The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-24
But Returns to Arkansas City
With Only a Tale Of
o.. Adventure.
is HELD UP BY AN DARKER
And Forced to Seek Revenge
for His Defeat in a
Poker Game.
~ DAVID A. CURTIS.


which impeiled the first settlers in that
locality to select the place they did for |
q permanent residence, and for a long |
time the question as to why they did
Il was considered one OF the mysteries
that the human mind was incapable |
Of solving.
As time went on, however. and the
curiosity Of successive generations was
directed to the consideration OF the prob
lem, 1t was perceived gradually that
there was one advantage attaching TO
the place, and this. in the absence of
any other possible solution, came to be
accepted by those who studied the mat
ter carefully as the raison d'etre OF
the community. And, so far as is
known, IL Is the only solution ever
reached
Being wha, It was, the place had one
compensatory advantage. IL was stu
ated on the banks OF the Mississippi
River, and that being at times navi-
gable stream 1t was possible to hail a
passing boat and effect an escape.
In the perfectly natural course OF
events more and more people saw the
feasibility of doing this until the mari
ners in charge OF these boats contracted
the habit of stopping more or less ir-
regularly for the purpose of taking on
passengers. Then. as time continued to
elapse, a truly marvellous example OF
the workings Of the law of supply and
ha
dations on the boats being inadequate
a so-calied railroad was built and It
became possible once in while for
more people to get away.
II could hardly be considered a salts
factory explanation. but such as It was
1t came to be accepted as tho only one
that could be made Of the selection OF
such q site for settlement.
As for Old Man Greenlaw himself, he
had never been able TO realize the de-
STABILITY OF availing himself of the &C.
casional chance that presented itself of
going elsewhere. II is indeed probable
that. fitting in with his environment
as well as he did. he might not have
f,ourished in any other place to the
same extent that he did in Arkansas
City, but his friends. from time to time.
experienced necessities or desires that
impelled them to travel. That they al
ways returned to Arkansas City after
ward must be accepted as true, mex
plicabe as 1t was.
Sam Pearsall. having troubles OF his
own in addition TO the fact of his citi-
zenship. disappeared occasionally only
to reappear and resume his burdens. Jim
Blaisdell had several times been tempted
to seek wider opportunities for the exer'
else of his remarkable talent than he
found even in the back room OF the Old
Mans saloon. but he had always re-
turned after an interval.
Joe Bassett had from time to time
visited Little Rock officially, being 6
duly elected Sheriff. but the attraction:
OF the metropolitan life which he fount
there were less to him than the oppor
tunities he enjoyed in his own shriev
atty. Even Jake Winterbottom had one,
been tempted by the alluring story Of al
unexpected inheritance as far away a
New Orleans, but after a somewhat vivi,
experience among the fiagons and flesh
pots OF that wondrous resort he ha'
come back to the more highly spice
existence which he found in that SAM
saloon. 1t was therefore annoyance
rather than a sense OF loss which tn
old man felt when one OF his associate
failed to appear at their daily assem-
blaso
This time 1t was Bassett who wa
missing. No word had come from hin
but 1t was accepted as probable that h
was in pursuit OF one Allen, n fugltiv
from Justice, whom he had put in tn
calaboose temporarily and who had es
capped overnight.
II reckon tn odds Is how Joe II Il
him." said the Old Man. "Th' amt II
such reward offered To- nobody as the
is 70 Allen. not frequent tn amt. al
Joe d so to he'll an VI n for 100000"
"Oh, / don't knot sa.d Mr.. owe
Pepper. II recko.- Z Ian a go mos
anywheres To- that amount o. none,
but If it's a question o. comm bacl
pears like it'd make c'nsld'able diff'renC
where he was a-comin TO. When a ma
pears like"
Just then the old man reached Il
his bungstarter and Mr.. Pepper steppe
outside.
When anybody is just IA nachul bo
Wild ass o. the wilderness said the o
Man, looking after him angrily, at
to b" expected how he'll bray mo- r lei
= frequent, but III be doggoned II | tai
much satisfaction a-list'nin' to him."
Well" said Pearsall, despondently,
don't pear TO relish the brayin' Of a
overly much, my ownseif, but pears III
thcy Is heap mo- music into II
they Is into some o. the things what
sa.'i round here occasional"
Ar Il was the old mans habit to {
the most Of the talking that was dol
IN his place he appeared to think the
was something personal In this remar
and he glared at Pearsall indignant
but as That gentleman continued to sue
at his pipe with an air of indifferen
nothing came Of It, to the evident di
appointment of the others.
Later In the evening Bassett hir
sell entered the room. There was tn
tan tl.a, he