The sun., 1915-03-28
BILL WINTERS WAS
APEACEABLE MAN
Prcfcrring to shoot Rather
Than Quarrel. but Forced
at Last to Fight.
DOES IT UNDER PROTEST
n, DAVID 4. ca RTIS.

ouar'ls thrusted onto EN-. as the Good
Book says observed old man Green
law.
SO far a any of the others Who sat
with him In his little saloon in Arkan-
eas city could perceive. there ad been
nothing to lead up to his remark. 1t
was true that Joe Bassatt had thrown
q man out Of the place few minutes
before because some hasty and Ill
Judged assertion which the nan had
offered. but as MIR. Bassctt was
sworn public official whose duty It was
to maintain the peace, his action was
looked upon as having been prompted
by his keen sense of the obligations OF
his office. and was not to he considered
as any evidence Of a quarrelsome dis
position.
The old mans remark being. there
fore, unprovoked. 1t was taken by the
others TO indicate his purpose to tell
story and their recognition Of his
intention led them To betray their feel
ings in several different ways. Jake
winterbottom settled himself a little
more comfortably in his chair as II
thinking to enjoy a period Of slumber.
Sam Pearsall glanced nervously to-
ward the door. as If To make sure that
nothing would interfere with his prog
ress in that direction. in case he should
determine to leave the room unccre-
moniously Joe Bassett took pack
age of tobacco out of his pocket and
began retllling his pipe. and Jim Blais-
dell spoke of a fighting dog OF which
he was the proud possessor.
THAT thar dawg q mine" he said.
as one eXulting. "ain't 'xactly what
mought he called quar- lsomc. but he
sho' does love to fight. Goes out
lookin' 70 other dawgs every day. an
II tn amt none round. he gently
tackles a mule. Some on 'em gives
him a tol'abie good tussle too. Take
mule what bites an kicks both N he
en- put up good argument"
MY cd woman is got tomcat
weighs nigh fifteen pound what en-
lick anythin' | ever seen what didn't
weigh no mo n that" observed sam
Pearsall. casually. Then as il sud-
denly struck with a new thought he
continued; They is nigger livin'
up the road piece what's got a cat
he brags on c'nsid'ablc. never seen
him my own self. but done heer'd
he's much about the same weights
mine. How II We uns was to fetch EN-
all three together. some day" Think
80 dawc cd lick the two ON EN-"
"Mehbe not conceded B,aisdel,.
though not with any heartiness II
aln't afeard 10 tackle anybody livin'
at draw poker. my own self. but |
reckon II ! was to set in with two
good players. an they was to onder-
mebbe I'd lose out. aiu't a-Sayin'
I'd be afeard to do il, but they d be a
chanst" He spoke with the modesty
OF true greatness and lost none Of the
respect of his friends by the admis-
sion.
II reckon mebbe that there dawg o.
yo'n d have somcpn' Ike the same
difficulty what has my own se.f."
observed old man Grcenlaw. when I
starts In To- say somepin wuth hearin'.
Pears Ike it's kyind of signal fo'
Q lot o wild asses o. the wilderness To-
to raise their voices n bray
"Jackasses gently does bray" said
Jake Winterbottom. as one who per-
ceives an important truth. when they
hears other on" 'ootin his horn.
Pears like it comes uachul to en-"
The effect Of this unexpected retort
was to cause the others immediately
to lose interest in the proposition
Pearsal had made. The cat and dog
tournament could he arranged at any
time. but the present opening was not
to he neglected.
The old man Cholcd up 10 such an
extent that he not on.y found himself
unable - speak for "A few moments.
nut began TO assume "A purpish APP
pearance of a somewhat threatening
character. 1t seemed likely that he
would not be able to control himself
without having recourse To the use Of
bungstarter. and the hopes OF his
beholders scared high. After "A time.
however, his agitation subsded and
he regaincd his power of speech.
~ reckon mcbbe II | want 5 peace
able $ he, I'd be some liable 10 to
have quart thrustcd onto me- right
now" he said. after swallowing hard
three or four times. out ign'anCe
'Xcuses a heap. Them that don't know
what p'ltcness reely is amt to he en-
pcctcd ~ to he p'litc. Consequent.
they won't bc no notice took. this time
o the wpybald remarks what's just
been made, hut it'll have 10 bc onder-
stood what if they is any rcpertition
OF EN-. somebody's gwine To git hurt
some snddint."
This uttcrancc was received 10y his
hearers with every sign oc amuSr-
mcnt. Even Joe l5assett Grinncd ani
Jake Wut bottom said quietly:
81 arays hecr'd what they wan 1
no way a. stoppin' one on 'em firm
hrayin' Tor he done begin, thouten
they was = brick tied to his tail
pears like they can't make no mo
r"is" when their tails Is held down.
hut ! reckon that won't h"u, wc ans
Ion" into this yer 'merGcnCy.'
Ana uc also h"2aa rriiIllng his pip".
s'"us that il was hoprlcss L" try ="
90 To- sleep \ud t old man gidlcd
al him luuhifully, as one who medi-
tat"s . change Of front, but nothing
N rc happened,
\;tcr Il time tho Old man sa'i,
"Minds me % Iil. winters, Bll was
nigh bout the peaccablcst man in
Grcenvi,lc -"
"i knowcd it," said sam r"arsal
c.th grOdu, ana h" Stcnr"d ont.
-.o n nonc got 'Naspc: atcd IKE he
was" continued thc old man without
n break in his stride. "Thcy want I
quar'!spmc Lair on his hide, nachullv,
nor he never had no trouble win
nobody wuth spcakin about til N"