The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-06-26

"She's smart girl. She's "a" he
hesitated, as though embarrassed Gin
a way she's a-well, in way, she's q
good girl"
Sabras voice rose to the pitch Of
hysteria. kt
Don't you quote your Bible at me,
Yancey Cravat! You with your Lukes
and your Johns and your Magdalenes!
I'm sick of them"
The first issue Of the Oklahoma
Wigwam actually appeared on Thurs
day, as scheduled 1t was a mastery
mixture of reticence and indiscretion.
half column, first page, was devoted
to the church meeting. The incident
of the shooting was not referred to in
this account. An outsider, reading it,
would have gathered that all had been
sweetness and light. On an inside
column Of the four-page sheet was
brief notice:
1T is to be regretted that an unim-
portant but annoying shooting ARRAY
somewhat married the otherwise splen-
did and truly impressive religious serv-
ices held in the recreation tent last
Sunday, kindness Of the genial and
popular proprietor, Mr.. Graf Gotch.
A ruff1an, who too long had been in
Testing the streets Of our fair city OF
Usage, terrorizing innocent citizens,
and who was of the contemplate ilk
that has done SO much toward be-
smirching the dazzling fame Of the
magnificent Southwest, took this occa-
sion to create disturbance, during
which he shot, with intent to kill, at
the person presiding. It was neces-
sary to reply in kind. The body, un-
claimed, was inferred in Boot Hill,
with only the prowling jackals to mourn
him, their own kin. It Is hoped that
his nameless grave will serve as a
warning to others Of his class"
Having thus modestly contained him
self in the matter Of the actual shoot
ing, Yancey let himself go little on
the editorial page. His editorials, in
fact, for time threatened the papers
news items. Sabra and Jesse Hickey
had to convince him that the coming
Of the Katy was of more interest to
prospective subscribers than was the
editorial entitled, Lower Than the
Rattlesnake." He was prevailed upon
to cut it slightly, though under pro-
test.
Sabra, reading the damp galley
proofs, was murmurous with admira-
ton. Its just wonderful! But, Yam
cey, don't you think we ought to have
more news items? Gossip, sort of. l
don't mean gossip, really, but about
people, and what they're doing, and so
on. Those are the things / like to
read in a newspaper. OF course men
like editorials and important things
like that. But women"
"That's right, too," agreed Jesse
Hickey, looking up, ink smeared, from
his case. Get the women folks to
reading the paper"
AS the printing plant boosted only a
little hand press, the two six-column
forms had to be linked with hand
roller. Over this was placed the damp
piece Of white print paper. Each
sheet was done by hand. The first
issue of the Oklahoma Wigwam num-
bered four hundred and fifty copies,
and before it was run off. Yancey,
Jesse Hickey, Sabra, Isaiah-every
member of the household except little
Cim-had taken run at the roller.
Sabra's back and arm muscles ached
for a week.
The paper came out on Thursday
afternoon, as scheduled. Sabra was
astonished and little terrified to see
the occasion treated as an event, with
a crowd of cowboys and local citizens
In front Of the house. pistols fired,
whoops and yells; and Yancey himself,
aided by Jesse Hickey, handing out
copies as If they had cost nothing to
print. Perhaps twenty-five Of these
were distributed, opened eagerly, pc
rused by citizens leaning against the
porch posts, and by cowboys on horse
back, before Sabra, >peeking out Of
the Office window. saw an unmistak-
able look of surprise-even Of shock
ON their faces and heard Cass Blk
by drawl, "Say, Yancey, that's HI
of name for a newspaper"
She sent Isaiah out to get hold Of
copy. He came back with 1t, grinning.
1t was single sheet. The Oklahoma
Cabot. Motto: '"Take 1t or Leave
It." Beneath this hastily assembled
and somewhat pied collection Of very
personal items, calculated to reveal
the weakness and foibles Of certain
prominent citizens now engaged in
perusing the false sheet.
The practical joke being revealed
and the bona fide paper issued, this
was considered a superb triumph for
Yancey. and he was borne away to re-
ceiye the congratulatory toasts Of his
somewhat sheepish associates.
1t was mans town. The men en-
loved it. They rode, gambled, .swore.
fought, fished. hunted, drank. The
antics of many of them seemed like
those of little boys playing robbers
cave under the porch. The saloon