Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-09-25
Calamity
Joe
Afterward Called
Cupid"
BY cLARIssA nAcKIE

Five men on the Flying v ranch
watched the approach Of the latest
addition to the force. He was riding
slowly up the trail. his long legs drag
ging below the stirrups.
you can snip on trouble now. boys"
declared Hen Morgan.
"How's thatT' queried his compan-
ions curiously.
This here gent approaching, him
who IL 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"
i've heard about him, then. Amt
his name Joe Bliss?" asked Pete VIII
lis.
Eyes. 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, gentsT' he said, looking
gloomily down at them.
.'Howdy, JoeT said Morgan sadly.
"Let me interjooce my Teller suffer
ers.' and he grayely mentioned the
names of his companions, who all ex-
changed mods and muttered 'howdys"
with the newcomer.
What happened over to Flamm,s ~
asked Morgan as Bliss sat down and
rolled a cigarette.
Measles" replied Bliss stoically. Il
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
a week.
The next morning they rode forth to-
gether, Joe Bliss ahead and the five
following in 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.
1T won't be measles this time. He
changes his calamity every time he
changes job. Wen 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 1t bore startling results. 1t tool
some time to accomplish. but the ma
ture of Calamity Joe's vfndication OF
his Ill name will go down in the his
tory of Poorgrass county.
Several weeks passed without any
thing unfortunate occurring to beal
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 wers
eating lunch on the fringe of the scat
tered herd of cattle Joe rode hastily
upto Morgan.
; "Gents," he said excitediy, there's
some ladies' in distress wonder In Sal,
CANYON. Picnic ladies they are. and
some waller minded individual ha.
stampeded their horses. What's then
delicate females goin' to dor'
.Huhr' calculated Morgan. aWhere
they FROM
.aThey saw they are salesladies from
Finklestein's dry goods emporium r
Eagle CITY,,
.sWhat thew nicn,ckinp 90 far from
homo for9. demanded Freeman
"Skeered-plumb skeered for fen,
old Finklestein will change his mind
and call ,em hack ON the lob. WHY
them girls Is so upsot about how
they're going TO get hack to Eagle Cit,
that they can't enjoy their lunch no
how exclaimed Calamity Toe
.sFinklestein's. in Eagle Cityr, que