Riverview Military Academy - Orbit Yearbook (Poughkeepsie, NY)

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an extra wheel. In front of the seat a steering wheel and two pedals were hitched on to the reinsg on each mule's side was painted in white: - LOZlEli. I called to lilaket- VVhat the ham is this outside, liill? Oh, that's only crazy 'Giroo' Foote and what he calls his 'Lozier', replied llill, dragging out a bag marked Laundry from under the count- er, and going to the door. llc keeps a laundry out hy the river. He threw the bag to Cliroo who whipped up his Loziers and vanished round the corner. Come on said Hill, l.ct's go up to my house and have some supper. I accepted with alac- rity. After the evening meal, which was not sump- tous, for Hill cooked it himself tl now under- stand why he called it some supperj, we return- ed to the saloon. :Ks we approached we de- seried a figure seated on the steps. Closer in- speetion revealed a young man, immaculately clad in a Tuxedo coat, silk socks, and a pleated purple shirt. l-lis hair was plastered flat on his head, and he was so clean shaven that I imme- diately recognized him as Crusoe T. Burrows of West Mystic and Riverview. l'le told us that he had started on a dancing tour of the countryg S his dancing partner had become ill: he had given all his money to the doctor: and had been put off the train, without a cent, at Buckskin. Upon hearing this pitiful tale, we suggested that .Xmos give a dancing lesson that night to the crowd which would soon assemble in the saloon. Hurrows agreed to this plan and we went inside where we foundil3utts. who told us that Lustberg would not be up as he was teach- ing the cook how to make cocoa, Soon the s

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pulling' idly on a cigar and dealing' deftly to himself. His silver-trimmed sombrero was push- ed back on his head, and his black frock coat was unbuttoned. Friend of yours, said Bill, jerking' his thumb towards the gambler. I shook hands with llutts, for it was he, and was conversing' with him, when I was interrupt- ed by a commotion outside. .N cloud of f- ' dust sifted in throug'h ' H the open door, closely A followed by a short. . athletic cow-puncher. TR lle had a huge mus- I tache, hair chaps, and low on either thigh swung' a Colt .45, ' ny! t two-gun man, while - the tied open holster ' flaps manifested the t Yiciousness of his 7 V s character. Seeing a i - 4 5 tenderfoot i n th e l l iv' will . 1 I I I J I ' proclaiming him as a '. .l f a il-xy Ab l, Qqk 1. ,jk room, he drew both guns and began shoot- ing' at my feet to make me dance. I didg but Butts spoke to the rullian in Spanish, which he evidently understood well, for he came up to me and said that he was sorry that he shot at me. and asked if I knew him. After a close scrutiny, I recognized him as Rat l.ustberg', of whose whereabouts I had not had the slightest idea. Shortly afterwards Rat and llutts departed to the eating house, promising' to return in the evening. I stood by the window. waiting' for Hill to close up shop, when down the street in a cloud of dust came a pair of mules, towing' behind them a swaying' buckboard. As they drew nearer and linally pulled up with a jolt be- fore the saloon I. was dumbfounded at the ap- pearance of the outfit. :Xt the rear of the buck- board was a water barrel. against which leaned X . 1 .,'S'vll49, ' , ' Ry if I' aw , l : 3 17

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gambler began to ply his trade among the punch- ers and townspeople who were filling the place. .Xt about nine o'clock Blake climbed upon the bar and made a speech, introducing Burrows and our ingenious scheme. The idea caught like wildfire, and soon Bur- rows was giving lessons at ten dollars a throw. Butts' table was deserted in favor of the tango and the maxixe, and he was forced to join the throng about' the fast prospering Burrows. l joined Hill behindlthe bar and helped him dole out the refreshments, for the tango was an old story to me. By ten o'clock nearly the whole population of lfluckskin was in the saloon. By eleven the assemblage had paired off and was dancing madly up and down the room. At midnight exactly, the front and rear doors were thrown open, and a number of men, each wearing a nickeled badge, burst in with levelled six-shooters. Conspicuous among them was a tall, light-haired figure, who was greeted with cries of The Sl-IERIFF! USHERIFF, SCI-TAAF! Then Sheriff Schaaf spoke in tones of thun- der:- Now you cut that out in the name of the P law! Arrest them all for boisterous conduct, my men. and take them to the lock-up. His men obeyed, and all were hurried away protest- ing lustily-Amos 'l s voice could easily be dis- tinguished. Bill had put in a good word for me, so he and I were the only ones that were not dragged off to jail through the orders of Sheriff Schaaf. I again returned to Blake's house, and was soon sound asleep. Next morning it developed that all those who -11-'T'-i. is i -,....L-.- llnl - f J s , - lf lk ltwwi-:zzz--'ur ll A 1 la, 1 D - 8 it Fast . -.-- .H