Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY IVKKv RATtTlUAT , ITHBttlTAHY 15. 1800 ,
ION.
IIAUTK.
ItoaHng Cati.p , " "Two Men of SnmiyiTjir. "
( Oopyrlnht , 185 . liy IlrM Hnrl > . )
We oil remember very distinctly
Advent In Jtnttlosnake Camp. It wan during
the rainy eAK > n a neim-in slnRtilarly In-
duclvc to eetth < l rcilectlvo Impressions as
we rat and smoked around the stove In
Motby's yrftcory. Like older and more civil
ized communities had our periodic waves
cf sentiment nnd cplnlon , with the exception
that they were mor < ! evanescent with IIP ,
and asvc had just pasted through a fort
night of dissipation und extravagance , owing
to a vlrlt from some gamblers nnd spec
ulators , we were now undergoing a' severe
moral revulsion , partly Induced by reduced
finances , and partly by the arrival of two
f am. I lea with grown up daughters on the
bill. It was raining , with occasional warm
breaths , through the open window , of Ihe
ncuthwcst trades , redolent of the saturated
rplcos of the woods and tprlnRltiK grasses ,
which perhaps were slightly Inconsistent
with the hot stove around which we hat
congregated , llut the stove was only ai
cxcuso for our listless , gregarious gathering
warmth nnd Idleness went well together , an ;
It was currently accepted that we had caught
from the particular reptile who gave Hi
nnmc to our camp , much of Its pathetic , life
long search for wnrmth and Its habits ol
Indolently basking- It. A few of us still
went through the affectation of attempting
to dry our camp clothes by the stove and
sizzling our wet boots against It , but as the
name Individuals calmly permitted the rain
to drive In upon them through the opjn win
dow without moving and seemed to take
Infinite delight In the amount of steam they
generated. ' even that pretense dropped.
Crotalus himself , with his tall In n muddy
ditch and the sun striking cold fire from
Ills silt eyes as ho Imikcd his head on a
\\arm stone beside It , could not have typified
us better.
l\rey Ilrlggs took Ills pipe from his mouth
nt last nnd said with reflective severity.
"Well , Gentlemen , If we can't get the wagon
road over there , nnd If we're going" to be left
out by the stage coach c mpany , we can at
least straighten up the camp and not liavo
It Icok like n cross between a tenement alley
nnd a broken down circus. , I declare I was
Just sick when these two Mullln Girl- ! started
to make n short cut through the camp.
Harncd .It they didn't turn round and take to
the woods and the Hauler's again , ufore they
K't half way. And that banlghted Idiot , Tom
Rollins , standlu' there In the ditch , spattered
nil over with sluniKiilllon till he 'looked like
a spotter tnrrypln wavln' his fins and s.islia-
Ing backwards nnd forrards nnd snyln' , 'This
wny , ladles ; tjils way.1 "
"I didn't , " returned Tom Rollins , quite
casually , without looking" from his steam
ing boots , "I dldnjt start In night afore last
to dance 'The Qrecn C.rn Dance' outer Hia
watha , with feathers In my hair and a red
blanket on my shQUlders , round that family's
now potato patch In order that It might 'In
crease and multiply. ' I didn't sing 'Sabbath
Morning mils' with an anvil accompaniment
until 12 o'clock at night over at the crossIng -
Ing so that they might dream of their happy
childhood' * hcine. It seems to me that It
wasn't me did It. I might bs mistaken it
was late but I , have the Impression that It
wasn't me. '
From the silence that followed this would
seem to have been clearly the actual per
formance of Die previous speaker , who , how
ever , responded quite cheerfully : "An
cvenln * o' simple , childish gnlty don't count.
Wo g"t to start In again fair. What \\c
want hero Is to clear up and encourage de
cent Immigration and get rd ! o' gamblln's
nrd blatherskites that are makln' this yer
camp their happy hunting ground. We don't
want any more permuskous shootln. ' We
dcn't want any more palntln' the town red.
Wo don't want any more swnggerln' galloots
rldln' upto thin grocery nnd emptyln' their
E'X shooters In the alp afore they light. Wo
want totput a step to It peacefully and with
out a row nndvo kin. We ain't got no
bullies of our own to tight back and they
Icnow ItJ so they know ; they won't tget no
crc.llt b"ull > ln' us they'll leave It , If , we're
only ( Inn. It's all along of our d d fool
Boil nature ; they sec it amuse ? us and they'll
keep It up an long as > the whUtoy' free. What
wo want to do Is , when the next man conies
ualtzln' along "
A distinct clatter from the rocky hillside
here mingled with the puff of damp air
through 'tho window.
