Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 107, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1904 — AN INDIAN CIGAR SIGN. [ARTICLE]

AN INDIAN CIGAR SIGN.

The Fate That Overtook One AggrM* Hive Woodei Savage. The city of Little Muddy, on the upper Yellowstone, was an exceedingly wide awake town in 1887. When it had reached the mature age of 8 months, every kind of business man was represented except the cigar dealer, and the next week a man from Chicago named Stark opened a tobacco store, with a large, gaudy and aggressive wooden Indian in front, holding a tomahawk savagely in one hand and a bunch of cigars in the other. It would take a chapter to tell of all the trouble Stark had with that wooden aborigine. This variety of sign was rare in that region, and gentlemen not unconnected with the stock growing Industry who came in from the ranges wearing spurs and weapons would .resent his threatening attitude—for that matter, no Indian, even the most peaceably disposed, was popular. He was knocked oft his pedestal half a dozen times a day. Stark learned to know what had happened whenever he heard a dull crash in front and would step outside and restore his fallen warrior. But the red man did not meet his Waterloo till Tobe Hartley and a friend, preserved to us under the name of Long Isaac, came in from the Lightning’s Nest neighborhood. A close friendship existed between these two worthies. It was their first vacation from the ranch for several months. They wandered about tQwn in a receptive mood and sought to enjoy their visit. No facts are extant concerning their condition after some hours, but we may perhaps be allowed our suspicions. Finally they separated, and Tobe, coming along to the Indian and not noticing his upraised hatchet, sat down at his feet to rest He soon fell asleep and sank lower. At this juncture Isaac came around the corner and took In the tragic situation at a glance. “Killed my partner for a simple bunch of cigars, did you?’’ he cried. “Well, we’ll see about It!” and he produced his firearms and began shooting accurately and rapidly. At the end of ten minutes Stark gathered up his noble savage In a basket, while the resuscitated Tobe end the avenging Isaac moved off arm In arm.—Harper’s Ma<aslna. . ~