Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-04-30
etc G7st11st to(Ss7 E5lsslNs sis s'cv0sk
MY FAVORITE
STORIES
By IRWIN S. COBB
A Mistake in Identity
Observation-Disclosures
(Copyright)

LII TIC Town where was lcdlC Gu
there was a combination barroom and
lunchroom for colored only, known as
the Bleeding Heart saloon. 1t stood
at the foot of a street near the head OF
the wharf and was a favOrite resort
for river darkies. Among its regular
patrons was a brawny individual, six
feet four inches long and correspond
ingly broad, who answered to the pet
name of Red Hoss. Red Hoss posed
as bad man. He let on, as the phrase
runs, that he was the undertaker's best
friend. To be sure there was no record
anyone, but he frequently promised TO
do so, and was rated as dangerous by
the resident colored populace.
One night the Cincinnati and New
Orleans packet on her way south land
ed at our town. Among her deck pas
sengers was small yellow man, pro-
fessional prize fighter from up North.
On the journey down the river he had
introduced his own private set of edu-
Gated worries into the crap game among
the roustabouts, with the result that he
now had all their money in his possess
sion.
Dapper trim and slim, he climbed
the wharf and entered the Bleeding
Heart and called for a jolt Of sloe gin.
He was in the act of paying for the
drink with the top film of delectably
fat roll of green bills when the swing
ing doors were thrust violently aSunder
ard in stalked Red Hoss, slightly intox-
icated and therefore doubly belligerent.
His lowering, bloodshot eye swept the
interior, then focused with greedy
stare upon what the slender stranger
held in his hand.
Lurching slightly, he swagged up to
the bar and gripped huge soiled paw
on the lapel of tile little yellow mans
coat.
Say lissun, pusson," he stated. you
better turn dat bundle of SOf money
over to me, an EN- I'll give you back
whut part of it thinks you should
have fur yo'se'f."
"Who is you, may l ast?" inquired
the visiting noE,leman in gentle ac-
cents
"You better ass'' growled Red Hoss.
sFinding out who1 is meks yo' chances
fur Twin longer all de brighter eff you
aims to stay round desc parts. You
asts me who is, huh? Well, Use goin'
tell you Use de new town bully. tha's
who! Vas, suhi Use de official bully
Of dis town an wen strange niger
hits yere he mos gin'elly hands me
over whut spare change he's got an
tha's his life insho'ence. So"
He did not finiNh the sentence. Stupe-
faction and rags tied his tongue tenn
porarily as the sudacious STRIPPING with
a jaunty gesture brushed free of the
OBTAINING clutch and turned to the bar
keeper, saying $ieasantly:
Mist Barkeeper, at shorely wuz
very tasty gin. thinks I'll tex me one
mo- slug outen de same bottle, eff you
please"
Red Hoss recovered his faculties.
With berserkee below he swung with
a huge fist for the little mans jaw.
The jaw was not there when the fist
whizzed past. The pugilist ducked,
and came up expertly with a short arm
lab which landed exactly on the point
of Red Hoss' chin. There was jar
as large inert body struck the floor.
Three minutes later Red Hoss slowly
and dizzily roussd himself. Some Good
Samaritan had restored him to con-
seriousness by sluicing bucket of wa
ter over him. Dripping and dazed, he
sat up, holding his aching head on with
both hands. The little man stood at
the bar blowing softly upon the
knuckles of his right hand and con-
versing with the barkeeper upon the
topics Of the day.
Mister" Quavered Red Hoss, "who
Is your?
'MeY' said the stranger, "Oh, is
merely the pusson you thought you wuz
wen you come in yere."