Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07
A HUNCH ON HEREDITY
One of the Intensely
Interesting Adven-
lures of Bill Titus. In
an Ol-Boom Town of
the Great Southwest.
ILL TITUS, in the boom oil city
of Spiller. sat with his ear
pressed to the receiver and

u the GOVefnOr OF IeNds. t1in'"s
from Austin.
so that's the story, captain, the
governor concluded. Sheriff McGoV-
crn could handle it if he was there.
but he's gone up into Oklahoma TO
get a prisoner. I'm sending Capt. Dali
ton and four of his rangers to take
charge, if necessary, but they can't
get to Spiller until about S o'clock to-
morrow morning, even if the train is
on time. which it usually isn't. l am
told. And we don't want any blood
shed to grow out of that meeting to-
night. It is easier to stop trouble be-
fore il gets started than after.
Il understand. All right, sub. What
do you want nae to do?
whatever is necessary. None OF
these strikers is connected with any
of the oil companies you are interest
ed in, I hear"
Nary one. I've been a little particu-
lar about who got jobs with me lately
and every boss and driller in my out =
fits is Texan. These fellers that are
making the trouble are mostly from
outside. My men amt affected; they
amt even in sympathy with the Strik-
hor trouble a-tall, and there haven't
many regular. honest-to-God Texans
got bit with this bolSheviki bug yet
TaIn't in the Texas blood to catch
it,"
That is what I understood You can
depend on your own men to back You
up. if there is any difficulty And
there must be quite a few other men
that you know over there-or-timers
-hn cto h a c
necessary"
Il can find a few. They'd hang on
their old guns and -
But that is exactly what I don't
wank," the governor protested. Il
want things held just as they are un-
til Dalton and his men arrive And
yet that meeting tonight is loaded
with dynamite. It will take some able
diplomacy to prevent these men who
are agitating for the one big union
from getting trouble going. I think
YOU are the man who can do it. OF
course. if you try and don't succeed.
then your ortimer friends can be
prepared
II get you" Bill rejoined. What
kind of authority have I got?'
THE best there is. I'll appoint you
temporarily a ranger. assigned to spe-
cial service. I'll have the adjutant
YOU are in charge"
That's all right" Capt. Titus agreed.
but maybe 1t would be just as well.
sub. if the mayor didn't tell anybody
except maybe a few police officers. SO
as to keep them from interferin' with
whatever have to do-and a deputy
sheriff or So"
The governor thought this over
moment. Every WELL" he agreed. I'm
leaving the whole business in your
hands. You know the men who are
doing the really dagerous agitating,
don't you?"
: at know three Of them: the three
worst. Raber is the leader. from Chi
cago. Christensen. from the Lord
knows whereIhe,s the one that says
talks bunch of arguments no farmer
with brains would use, in North Da-
kota or anywhere else. And Mullins,
from Cleveland. who raised all that
hades last month up in the territory.
until it go 50 hot he thought he and
Oklahoma had better part company"
You know who the speakers are to
be tonight, I suppose" the governor
"No. The drillers on our properties
say they understand these outside
leaders amt even going to be on the
young Travis Hudston hasn't ar
rived there yet. ! take it hear
he is to be the principal speaker.
know him! The cussed little fool!
His daddy and me were in the Rangers
together. / haven't seen Travis for
some years; he hasn't been in Texas
much since he grew up. But I've kept
track of him."
They say he's convincing speaker.
Maybe it would be best to get him as
he hikes into town and hike him out
again."
mo. sub. If you'll excuse me. The
ane thing these fellers want is for
that meeting. or to keep their speak
ers from talking. No. sub. 1t wouldn't
do a-tall"
IAN right" the governor said. "Tm
putting you In charge. Handle it any
way you want to. But prevent dis
order IL it is humanity possible"
For perhaps five minutes after the
receiver had been restored to it's hook
Capt. Bill sat in concentrated thought.
He walked briskly out of the hotel
then. and turned in at a store, the
somewhat striking sign Of which pro-
claimed to the world that Sam W.
Burns there purveyed to the public's
need for '1umber hardware paints,
collins. caskets and furniture"
. There's a chance of trouble here to-
night. Sam" said Bill. land the gov
ernor's elected me to prevent it. with
what ASSISTANCE j want 10 call 1Of
from OP-timerS and SUCH"
I'm getting little along in years
for excitement and I hoped the rest of
my life was goinK to be quiet. Mr..
Turns declared. with an expression in
his eye that directly contradicted his
words. but I happened to clean up
my h'f oil six-gun only last week.
That's muy bueno. If there's got to
he any shootin'. nobody would expect
us to stand around and let somebody
else do all of it-but the rules of this
game the governor has asked US to sit
into mostly provide for peaceful
persuasion. It's thisaway." Briefly
conversation. after Bob Dalton gets
here. he can have shootin' or not. just
as the cards happen to fall. Our
business is to keep things from
hreakin' wide open till he arrives I
want you to pick up six or seven
"thers: there amt much time. and I've
got to take a ride out Mule creek way
and he back in time for the night
performance. And. remember. the
Governor has laid out how he wants
This party conducted. and she's got to
be done like he says The men are
10 prepare for war. but strive for
peace.
Burns sighed. but nodded agree
ment- '.All right. he said. "I'll see
can make them hope for it. The
way these roughnecks from up in Chi
cago and New York and around that
away have come into this community
Amin to run it.
That's the argument" Bill inter-
rupted enthusiastically "I'n use it at
what these efficiency sharps call the
psychological moment"
Il don't sabe this psychology thing,
I:urns admitted.