"Ionks as ef wo might hev a show even
now , " said Jim Uolllns , removing his feet
from the stovn as wo all Instinctively fa J
toward the window.
"I reckon you're In with us In this
Mosby , " culd Hrlgfis , turning toward the
proprietor of the grocery , who had been
loaning Jletlessly against the wall behind
his bar.
"Arter the man's had a fair show. " .Bald
Mosby , cautiously. lie deprecated the pro-
vnlllng condition of things , but It was still
nn open question whether the families
would prove os valuable customers as Ills
present clients. "Everything In modera
tion , gentlemen I"
The sound of galloping hoofs came nearer ,
now swishing In the soft mud of the high
way , until the unseen rider pulled up before -
fore the door. There was no shouting , however -
over , nor did ho announce himself with the
utiial salvo of flro arms. But when after
a singularly heavy tread and the jingle of
spurs on the platform , the door Hew open
to the newcomer , he seemed a realization
of our womt expectations. Tall , broud and
muscular , lie carried In ono hand a ftliot-
Kc'n , whllo from his lilp dangled a heavy
navy revolver. Hla long linlr , unkempt but
oiled , jjwppl a greasy clrclo around his
RlioulderH ; his enormous moustache , drip-
plug \ vltlivct , completely concealed his
n.cutli. His costume of fringed buckskin
VIM wild and outro even ( or our frontier
camp , llut what was more confirmative of
our suspicions was that lie was evidently
In the Imblt of making an Impression , and
nfter a distinct pause nt the doorway wltii
only a sldo stance afua lie strode toward
the bar.
"As there don't seem to bo no hotel
hereabouts , I reckon I kin put up my
mutitaiig lure and have a shake-down
somewhere behind that counter , " ho said.
Hs ( volco fcenied to have added to Its natural
dppth the lioarscncw cf frequent overt'traln- '
I ilk' .
"Vo ain't got nr bunk to spare , you bay *
hev yu ? " at'ked Mosby , evasively , glancing
nt Peicy Ilrlgiss without look.ng at tlio
HlraiiRor.Vo all looked at Ilrlggs also ; It
WflM hl affair after all he had originated
this opposition. To our great suiprlw ) lit'
said nothing.
The stranger leincd heavily on tlio counter.
"I. was speaklii' lo you , " lie said with hs !
eyes on Montiy und t4'glitly accenting the
pronoun with a tap of hip revolver butt on
tlip bir. "Vo don't pecm to citch on. "
Mopby pmlled feebly' anil again cast an
linplorlnK glance at Ilrlggs , To our greater
RBtonlshmunt Ilrlggs said quietly : "Why
don't you amm-cr the Hranger , Mosby ? "
"Yc , yea , " wld .Mosby i-uavely lo the
new comer-while an aiiRry llutili crossed lilu
chi'ck a ? ho recognized the position In which
UfsgRs liad placed him , * 'Of couriw you're
welromo tolrit doing ? T hov here , but I
reckoned there gentlemen over there , " with
n vicious gUiifo at Ilrlggp , "might fix ye
up suthln' better ; they're to pow'ful kind to
your sort. "
Tlio stranger throw do\\n a gold plcco on
tin-counter and said ; "Pork out your \\lilsKy
then , " waited until his glass was flll'd , took It
In Mill hand ami tliun drawing an empty chair
to the Hove f > a | down bpsldo Drlggs , "Pt'cln1
an , you're that kind , " ho raid , placing his
lioavy hand on Ilrlggi' knep , "mebbn ye kin
tell tine ef thar't > a shanty cr a cabin nt Hut-
tleinako that I kin get for a couple aVfuIn. .
I .saw an empty ono it the hiMd of ttio hill.
