Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1912 — GOTHAM'S BAD MAN [ARTICLE]

GOTHAM'S BAD MAN

Starts Out to Show Oklahomans Some Gun Play. 'iji IM Old-Time Westerner Gives Him Some Real Excitement and Back to New York He Hies. Oklahoma City, Okla. —Ernest L. Lucas came to the southwest from New York several months ago to be a cowboy long enough to recuperate. After a visit to Texas he settled in Osage county, Oklahoma, chiefly because he had an acquaintance there and because it is in the cattle grazing section. The real, old-fashioned cowboy has disappeared from Oklahoma, but Lucas didn’t know it, and he had provided himself with all the conventional cowboy paraphernalia, Including jingling spurs. He engaged on a cattle grazing ranch near Pawhuska, and the day after his arrival put on his cowboy outfit and rode forth. Lucas managed to act and look like a real cowboy while he pastured the beeves from Texas. Also he met Pete Jenkins, proprietor of a livery stable, who used to be a cowboy and is sorry. Lucas and other men from his ranch were In a “bootlegger’s” place when Jenkins came in. Lucas had jus.t called for a round of drinks and he invited Jenkins to join. Jenkins politely declined. He knew the other' boys and winked at them. Lucas insisted, and when the stranger again declined he drew his big revolver and ordered him up to the bar. Jenkins’ eyes grew large and round and he took the drink without further protest. Then Lucas ordered him to dance, and 'after a few bullets had whizzed close to his feet Jenkins obligingly complied. Lucas had fun with

him for nearly half an hour before permitting him to depart Jenkins went back to the livery stable, dug out his old cowboy clothes ana hat, shook the oats out and put them on. Then he resurrected the revolvers he had carried when he rode the Oklahoma and Texas ranges, oiled and hung them in his belt< and put on the old spurs. He was transformed from a livery stable keeper into the cowboy he had been years ago. He found Lucas and his friends still at the “bootlegger’s.” Lucas recognized Jenkins and his astonishment was great for he real-

ized now he was face to face with a real cowboy. Jenkins ordered the drinks and they Ml lined up. Thea he ordered Lucas to hands and knees. ” Lucas complied and Jenkins sat on his back and spurred him. He rode 'Lucas around the room, down the dust-covered stairway and Iqto the street As Lucas “galloped” down the street on all fours, Jenkins took out his revolvers and for a few seconds there was a stream of fire from their muzzles. The crowd enjoyed it Lucas toe* the first train back to New York.