Glacier County chief., 1939-07-14
chickens he put up were all old hens.
Joke Is On COnley

chickens he put up were all old hens.
Joke Is On COnley
On this particular Sunday there was
quite a crowd at Billiards brewery
where the shoots were generally held,
but not many were trying to get any
of Turner's chickens. While the shoot
ing was going on, Frank Conley came
out of the timber on Tongue river
CARRYING a shotgun with which he had
been hunting prairie chickens. He
laid his gun down and looked on 1or
while and then asked one OF the
He got the rifle and fired twice miss
ing both times. Frank returned the
rifle and sat down. In a few minutes
Turner's attention was claimed at the
crates where his chickens were and he
went to them. Frank called to him:
Jim, am going to take two more
Shots" and grabbing up his shotgun,
he took hurried aim at the chlcKen
and blazed away.
The chicken made a lot of fuss but
showed no signs of being hit. Conley
and several others walked down to
where the chicken was cackling and
trying to get away. They found the
whole face of the anvil full OF little
white spots where the shot had struck,
but the only mark or. the hen was
where one pellet had struck 1t IN the
eye, taking the eye out. Conley claimed
the chicken, as drawing blood consti-
tuted a hit. Then he said to Turner:
JIM I owe you for two shots. That
chicken amt hurt any and if you
are willing to call it square you can
keep the chicken
Turner was agreeable and Conley
came back to where the crowd was
and said to Bill Billiard: Bill, bring
out a keg and tap it. The joke is on
me. When I can't hit chicken at 40
yards with a 10-gauge shotgun, I
guess had better get me one of these
rubber. slingshots and go to killing
black birds"
Another time Frank was playing pin
pool at Jimmy Colemans billiard
room. There was a man present who
was talking loudly and making NUS
ance of himself. Conley spoke to him
and asked him if he would do him a
favor The man said he would. Conley
wrote a note, gave it to the man and
said, will you take this note to Ma
piles and Stuarts lumber yard at the
head of the street? Give the note to
you my three cornered square and
when you get back I'll buy the drinks
Makes Long Search
The man took the note to Stuart and
asked for the three cornered square.
Dick said, We'll, sir, loaned it to
Bryan's yard and give Charlie Lar
sen this note he will give it to YOU
The poor dupe did so and Larsen
sent him to Whiteside brothers who
sent him to carpenter who was work
ing half mile from there and he, not
knowing who to send the man to, de-
clared he knew nothing of it and the
ley was still playing pool. Going up to
Conley he said, Mr.. Conley, I can't
find your damned square None of the
men I went to land he named them
over seem to know anything about
it."
Conley looked at him. laughed and
said, Il would sure been surprise if
anyone on earth ever saw a square
that was three cornered. Did you?"
1t was only then that 1t dawned on the
fellow what foolish errand he had
been on and he refused to take the
drink that Frank offered to buy for
him.
MY acquaintance with Frank Conley
began in Miles City in 1883 and our
friendship continued until his death.
I worked for him as guard at Deer
Lodge in 10000 and to me was just
the same Frank Conley that he was in
Miles City in 1883. met him in Miles
City in 1884 when I attended the
city in May of that year Frank and I
sat on the Olive hotel porch the second
day of the jubilee and for three solid
hours talked Of old times, incidents,
and friends of the early sos.
When Frank Conley died, Deer Lodge
lost her best friend and also one Of
her best citizens and business men.
He was man who was ever ready to
give his aid personally or financially
for the betterment of society and the
community. His place will be hard to
fill.
We who knew him in Miles City real
lie that we have suffered the loss Of
passes. Though we mourn his loss, the
best many OF US can say Is goodbye,
Frank. Rest In peace. It won't be long
now"