6. OH! RIGHTEOUS JUDGE!
Gus Arndt is the next. The history of this man will show the freaks
of whisky when enclosed in the hide of a raw Dutchman. Gus came to this
country a number of years ago, and went to work for his uncle in
Wabaunsee County. Not being able to speak English, his uncle took
advantage of him, no doubt, for he paid him only ten dollars a month for
his services as a farm hand during the summer season, and nothing but
his board during the winter. Gus remained here for some time, three or
four years, working at these wages. He had learned and could understand
and speak English a little. One day as he was pitching grain in the
field an Irishman came by who resided on a farm a few miles distant.
Needing a hand and noticing that Arndt handled himself in a satisfactory
manner, he offered him twenty dollars per month to go and work for him.
Arndt accepted his proposition, and agreed to report at the Irishman's
farm the following Monday, this being Thursday when the bargain was
made. That night the German settled up with his uncle, and received the
balance of his wages, some $75. He had been in America long enough
to reach that point in our civilization that, after working awhile, and
getting a balance ahead, he must take a rest and go on a "spree." He
started for the nearest town. For a couple of days he fared sumptuously,
constantly drinking. He at length reached a point below zero. Half
crazed, he staggers off to the fence across the way where the farmers
who had come to town to do their shopping on Saturday had hitched their
teams, and, untying a horse that was hitched to a buggy, Gus thought he
would take a ride. Lumbering into the buggy, as a drunken man can, he
drove down the main street of the town in broad daylight and out into
the country. In an hour or so the owner getting ready to return, misses
his horse and buggy. Making numerous inquiries about them and getting
nothing satisfactory, he places the matter in the hands of a sheriff,
who commences a search for the missing property. Not finding it in town
he sends men out on the roads leading to the country, himself taking
one. In a very short time he overtakes the noted horse-thief. Gus was
sitting in the buggy sound asleep; the lines were hanging down over the
dashboard, and the old horse was marching along at a snail's pace. He
was out some
two miles from town, and, no doubt, had traveled at this gait all the
way. He was faced about, and, assisted by the sheriff, drove back to
town. He was then placed under arrest and sent to jail, subsequently had
his trial, and for this little drive was sent to the penitentiary for
five years. Of a more unjust sentence I never heard. Gus served his time
out and a better behaved person was never behind the walls. When he
regained his liberty, instead of returning to Wabaunsee County, and to
his uncle's house, he finds his way to Marysville, Kansas. Here reside a
number of prosperous German farmers, and the ex-convict soon got work.
When he applied for work he forgot to tell his employer that he had just
finished up a contract for the State of Kansas. Some months had elapsed
and Gus had worked hard and industriously, had accumulated a neat little
sum of money, and began to feel happy once more. At this time a man
passed through the country that was acquainted with Arndt's antecedents,
and being a dirty dog he thought it was his duty to inform the farmer
that his hired man was an ex-convict, horse-thief and a desperado of the
worst type. Some men are so officious and are
so anxious to do their duty when it is in their power to injure a
fellow-man who is trying to earn an honest living. Gus immediately got
the "bounce." He was informed by his employer that he did not want to
make his home a harbor for horse-thieves. Gus took his wages and clothes
and started for Marysville. He could not bear the idea of being
discharged because of his former misfortune. He again applies to the
bottle for consolation. He goes on another spree. When crazed with
liquor he acted just as he did before; he goes to a hitching post, and
unties a team of horses attached to a buggy. One of the horses had had
its leg broken at some former time, and was almost worthless, while the
other one was very old. He seemed to select the very worst team he could
find. Maybe it was the buggy he was after! He was probably very tired
and wanted an easy place to rest. He unhitched them just as if they had
been his own. It was in the afternoon. The streets were full of people.
Gus crawled into the buggy in his half drunken manner and started off
down the road. When found by the sheriff some two hours after he had
gone, about half a mile from town, the old horses were standing
at one side of the road and the drunken Dutchman was lying in the buggy
sound asleep, with one bottle of whisky uncorked, the contents of which
had run out and over his clothes, and another bottle in his pocket
untouched. He had evidently gone out for a drive. He was taken to jail,
and the news soon spread that he was an ex-convict and horse-thief. He
was tried on a charge of stealing horses, and was returned to the
penitentiary for a term of two years. Here were seven years' service for
two drunks! Ancient Jacob, "how tuff!" After Gus had completed his
narration to me he wound up by saying, "Ven I shall oudt git this time,
I let von visky alones."
