Cowboy? Railroad man? Cowpoke? This old picture does look western to me. Johnny Marcum.

Continuing with my new purchases from the Hope Restored thrift store in Searcy Arkansas, I am scanning this old picture.

It has a name on the back so perhaps a good google will find something about him.  The name is Johnny Marcum or it could be Jahmy Marcum, depending on the interpretation of the handwriting.

At first I thought I'd found a real cowboy picture.  He looked as if he was standing there with boots, jeans and perhaps a gun belt.  A closer look, however, reveals ordinary clothes and I still can't make out what he is holding.

Sleuths, join me in telling me what you think he is holding and where he might be standing.