Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-21

killing Of Texas sheriff, had beel
J promising himself to give me shoot
ing game. But the next day, to m,
surprise, he tackled me for a job.
Il told him was sorry had n,
Ipower to deputize him, as had heart
he was a gun expert, and was so littl,
of fighter myself I should be glat
to have his assistance; that I needet
the friendship of all the good men ii
camp and hoped to have his.
Then bought him as fine a dinnel
as the camp afforded. and finished by
presenting him q box of cigars wher
we shook hands at parting.
Grateful? Was he? Sure, or al
least SO 1t seemed to me. Grateful FOL
what he evidently regarded as assur
ance that he could run riot and shoot
| up the town as he pleased, safe of in
| reference from me.
| Inside Of two hours he was sizzling
drunk, shooting up the camp, and yell
ing for the new sheriff to come GU
and stop him.
there or get chased cut Of the country
f! I went out quick enough. found him
| like most Of his drop-hunting kidne!
feeble four-flusher the moment HI
hand was called.
| While ! was quickstepping him
our little brown adobe jug, he mar
aged to get up enough dander
smash me in the face with his hanf
cuffs. This, however, rather VIC
coined, as giving me chance to collie
for the value of the dinner and ciga
had misspent on him. by caressir
his face with the butt of my gun unit.
1t looked like map of the Florida
Keys.
The next morning found had
locked the handouts so tightly on him
II had to file them of, during which
process he diverted himself by telling
me, l.. shockingly bad language, that l
would not be on earth to eat another
supper.
SO, as I always did enjoy my meals
and never could stand anxiety about
my future, ordered my black horse
(the fastest in the country to be
brought saddled and bridled.
As socn rs the horse arrived
handed O'Brien his pistol and belt, and
remarked See that the chambers OF
your gLn are full, son, and then cut
loose. If you can get me, there's my
black horse ready for a safe get
away"
His face wasn't pretty, naturally,
and it was not any handsomer on ac-
count of the beating had given him.
but my proposition turned 1t something
hideous-a mixture of hatred and
fear. He buckled on his gun and
sneaked out of my presence without a
word.
His tale Of what had happened to
him must have inspired resentment
among his mates Of the sawmill camp,
for the same night word was brought
me that Jack Morrison, another Texas
dad man." was in town looking for
the man who had put it over his
partner, OBrien.
was not very long getting to Mr..
Morrison and attending to his case,
and when I was through with him.
am sorry to say his face was In worse
condition than O'Brien's. 1t was a
meander back to camp for him.
Shortly thereafter, i was called up
to the NINE When came back, TO-
camp in the morning ! learned Frank
Kneeland had just started back for the
sawmil. after having spent tthe night
shooting up the camp and bemoaning
my absence.
Squirting my black to his top speed
along the sawmill trail, soon over.
took Mr.. Kneeland, expressed to him
my profound regret that l had not
been on hand to accommodate him the
night before.
suggested that, while we were
short of music, nevertheless there was
enough of us for round dance, and
that would appreciate an invitation
from him to open the ball.
Did he draw? No; at least nothing
but sort of shuddering sigh
What do you mean, you white
livered bushwhacker?" 1 bantered.
is there no fight in you?" ~
Reckon not, Mr.. Sheriff." he STAN.
mered. II sure don't feel any hurtin'
me right now. Reckon it was just the
red-eye that stung me warlike last
night. and that now she's kinda faded"
80? Well, then, son." replied,
suppose you ride back to camp with
me and tank up again on war water;
it shall not cost you cent-I'll buy.
you know I'm the doctor that op-
Grated on your partners, o 'Brien and
Morrison, and you can count on me to
relieve any symptoms like theirs that
may be hurting YOU"
Say, Mr.. Sheriff." he answered
with a feeble grin, 1.-The only thing I'm
sufferin' from is mighty powerful at.
tack of heart failure, and IT, you'd let
me mosey on up to the sawmill, l
reckon that would get better, pronto."
ITO be Continued.)