You' nee , gemnielmonj" ho iiddsd conflduniiy
asl'lie uuepl tlio drops of u If sky frnm lilts
long nnietachr with his tliiKers and glanced
arpund our group. "I've got BOIIU bimlnr. -
ovtr at Illfi\vc9il ( our neatest town ) , but 1-4
a raare to stay at It ain't my style. "
iaviat's tlie .r.iattcr with IJIswooJ1 Mid
Ilitrgs abruptly
"It' to howlln' , lee festive , too roughi ;
tliir.'s too mlich yellln' and ehontln' goin' '
on day and night. Thar'u tea many card i
fharpi and gay gumbollon cavoriln' about' '
the town to plcaso mo. Too much pcrmU. |
kous spakjn' atf-Uio bar and frei > J in Jaine. i
\ VhatyvAtit lifa quiet place uhar a 111311 !
kin glo\1\ll. | ) /jli ] < l und rll > ow a rm betwUt
Brlppm lii tOiOltln' IroiiE and cfuokln * lu liln
wlil kytj A'SfJ ' "I1" * ' , quiet , paiy place
llkO tlll . . " > i L > | )
We all H NI > at Uui. 1'crcy IlftKg * ai ,
Bxsdly u'&oy. tiut tlitroua ucrt the slighti i
e t trace of Irony , sarcasm or ptcullar slg-
nlflcance In his manner. He wuit on slowly.
' 'When F struck this yer camp a Inlnlt ago ;
when I seed that thar Oltch meanderln"
peaceful Ilko through the street , without a
hotel or free saloon or exprebS office on either
side- with the xmoke Just a curlln' over the
chlmbly of that log shanty , and the brcsh
Just MI flro to and a smouldcrln' In that potato
tate patch with o kind o' old-time stlngln'
In your - nnd and '
pye-s nose a few women's
duds Just a flulterln' on.a llre | by the fence.
I i-ays to tnyrelf : "Ilulger this Is pcacel
This Is wet you're wantln' this Is wet you'll
htv.1"
"You say you've buHness over at TJIgwood.
What business ? " said Ilrlggs.
. "It's n peculiar buslncw , young fellow , "
returned the rtronger gravely. "Thar's dif
ferent men ez has different opinions about
It. Some allows It's an easy business , some
nllows It's n rough buslncrr ; some says It'u
gay nnd festive. Seme wonders or. how I've
got Into It. and others wonder how I'll ' get
out of It. It's n payln' business It's n peace
ful sort o' buHness when left to Itself.
"II'D a peculiar business a business that
sort o' b'longs to me , though I ain't gat no
patent from Washington for It a business
that's my own. " He rose and saying : "Let's
meander over and take a look at that empty
cabin and ef she' nulls me , why I'll plank
down a slug for her on thejipot , and move In
tomorrow. I'll pick up suthln' In the wny
o' boxes and blankets'from the grocery , nnd
ef lhar's n corner whar I kin stand my gun
and n nail to hang up my revolver why ,
I'm nil thar ! "
IJy this time wo were no longer astonished
when Ilrlggs rose , and not .only accompanied
the sinister looking stranger to the emtpy
cabin , but asclsted hlm < In negotiating with
the owner for a fortnight's occupancy.
Nevertheless we eagerly assailed Ilrlggs on
his return for panic explanation of this
singular change In his , attlude toward the
stranger. Ho coolly rcni.'ndcd us , however ,
that whllo his Intention of excluding ruf
fianly adventurers frcm the "calnp remained
the fcnmp. he had no right to go back on th ?
strangers' sentjments , which wjre evidently
In accord with' our own , and although Mr.
Hulgsr'a appearance was Inconsistent with
them , that was o'nly an additional reason
why we should Milxtltutc a mild firmness
for that violence vthtch wo deprecated , but
which might attend his abrupt dismissal. We
were all satisfied qxcfipt Mos > by , who had not
yet recovered from Drlggs' change of front ,
which ho was pleased to call "crnw-flshlng. "
"Seemed to me hfericeount of his business
wan very satisfactory. * Sorter flllln' the bill
all round no mistake thar. " he ruggestod
with a malicious Jnon ) % "I like a man that's
" " '
outypoken.
