Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1919-04-22
735e
Roundup
~
BY ROBERT w. cREEL
(Copyright.)

and. as such. he travelled by no schedule
whatever. To ordinarily find him at
any given time. you might inquire on
any railway division In America with
an equal chance Of success.
He reminded you Of that insect
whose amiable disposition and atten-
uated appearance have won for II the
sobriQuet OF .grand-daddy-longleg
Hence, Browns own nickname Not
withstanding his fragile proportions,
however, when occasion arose he could
WELD his huge fists with force suffi-
cient to fracture a jaw-bone or drive
a mans ear into the side of his head
fact that had been demonstrated to
the sorrow OF more than one belliger-
ent hobo.
AS the long train Of fat cars writhed
In and out among the sand hills,
Brown, stationed short distance
ahead of the caboose. was the only per-
son visible.
At the last stop. Murphy, the con-
ductor, had received a telegram warn
ing him to be prepared for an attack
when they entered Sandville. large
number Of hoboes were gathered there
and had taken possession of the town..
explaining to the unhappy citizens the
necessity of majority rule, II the re-
publican form of government was to be
maintained In the land.
Previous experience similar to this
had detracted from the novelty OF the
situation for the few inhabitants of
Sandville; but the hoboes were becom-
ing holder, and spoke of capturing the
next train that came thither for the
purpose OF making their escape.
Whereupon the station agent had
grown alarmed and sent the telegram.
Among his other characteristics,
Brown was intensely loyal to the road
that CHANGED to employ him. Any ac-
ton such as that contemplated by the
hoboes was resented as a personal af-
, front. Furthermore. at this particular
, time he knew that the president Of the
, road was but a few hours behind in
! his special. and Brown deemed 1t his
duty to do all in his power to prevent
any unpleasantness when the great
man should arrive.
Therefore as they drew near the
:. little hamlet he returned to the ca
boose and. conferred with the conduc
tor.
{ "They's no use runnin' clear in
Jim. You better stop on the edge OF
this here metropolis while go In an
reconnoiter the force of the enemy. al
% they say in the army"
n II wouldn't advise you to 20 alone
Il Legs You can't tell what those boesl
70 do II they're drunk"
Ie "Why, Jim, you know them fellers r
s, like sheep. The only reason ! can Sc
for 'em actin like this is because the
"A got a leader. II that's the case, all
7 got to Is to sling him around Ike h
q didn't cost much, an that1l take tn
10 fight right out Of 'em. Besides. II
ne bunch Of US 60 In, they'll git ready fo
~ trouble"
I'd "Ali right, you can go while We sto
for water. That'll give. you time
I'd see what they're up to-"
or SO 1t was that, on foot and unaccon
n panied. Legs Brown ambled into ii
=, captured town. He had no doubt &
"a Ito the location of the triumphant b.
-. boes, for, though 1t was now almo
dark, the only place that showed
4. light WAS the saloon. and to this he
20 rected his steps.
At the bar stood swarthy, wells
- fellow, whose curly hair and hii
no cheek-bones, together with the pee
liar formation of his head, marked hi
as a native of Poland. This wort
IS was the most boisterous of the lot, b
Brown thought 1t hardly likely tn
Of he was the leader. giving him sea
attention, therefore. as he strobe Il
ward and ordered drink.
Here, We rube, We better ask me
on- what We want, r I'll break ye In TIVE
Law said the tramp aggressively, pausi
emit In the act Of raising a glass to his III
fee Brown. reaching for his own driI
seemed not to hear the words, but
md prodigious foot, as If released from
vas spring, suddenly swept up, and, str
ON ing the others hand, threw the gla
ces with its contents. into his scowll
face.
np- storm of laughter arose from
cen onlookers, who swOre, with mig
md oaths. that it was the funniest tn
yht. they had ever seen. The victim, h'
sed ever, laughed not at all, but below
with rage and pain as the fiery liz
scared his eyes, and repeatedly vel
for Brown to come near.
Not DESTROYS OF being masticai
Z nor yet willing to move out of
way of the Pole, who was blindly 81
q ing for him, Brown chose the only
tentative. and smote him squarely
! tween the eyes. so that he crumI
7 up on the floor. Then, turning to
. mans comrades. he preached the
e ness of the evening.
II want to tell you dirty buns
; 4 I'm going to take charge of this
city government from now till | le
6 If any of you've got anything to
why. you can step up and say It,
L Z might be able to blum these poor de
y = that live here, but I've seen too m
u Z boes not to know what you're made
II y You're all under arrest. an the