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Show 232 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. match at that proud bird of freedom, the American eagle, "whom none could enveigle or put salt on his tail," and Dawson brought it to the ground. Concealing his chagrin at the time, Arkins had determined to get even in another manner. He had written a letter to the Tribune telling how his companion in arms had met with a trying experience-how he had encountered what he had conceived to be a veritable mountain lion, and, after climbing a tree, had fired one shot after another at it, until it was brought to the ground, when Dawson, glowing with excitement and exultation, had rushed to the spot where the expiring animal lay, only to meet a park ranchman who demanded then and there $25.00 from the astonished scribe for killing his pet calf. This is the gist of a story, which, however, was highly adorned with the figures of speech, ornate diction and elaboration of detail for which Col. Arkins has since become' famous. It was a good story, and well written, and Dawson, as a journalist, felt that it ought to be printed. He was in doubt what should be done. Happy thought! A few minutes later a transformation had been wrought. It was Mr. Arkins who had killed the pet calf. The proper head-lines were written and the story went to the printers. Col. Arkins appeared as the hero of his own romance- his bad penmanship had proved a veritable boomerang. No wonder that after this he determined to reform. Yet he never forgave Dawson for the trick. As for Major Ward, he also felt that his confidence had been imposed upon, though he admitted that the trick had been well turned. And this is the legend of the fate which befell the man |