The Washington herald., 1918-02-12
Shorty Quits Bucking Bronc
To Ride the Waves as U. S. Tar
Intent on "Centing' Kaiser

From the hurricane deck Of a bron-
cho to the quarterback Of a dread
nought il q mighty swift change. but
a Western cowboy has accomplished
the feat right here in Washington!
Winner Of the second prize for
''brencho Dustin" F" at the great PEN
dleton. Ore. round up" in 1915, the
classic cowboy event of the West,
Shorty" Pearson. recognized as one
Of the gamest vaqueros that ever
threw leg across a saddle, and pal of
Calgary Red" "Vic" Clancey, Tip
showder, Roy and Ray Coleman,
Bones" foreman OF the 'L. O..
Ranch round up wagon, Mig Newt, /"
and host OF others famed equally
as knights Of the Great Plains. has
been weighed in the balance and not
found wanting when IL comes to a
showdown with the Hun bunch, for
he has Joined the navy for the dura-
ton of war.
His real name is John William
Pearson, but nobody in Montana
would know what you meant II you
spoke Of him out there IN that fash
ion.
II you stood out on the alkaline des-
erts. though. or on the wind-swept
plains where the rattlesnakes grow
and packs of wolves hold high carni-
val. and shouted the mystic word
shorty" It would operate as a
countersign. and even the coyotes
would take up the glad refrain, and
yelp back the name OF one who has
rode the range" from Clusters IA
nous battlefield, in Montana, clear
Arizona-and then some.
Yes. Shorty" drifted back to his
old home in Lewinsville. Fairfax
County, Va, not 50 very long ago for
the purpose of paying his parents o
visit. after being away from them
eight years: and when Uncle Sam sent
out a hurry-up call for his loyal sons
to stand by him in his hour of need,
! Shorty" got busy without much cere-
mony, just as though going to some
big round up where he came from, and
presented himself at the main recruit
ing station OF the navy here, So6 Ninth
street northwest.
Are you 'reppin' for this outft in
these diggIns?" he inquired uf Lieut..
Harry f. Middleton. the officer in
charge OF the navy recruiting station.
''Reppin' is cowboy for represent
ing
II sure am" was the response, for
1t happens that Lieut.. Middleton was
a cowboy before he reformed, so the
water was fine,
On the Right Trail
We'll. I'm Shorty Pearson, and
a guy told me you're shy OF men
to put spurs to the Kaiser-am /
on the right trail?"
You bet" answered Middleton:
but how about throwing the
diamond hitch on the old plug?'
Count me in on the game" was
the quick response. Or the 'squaw
he's a cayuse compared to some Of
the mustangs I've straddled!"
After shorty" had made out his
application papers "accordin' to
Hoyle." as he expressed it. whereby
he sought enlistment as an ap-
prentice seaman in the United
States navy for the duration OF war.
one of the young yeomen said to
him politely: ---,
please go into the anteroom and
zee the medical examiner
. How much?'' inquired shorty"
reaching for his roll.
II don't quite understand you.""
replied the yeoman.
Come now cosXed shorty"
Don't talk Piute and curry too
hard-what's the ante?"
"Oh. you don't have to send for
any of your relatives" protested the
yeoman with a "catch-on" CLEAN.
'I see-it's table stakes. then?
Anyhow, shoot your wad. old scout,
cause I'm dead game to the finish.
even II I do get in Dutch once and
awhile"
At this juncture Lieut. Middleton
came to the rescue, with the result
that what Assistant Surgeon Cor
gon, u. S. N, pronounces one of the
finest specimens of physical man
hood he ever saw Is now a full
fledged member of Uncle Sans ma
val fighting force.
He's q Nirginian.
shorty" was born August IS, 1884. at
Lewinsville, Va. where his parents
still reside. About eight years ago
one of his schoolmates returned from
Montana with glowing accounts OF
the far West. which was too much for
"Shorty's" venturesome spirit, so he
answered a call of the wild.
In due time he reached the diamond
A. ranch on Power River. near Miles
City. Custer County, Mont. where he
Colds Cause Headache and Grip
LAXATIVE BRoMo oUINISE Tablets renors