Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07
By J. Frank Davis.

Back in the days right after the
war between the states there were
terrible times here in Texas. Listen.
men Your daddies have told you
about them: some of us here can re-
member them. Texas was part of
lost And then some things happened
that would never have happened if a
poor. insane man hadn't killed Abraham
Lincoln. and the men of Texas-and
old Jim Hudston was one of them
sent word to Washington city. We
CANT stand it, they said We've put
aside the Stars and Bars forever. We're
back under the Stars and Stripes. God
hoIping US. we'll aid in rebuilding our
state as part Of one nation under that
nag But either you'll give US a gov
eminent such as white men are entitled
to. with liberty and justice for all. or,
hopeless rs ii il. we shall rebel. And
that rebellion will not end in surrender:
1t will never be put down until the last
man Of us has died like our ancestors
who made holy ground of the Alamo
And the big-hearted, silent soldier in
the White House heard the message.
and Texas became free from the op-
preston of the carpet-baggcr.'
There was a tumultuous outburst that
convinced Bill he needed only to make
his final point
Under two flags Texas gained free
banner that struck terror to, Santa Anna
at San Jacinto: the other. the Stars
day. Texans shed their blood at Chateau
Ihierry and in the Argonne Were
either of these flags mere pieces of
bunting. sewed together?
I'm say they were not!" yelled the
young soldier near the bandstand, and
roo~" +h"" tho" ~''"-terS Of the crowd
cheered him and Biz
And VINO ana ..nat were the men
who crowded Texas to the wall after
she had been honorably defeated in the
war of the states--who came from God
knows where to rule and govern-until
Travis Hudston's gran'daddy and thou
sands of other good men threatened to
die deliberately for the shame of it?
Carpet-baggers"
He gritted the word.
Where do you come from. Raber?
Chicago. Where do you come from.
haps. And you. Mullins? From C1eve-
land. isn't itT' Bill laughed and
waved a hand toward Hudston. "And
our poor little rich workingman who
hasn't lived in Texas since he was
sixteen. and has forgotten the kind of
liberty his kin fought for, is from
New York.
gust and repeated the epithet than
which. for all the years that have
passed. there Is only one more often
sive in Texas:
"All carpet-baggers"
Raber. Christensen and Mullins
were outlanders; the phrase meant
little or nothing to them: they did not
even know they had been insulted.
But Hudston? Bill waited almost
breathlessly for the youths reaction.
and did not have to wait two seconds.
Hudston was on his feet. his features
Nd lot tod h C
showing between drawn lips. You
are a liarr" he shouted, and leaped
across the stage. fists clenched. to
say it squarely in Bills face.
The crowd fell tensely quiet and
Bill made his next move with light
ming decision. He laughed loudly. and
as he laughed his left hand shot out
and seized Hudston by the collar.
spinning him around. AS the young
man whirley helplessly Bill swung
his right hand. wide open. below the
level of his waist. and added its force
to the push he gave with his left.
Hudston went stumbling. Bill laugh
| ed again. "Oh. go on. you-boy" he
cried.
There had been no great effort be-
hind that right-handed slap: it had
looked careless and contemptuous;
but not a man in the watching hun
dreds missed the point. Hudston had
been spanked.
They also laughed.
Raber, Christensen. Mullins and
their close friends, huddled we'll to-
gether for mutual protection. began
Let 'em go, fellow Texans" Bill
shouted. still grinning. Thirteenth
have been pulled"
The chairman had already, fed. Bill
turned then, to find himself facing
Hudston. A much different Hudston
from the self-satisied. parlor inter-
nationalist who had spoken to glibly.
thickly. "You-you made a fool of me.
live got pistol-my father's-and I'm
going to get it. I'm going to get it
and kill you-or you're going to kill
me-" Tears of mingled anger and
humiliation stood in his eyes.
Bill NODDED and answered him
gravely, as man to man.
Not tonight" he said. I'm too
busy tonight. But if you will hang on
that li'r OIL pistol and come along
Main street at about quarter of s
tomorrow mawnin' you'll find me
Burns store. III see that the police
don't interfere"
Hudston swallowed started to speak
again, gave it up and turned abruptly
away. Bill left the bandstand at once
and came finally to Mr.. Burns en-
IL
the rear and found Burns and num-
Der of other men waiting in back
room. 49,
SAM" he said. "Tray Hudston is
plannin' to shoot me along about
quarter of tomorrow. Will you.
by and by, take walk over to the
mayors house and tell him to pass
the word along to the police to keep
their hands off?"
1.-THE little fool" Burns calculated.
Don't he know you can kill him
while he's getting ready?"
IT reckon SO. I don't suppose he's
handled Colt since he left Texas.
which is right close to fifteen years
ago. Yes, sub. He's shore amin to
commit suicide. And for me to throw
lead at him would certainly be plum
murder"
what do you mean. Bill?' Burns
demanded. after what's happened,
you CANT stay away"
II don't guess I can" Bill agreed
simply. But 1 don't have to hurt
him. do I? You wasn't thinkin' ia
hurt Jack Hudston's boy was you
Sam?"
, But he'll You don't mean you
expect to take the chance of missing
him.
MAYBE it wouldn't be such a chance.
He's nervous. and he'll be more so be-
fore mawnin'. He won't figure he's
got a chance if he shoots slow. and if
he tries to shoot fast he probably
couldn't hit COW at ten feet. I'm
thinking he'll shoot fast. The only
thing that sort of puzzles me is what
he'll do if after he's wasted three or
four cartridges he finds amt hittin'
him. Maybe he'll slow up and take
aim If he does Say, fellerS. ]