"I understand him very'well ' , " said Brlggs ,
quietly. /
"In course youldld. Only when you've set
tled In your mlnfl whether he was describing
horse stealing pr.'tract"'distributing , mebbe
you'll let me know. "
It would peein , however , that Drlggs did
not Interiogate the stranger again regarding
It , nor did we , who were quite content to
leave mattcrp In " 111s hands. Enough that
Mr. Duller movej ntpjlhe empty cabin the
ie.\t day , and with th6"ald of a few old boxeo
from the grocery , whlch.-lie quickly extern-
"
[ loiizcd Into tables ah'd"chairs , , and the pur-
chat'a of some 'necessary ' cooking utensils
soon made himself 'tit' home. The rest of the
camp , now thoroughly arouwd , made a point
of leaving their w rk In the ditches , when-
n-er they could"rto''rtrolK < _ ? arelessly around
lulger'e tenenferjt b > 'the vague > hope of satls-
ylng a curiosity that had become torment-
ng. llut they could iiot find that he was
doing anything of a suspicious character ex
cept perhaps from thVfact that It was not
outwardly suspicious , which I grieve to ray
did not lull them'to security. On the second
day he , checked this Itinerate curiosity by
taking the Initiative himself , and quietly
valklng from claim to cltUm and from cabin
p cnbln with a pacific , but by no means a
atls-fylng Interest. Tire shadow of his tall
Igure carrying hls.IpEparable gun , flhlch
md noh Vet apparently ' 'stood In the corner , "
ailing upon an excavated bank beside the
lelvlng miners , gave them a sense of un-
aslnesa they could not'explain ; a few char
acteristic yells of boUteroua hilarity from
their noontide 'gathering under a cottonwood
somewhere ccaicd when Mr. Bulger was eien
gravely approaching , and his casual stopping
before a poker'party' In' the gulch actually
caused ono of the most reckless gambler ? to
weakly recede from "a bluff" nd allow his
adversary to tw.cep { ho bonrd. After this It
w-as felt that matter were becoming serious.
There was no subtyqtiont patrolling of the
camp before the Granger's cabin. Their
curiosityas jrfnughrjy abated. A
general feeling of icpulslon , kept
within bounds partly by the absence
of any overt nctAXcm. ( Bulger , and partly by
an Inconsistent overconsclpurness of his ? shot
gun took Its platTe" "But an' unexpected
occurrence revived It.
One evenlng.afc-tbje.AiBual social circle was
drawn around Moby's stcve , the lazy sl-
lenco was broken by the familiar sounds of
pistol shots anila s'erles of more familiar
shrieks and yell * 'from ' the rocky hill road.
The circle qn'tkly ' recognized the voices of
their old ft lends , the roysterers nnd gam-
blcm from Sawycr'o nun ; they as quickly
recognized the returning shouts here and
there from their newc.mpanlons who were
retaining them. > < J' rfeye to say thai In spite
of their previous Attitude of reformation a
snillo of gratified expectancy lit up the faces
of the younger members , and even the older
ones glanced dubiously nt Brlggs. Mosby
made no attempt to conceal a pigh of relief
asi ho carefully laid out an extra supply of
glasses on his bar. Suddenly the oncoming
yells ceased , the wild gallop of hoofs slack
ened Into a trot and finally halted , and even
the responsive shouts of the camp flopped
also.'o all looked vacantly at each other ;
Mosny leaned over the counter and went to
the door , Brlggs fcllowcd with the rest of
us. The night was da'k and It was a few
mlr.utcH before wo could , distinguish a strug
gling , vague but client procession moving
through the moist , heavy air on the hill.
But to our surprise It was moving away from
un absolutely leaving the camp. We were
still staring In expectancy , wl.en out of the
darkncM slowly emerged a figure which we
recognized at oneo at' ' Captain Jim one cf
the mod recklesn members of our camp.
Pushing UB back Vlnto the gtoceiy ho en
tered without a word , cbseil the door be
hind him and threw himself vacantly Into a
chair , ' We at once pressed around him.
He looked up nt us dazedly , drew a long
breath and said slowly ;
"H' no ufoB < 'utcmp.n. ' ) ! Suthln's g-t to be
done with Uiat Dulger ! And mighty quick. "
"What's tbo matter ? " wo asked cagsrly.
