The Detroit times., 1912-04-26
DREAMS OF WILD uFtIN
NEST FADE INTO THIN AIR
Cowboy Pete" Is DisiIlusioned
But He Refrains From Tell
ing True Story :

KANSAS CITY. April 25.-Pete a
Ways had lived In the crowded cit.
and he longed for wider scope. ii
wanted to be I'm the free and untram
mcIed West-the home OF romanc
and the cowboy. The land famous II
abe dime novel and the circus wa
ne land OF his dreams.
One day, several months after Pet
had graduated from high school, hi
uncle. who was grading contractor
IA the West, obtained for him jol
Ia a COW camp in Arizona. He wai
o1ered a position" paying 500 pei
month In the West. the land OF op
portunity.
Before going. however, an outhi
must be purchased. Pete went tc
every store In the city but could not
Ind the equipment he wanted. he
had seen the very costume he sought
on the stage hundreds OF times. 30
F ne went to theatrical costumer IN
Mainzst. He had the very things he
wanted. Second hand. TO be sure, but
then that was an advantage, for II
would create the impression OF SER
vice.
Two DAYS later Pete arrived. A
large number of boys and girls VINO
had known him from childhood ac-
companied him TO the depot. Tears
came to his eyes as the train pulled
out. Then he fought them back-tears
were not for the strenuous.
Pete reached the little station In
Arizona after three DAYS OF travel. He
was disappointed. There were no cow
boys in picturesque garb standing
4 around the depot-no one but the
busy station agent and his dog.
The full golden moon showed
camp built OF canvas and rickety
frame shacks. bordered by heaps OF
B tin cans. a dark splotch on the silent
gray OF the mountains.
Dtsillusions came thick and fast af-
ter that. He saw no guns and no
enormous chaps nor huge Spanish
roweled spurs. The denizens he did
see united in a surprisingly generous
and frank criticism OF Pete, his attire
and his "greenness' until he was fair-
III sick
For three long. miserable days Pete
stood chatting. And then one night he
felt that he could stand 1t no longer.
He wanted to GO Where? He cared
not. He lacked the moral courage
to return home and confess that he
had met defeat in the West. He had
not stamina enough TO stay and laugh
In turn at his .tormentors. But go he
must. So he packed his clothes in
his suitcase and stole away In the
night.
The next morning found him foot
sore and weary at little town twenty
miles away called Helps Hole. Here
he eot Job as waiter In the Greasy
Spoon small, dingy chophouse. fire.
Quented by Slav miners. He didn't
like his new work. IL was dirty and
combining but he stayed there for
three months, by which time he had
saved enough TO buy a ticket back
home. VIII he ever forget the sigh
OF. relief he breathed when he board
ed that little one-car train? He was
bound for home.
He donned the picturesque costume
that had remained packed in his
trunk. BY the time he reached the
old home depot he had invented many
yarns OF the life of gallant cow
boy.
He met his friends. He did not tell
tutm OF HIS posltion III the OhOp-
house. He led them to believe that
he had been on the range during all
or the three months absence. He
painted the life of cowboy with skill
ftll and deliberate strokes.
His dress always was that OF a
stage cowboy. He wore the broad
brimmed hat. the high-heeled boots
and the blue flannel shirt he had pur-
chased in the costumer's shop.
His conversation is always of Gods
country out West. He never forgets
To remind you OF his adventures,
which have grown more romantic as
the years rolled on.