Once when traveling in the West, and winning some money from a man
from Kansas City, some smart Aleck told him that I had cheated him,
so he made up his mind to kill me on sight. I made some inquiries,
and ascertained that he was a desperate man and had already killed
his two men. Accordingly I put my gun in my pocket and staid about
the town, just keeping my eyes on the lookout, and at last went up
to Omaha.
I was sitting one evening playing the bank, having forgotten all
about the Kansas City man, when a friend of mine came to me and
said that the man was in the adjoining room, and would soon be in
to play faro. I lost no time in making my preparations to meet
the gentleman. My friend had no pistol, nor had I; but seeing a
poker lying on the floor near the stove, I rushed for it; and as
I knew I could not go out without going through the room where he
was, I simply put the poker under my coat and got up close to the
door that led into the faro room and awaited his arrival. It was
not long; and as soon as I saw him and was sure, I let drive and
caught him square in the mouth, knocking him stiff. Then I rushed
forward, and, grabbing him, secured his pistol, as I thought he
would in all probability turn it loose on me. Then I attended to
his head for a few minutes, endeavoring to kick the fight out of
him.
I learned afterwards that he had a very bad reputation, having
killed three men and been warned off the plains by a vigilant
committee. He was confined to his bed for a couple of weeks, and
I was congratulated on all sides for having walloped the fellow.