Luke Short - A tale by Bat Masterson

Luke Short - A Dandy Gunfighter

A Conference with the Enemy

"It will afford me great pleasure to attend your meeting," was the laconic reply of the noble Warwick, and he was soon the central figure of as fine a collection of cutthroats as ever scuttled ship.

The mayor, addressing Wyatt, made inquiry as to the truth of the report that he and numerous other desperate men were in the city for the purpose of reinstating Short in Dodge.

"Mr. Mayor, and gentlemen of the meeting," said Wyatt; "I guess the report is true. I came here some days ago," said he; "and, thinking that perhaps something might happen where I would need assistance, brought along some other gentlemen who signified a willingness to join in whatever festivities might arise."

Wyatt Earp

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

"Moreover," continued Wyatt, "Luke and Bat will each arrive at noon tomorrow, and on their arrival we expect to open up hostilities."

"Now, look here, Wyatt," said the mayor, "you have no better friends anywhere than we are, and we don't want any more fighting in this town. There has already been enough shooting and killing in Dodge to do for a while. Now, why can't this thing be fixed up before it goes any farther?"

"It can," said Wyatt, "if you are willing to allow Luke to return and conduct his business unmolested as heretofore.”

"I am perfectly willing to agree to that," said Webster. "And so are we," sung out the meeting in a chorus.

"All right, gentlemen," replied the phlegmatic Mr. Earp, "there shall be no conflict. I will proceed to inform both Mr. Short and Mr. Masterson of your decision in the case, and I will guarantee that if you keep your part of the agreement there shall be no bloodshed.

Wyatt immediately notified Short and I by wire of the complete back down of the enemy, and when we reached the city next day we were cordially received by our friends. The enemy, not being sure that Wyatt could control the situation, kept in the background until he had received assurances from both Short and I that the peace terms made by Earp would be faithfully lived up to by us.

As soon as things quieted down a little, Short sent for the mayor and sheriff to meet him and some of his friends at his place of business for the purpose of talking over the situation and arriving at a better understanding. The mayor and sheriff came and with them, the city attorney and the prosecuting attorney of the county. Short's party consisted of himself, his two partners, Beeson and Harris, Wyatt Earp and myself.

Humiliating His Honor the Mayor

Luke addressed the mayor something after this fashion, after we had all settled down in our chairs:

"Mr. Webster, you have on the police force of this city two men who, without any reason known to me, showed themselves during the late trouble to be bitter enemies of mine. I want them removed from the force."

The mayor assured Luke that he need not give himself any further concern on that score, as both men complained of had already handed in their resignations and left town.

"Very well," said Luke. "There is, however, another thing I wish to call to your notice. You had an ordinance passed by the city council prohibiting music in saloons. I want that ordinance repealed."

"It shall be done," said the mayor, and turning to the city attorney, instructed him to prepare a call for a special meeting of the council and to draw up an ordinance calling for the repeal of the objectionable one.

This ended Short's business with the mayor. He then turned to the sheriff and said in substance:

"Mr. Sheriff, you also have two men in your office that are objectionable to me and I would like to have you remove them." He then named the men, and the sheriff promised that they would have to go.

"Here are the names of the men you can appoint in their place," and he handed the sheriff a piece of paper containing the names of the men he desired appointed.

"All right, Luke," said the sheriff. "they are good enough for me."

Luke then turned around to the prosecuting attorney of the county and said, "I furnished bail for Mr. Blank in the sum of $2,000 before I was ordered to leave town, and I want that bail bond containing my name returned to me and all record of it destroyed."

"That will be easy," said the prosecutor.

"Now, gentlemen." said Luke, "there being nothing further to do, suppose we return to the bar and take a little something just for old times' sake."

"All right," said everybody present, and the procession to the bar started.

Luke had won a bloodless battle, but that such was the case was no fault of his, for he had been willing to fight at any and all stages of the proceedings.

Continued Next Page

Dodge City Peace Commission in June 1883. Front,

left to right: Charles E. Basset, Wyatt S. Earp, Frank

McLain, and Neil Brown. Back, left to right: W. H. Harris, Luke Short, W. B. Bat Masterson, and W. F. Petillon.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Also See:

Bat Masterson - King of the Gun Players

Ben Thompson and Other Noted Gunmen

Complete List of Old West Gunfighters

Dodge City - A Wicked Little Town

Wyatt Earp - Frontier Lawman

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