich clothes as them. II he's come
out to stay reckon he'll need a settin'
down. Hes rayther too fine a bird for
this yere wilderness"
The two men followed the stranger
20 the bar, and as soon as he had been
provided with a room Thompson step
ped up to him and said:
Stranger. welcome to VincenneA
do you mean to stay with us?'
For awhile"
well. come in and have a drink. We
always expect strangers to drink with
rs when they come yere It's reg'lar
institootion with us"
Il don't drink anything but beer or
wine"
Beer or wine. Dye expect to get
them soft drinks oub yere? Brandy is
the drink in these parts. Step up and
try it."
The stranger said he had never drank
liquors and didn't care to. begin.
Whereupon the two men undertook to
force him into the customs Of the coun-
try He was very obstinate and per
sisted in refusing.
"waal stranger" sale Thompson.
"the custom out yere is drink or fight
Whlch1l you dog"
"What kind Of lighting do you mean
-boxing?"
Boxing. Dye suppose we skin our
delicate knuckles on one another? Not
much! We use Colonel Bowie's imple-
ment"
What's that?"
Didn't yer never see oneT' And he
pulled the article out from the back OF
his neck. The stranger took It and
examined it. running his thumb along
the sharp edge OF the blade and feeling.
the point with the tip Of his fore6nger.
when you fight with this" he asked.
"do you wear anything about YOUR
stomach or your chestT"
"Haw, haw" laughed both men.
Now. they were bluhing. They had
no idea OF lighting the young man.
They wished 70 initiate him into west
ern customs
"You say must fight or drink?" ask
ed the youngster-
That's our way out yere."
''With that thing?"
Yes"
"Wen.r continued the stranger. IF
you'll cover up your body. leaving only
your legs. arms and face exposed.
think I'll fight"
What y glvin' mef" said Thompson.
..Wbat v goin' 70 do about your own
bodyT
Nothing"
IF you's agoin' to dght" said ST
Griggs. come on and stop yer foolin'."
Griggs and Thompson exchanged
glances. and Thompson put on more
blur than ever. lending the way to
suitable spot for the contest. Griggs
gave the stranger his knife. and the
other two took position They were
somewhat surprised al his readiness
TO fight. and Thompson. though he kept
up swagger. began to look a trife
uneasy. he was afraid he'd be obliged
to hurt the youugster He stood on the
defensive. but this was because he bad
to. The knife in his opponents hand
was like a humming birds wings-hut-
tering dangerously near Thompson's
face. Presently be felt blood trickiing
from his nose. and. putting up his
band found the tip end was gone.
by gumr' be exclaimed. This Joke
has gone far enough. Who be you.
younker. anyway. and where did you
learn 10 handle bowie knife?"
I'm Frederick Dubois. the son OF
Jules Dubois. one Of the original
French settlers OF Vancouver. I've just
finished at a German university. and il
is there ! learned 10 handle the small
sword. which is but a trihe longer than
this bowie knife. have come out
here either 10 sell the family property
or settle here. don't know which; but
judging by you gentlemen. you must
at he dne fellows. and | think I'll re
main with YOU"
"What-you Fred Dubois? Shaker
And. holding one hand to his nose. be
offered the other TO his conquerer.
Dubois invited his new made friends
to the chateau and brought out from
the cellar a bottle Of wine of very
old vintage They shifted it. tasted IL
and pronounced it mighty thin stun.
Then Dubois brought out some fue old
brandy. This suited them better. but
they said they missed the sting to
which they bad been accustomed
CHILDREN ENTERTAIN.
The little folks of the Home for