The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-02-23

making it plain that there were nc
exceptions, and loud so that none
could fail to know how they were
~catalogued, as "pickled faced hunt
ers." This is not the exact express
sion. Bill had a way of expressing
himself so it would bite, and evident
ly designed to bring TO the surface
any fighting instinct that any hun
ter might be possessed of, but this
batch of hunters didn't seem to be
at all bloodthirsty, and l didn't feel
that / ~catalogued. AS l said before,
l am no hunter. Apparently Bill
hauled hunters only because he was
unfortunately poor.
l rode on top with Bill, having in
mind the interest that might attach
to such a personality, and hoping /
might be entertained during the thir-
ty mile ride, and / was. During the
first few miles Bill was too busy to
notice me. The starting of a stage is
a very momentous proposition, and
involves all of the elaborate details
that marks the sailing of an ocean
liner. The horses wanted to go side
ways and up in the air like a balloon,
or back, but had a deep-seated dis
like of going ahead, until Bill with
elaborate profanity and a long whip
had brought forth the respect and
obedience that are due a commander.
Didn't Like Tourists
After a time, when we had been
going smoothly for several miles, /
ventured to suggest in hope of open
ing a conversation, that "It must be
q INpornOoa iOl lu.s,x III H.. -.=4I
out anyone to talk to-" You see, l
was honestly sorry for Bill. cts a
damn sight better'n to have some
damn fool toorist askin' damn fool
questions" anne back Bill, and he
flicked one of the leaders v~iciously
with his long whip, and then settled
down to the monotonous "tslk, tslk,"
which was the only language he used
to guide the horses. They "geed"
and "hawed" to it, they jumped over
boulders and slowed down to it, and
at times when the going was good
they cheerfully raced to it.
l bore up as long as l could, Won
what kind of a man this was
who could see no sunshine in life,
and who was too stingy to talk. Then,
getting lonesome and desperate, |
brought forth a flask that my friend
had pressed on me when leaving, and
as is customary, in the west, I first
handed it to my grouchy companion,
expecting another rebuff. Bill had
evidently learned to drink in the
school with Swampy, for when
flask came back there was left
only enough medicine to cure a
- ~ $50 II -, "a - ns1I -.
changed nan l could see that /
took on a new interest to him. No
Jekyl OF Hyde ever changed so per-
ceptibly in so little time; he shook
himself out like a huge bird loosen
ing its feathers, swelled up to twice
his former size, Strengthened his
back, threw out his shoulders to mar
,ial proportions, and began to show
semblance to a human being.
Bill took a big chew from a black !.
)lug, spat happily, and until it was !
lark and we were almost at our jour :
end the flow of wit and ro- :
nance never stopped. 1t must have :
)een romance, because no such mar 9
things could have happened :
any n man in n life time. I :
not the courage nor the voca- .
)ulary to record them. :
When the World Was Young !
Bill had "druv STAGE when Ind :
ans and road agents and buffalo +
we're common as dirt, and he talked +
# them slightingly as things of lit /
lie moment. 1 asked him if he had !
yer been held up. Ever held up?" +
aid Bill ENORMOUSLY, and lapsed into /
t