Golden Gulch Essay Research Paper Silver Bells

Golden Gulch Essay, Research Paper

Silver Bells &

Golden Spurs

Twas a Mining town called Golden Gulch

While the west was yet untamed

There two bad men met made a bet

And the winnings never claimed.

The boys had ridden into town

One payday afternoon

To line the bar at the Lucky Star,

Which was Dandy Rans saloon.

Now the dandy was an onry cuss

If by chance you made him sore,

His only law was the lightning draw

Of the heavy guns he wore.

On his watchchain hung a dozen bells

Of the fines silver spun,

Each tiny bell for a man that fell

When the dandy drew his gun.

They seemed t jingle merrily

To a tune that brought him luck,

But they rang the bell for the man that fell

When the dandy rang them up.

Well the boys had finished around of drinks

When the bar room door swang wide,

And a man walked in with a reckless grin

And a funny cat-like stride.

On his dusty boots were golden spurs,

His face was tan and brown,

And on each hip the well matched grips

Of six guns holstered down.

He spoke in a voice that was deathly quite

And said, ? I’ve come to waste some shells

On a man they say whose draw is quick

With a chain of silver bells.

A dozen bells for a dozen men

Buried somewhere on the plain

It’s my intent to beat that gent,

I’ve come for the dandy?s chain.”

Well the dandy faced the strangers gaze,

His coat was buttoned tight,

A gun swang free above each knee,

But the bells were hid from a sight.

“So it?s the dandy’s silver bells

On which you heart is set.

That?s a fancy pair of spurs you wear

Would you care to make a bet?

The silver bells for the golden spurs,

But I’ll warn you from the start.

You?ll lose that bet and all you’ll get

Is a bullet through the heart.”

Well the stranger smiled his reckless grin

And said “If the dandy tries

“They’ll find him dead with a chunk of lead

Place neat between the eyes.

Then the stranger unbuckled his golden spurs

And slid them along the bar,

Said, “I’m callin the hand of Dandy Ran

Come out wherever you are.”

Then slowly the dandy?s hand went down

And unbuttoned his lapel,

And there it rest on checkered vest,

The chain of silver bells.

The stranger watched with narrowed eyes,

The time had passed for talk

He hadn?t drawn but his hands were clawed

Like the feet of a diving hawk.

Then suddenly the dandy?s hand went down

For his right hand gun.

No one saw the stranger draw,

But two shots rang out as once.,

The Dandy stumbled to his knees

With a look o f wild surprise

With a chunk of lead like the stranger said

Placed neat between the eyes.

The stranger stood at the end of the bar

Apparently unhurt,

Except for a spot of red that slowly spread

Beneath the left pocket of his shirt.

The Golden Gulch is a ghost town now

Its mining days are done.

There are coyote tracks in the tumbled shacks Bleached white by the desert sun.

The lucky star is deserted, too

All littered with sand and straw

Where the laughter rang and the dandy’s gang once drank to his lightning draw.

And the silver bells and the golden spurs

Still hang in their place of fame,

Above the bar at the Lucky Star

Still waiting the victors claim.

Bibliography

cowboy poetry