Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-11-08


Tiger to take in the sights of the town
He SHE'D heaps, and it's curious to
think why he objected to sign-boards,
awnings, Iamp-posts, even to a BARN.
less person lying drunk Then a rail-
road engine snorted in our face so
Tiger and me was plumb stampeded
up a little side street It's thar that
he bucks for all he's worth, because
of a kneeling man with a straw hat
and a punctured soul, praying album
dant- OF course this penitent turned
round to enjoy the bucking match
and sure reveals the face of my old
friend, Bull Durham We hadn't met
for years, so as soon as Tiger was
tired, Bull owned to finding the Lord,
and being stony busted. ask If was
saved. 1 seen he'd got 'em bad, and
shared my wad of money level with
him So we had cigars, pound or
chocolate creams. an oyster stew, and
he bought a bottle of patent medicine
for his liver. We shared that and
went on, he walking by my stirrup to
the revival meetings.
This revival was happening at
barn, so l rode in Tiger, you see,
needed religion bad, and when people
tried to turn him out, he kicked them
You should just have heard what the
preacher told the Lord about me, and
all the congregation groaned at me
being so young and fair, with silver
harness, and the hottest prospects
just as Pieface always said when
was late for breakfast.
They had a great big wooden cross
upon the dais, and somehow, I dunno
why, that made me feel ashamed
girl in a white dress was singing
Of ho2HrIfnl
her arms thrown round the cross. the
sun-bright hair about her like glory
The sight of girls went to my head
like liquor, and this one was surely
good with her sun-bright hair, her
cheeks flushed cause l stared. her
sulky lips rebuking when l throwed
kiss, her yellow-brown eyes
Oh. had 1 really washed behind my
ears? Suppose I'd got high-water
marksi Was my hands, whipped
of my gloves to inquire That's what's
| the matter, sure. Got to make good
before bein' introduced. Got to get
move on Tiger 1 swung, spurred
with one spring through the doors.
yelled "Injuns" and stampeded, scat
term gravel and panic through Abb
Iene. 1 just went like one man for
| our cook wagon down by the railroad
corrals.
Now, for all the shaving-glass could
see, I was nice an clean. but then
that mirror has small views, and I'm
not taking risks. but stripped and
scrubbed all over. The place was so
burned public I blushed from nose to
heels till 1 was dressed again, shining
my hair and boots. Then l procured
| an extra special, cherry-red, silk scarf
out of the wrangler's kit
i Some of our boys made friendly
signs as l passed on my way back, and
| fired a few shots after me for luck.
but I'd no time to play 1 Joined the
revival meeting just as the hat came
| round, so penitent sinners making
for the door, came back to stay and
pay because of Tiger. I gave Bull ten
dollars TO hand to the hat, only he
passed it into his own pocket He
seemed annoyed, too, saying, Waste
not, want not" Then he explained
how the fire-escape only paid Miss FL
lis fifty dollars a day, whereas he was
making hundreds.
Just then she passed. and I got in
troduced- Say, Polly says Bull.
here's Sailor Jesse wants to get &C
quainted-"
| She stopped, sort of impatient for
supper, and velvetsoft her voice, full
of contempt.
Another damned suppliant?" she
asked. and Bull was holding a light
for her cigarette is 1t sayed?" she
added
/ / couldn't speak / wanted to tell
her how I despised all the religion
I'd seen. the bigots it made, an the
| towards I'd rather burn with the
goats than bIeat among the sheep
even now
"Oh, that's all right, them she said
as though she answered me- and frank
as q man she gave her hand to shake.
Good stunt of mine, chr Although
l own I'd like to have that cross stage
managed"
She passed the weather, admired tt
ger. talked Browns and Jones with
r Bull, turning her back on me, asked
! him to supper. walked on with Elm
an that's all Egg-shells throw'd in
+ the ash-heap may feel like 1 did then
Nobody loved me. 'cept our Sony
! herd. inQui-in' piteous for food an
> water Our boys, of course, was drunk
! by then, just sleepin' whar they'd fell
. SO 1 was desolate as a moonlit dog
! howl, ridin' herd with my night horse
, whar Polly's little home glowed lights
: across the prairie / seen Bull and the
preacher leave there toward midnight
: | walkin' sort of extraEagant into town
! The lights went out Then times Ii