"Matter. " ho repeated , passing his
hand across his forehead , "matter ! ' Look
you ! Ye all heard them boy from Sawyer's
13am coming over the- hill ? Ye heard their
music mebbe ye heard us Join In the
chorus ? Well on they came waltzing down
the hill , like old times , and wo waltln' for
'em. Then Jett as they passid the old
cabin who do you think they ran right Into
shooting Iron , long hair and moustache
and nil that" standing tlmr plump In the
end ? Why Hulger. "
"Well ! "
"Well1 Whatever It was don't nifc me -
> ut dun my tliln ! ef after a word or two
frcm him them boys Just stopped yellln' ,
turned round like lambs and rode away
peacefuMIke , along with him. We ran
after them , n epell , still yellln,1 when that
Imt Bulger faced around , said to us that
lo'd come down hero for quiet , and if he
couldn't have It , hc'fl have to leave with
how gentleinen who wanted It too ! And
'in go li darned ! ef ( bcse > "gentlemen" you
; now 'em all 1'atcey Carpenter , StmivShut
Inrry , and the others ever irald a darned
vord. but kinder nodded 'So long , ' anil went
" '
away"
Our astonishment ami myeUfiratlon were
completeanrt. ; . I rctjref t'p sayi the Indlgna-
t on of rapta.ltf Jim and Mosby rquilly so.
"If we're going to bo bossed by the first
new comer , " wlO. the , f.rnicr , gloamlly , "I
teckon wo might a well take our chsncsa
with the Sawyer's Dam boys , whom we
know. " "lit wp are-goln'-nt ) hev the legiti
mate trade of Hattlesnake Interfered with
by the pranks of some hldln' horwtlilef or
retired road agent , " iXldMAsby. . "we might
ay well Invjte IN hull' -JiJSquIn Marietta's
gang here , at once ! BUJ Tfuppoud this It
part o' Bulger's parlJculabusiness. . " he
added , \\itn a withering glance * Brlgg * .
"I understand It o U' said , Hrlggs quickly ,
"you kno\v I told you \J a . bulllea couldn't
II va In thesamp timer together. TbatV
human naUire-riir.d thatS > how I'Ulu ' men
like you and mi ? inmiaj * | oipuj along \vltk-
I out Retting plugged. You see IlulRcr Wasn't
i going to hev any of his own kind Jumpln'
his claim here. And I reckon ho was pow'ful
' enough to lx tk down Sawyer's lam. Any
how , the bluff told and here we are In
peace and quletne-w. "
"Until ho lets us know what In his little
game , " sneered Mosby ,
Nevertheless , such Is the force of mysteri
ous power that although It was exercised
against what we firmly believed WAR the
Independence of the camp , It extorted a cer
tain respect from us. A few thought It
was not a bad thing to have a professional
bully , and even took care to relate the dls-
cntnfituro of the wicked youth of Sawyer'si
Dam , for the benefit of a certain adjacent
and power'ill camp which had looked down
upon us. He , himself , returning the same
evening from his self-lmposJd escort , Vouch
safed no other reason than the one he had
already given. 1'repcstcrous as It seemed ,
we were obliged to accept It , and the still
more preposterous Inference that he had
sought Hattlcsnakc camp solely for the pur
pose of acquiring and securing Its peace
and quietness. Certainly ho hid nd other
occupation ; the little work he did upon the
tailingor the abandoned claim which reach
his little cabin way scarcely a pretense. He
went over on certain days to Blgwood on
accrunt of his business , but no > ono had ever
seen him there , nor could the description
of his manner nnd appearance evoke any
Information from the BlgwoodlansJ It re
mained a mystery. ,
It had also bscn believed that the advent
of Bulger would Intensify thatv.fear and
dls'.tkc of riotous Hattlesnake which , the wo
families had shown , and which was , the or
igin of Brlggs' futile attempt at reformation.
But It was discovered that sincehis.'arrival .
the young girls had shown less ( ( nildlty
In entering the camp nnd had evcit ex
changed some polite conversationanil good-
humored badinage with Its yotihuer ard
more Impressible members. Perhaps this
tended to make these youths more observ
ant , for a few days later , when the 'Vexed
question of Bulger's buslnesO was "again
'
under discussion , one of them 'rclnarkcd
gloomily. ' '
"I reckon there ain't no doubt what he's
here for ! "
The youthful prophet was Instantly
sat upon after the fashion of nil- elderly
critics s'nce Job's. Nevertheless , after' ' a
pause he was permitted to explain.
"Only this morning when Lance Porcster
and mo were chirping with them pals out
on the hill who should wo see hanging
around In the brush but that d d Bulger !
We allowed at flroL that It might be only a
new style of his Interferln' , so we took no
notice except to pass a few lematks about
listeners und that sort o' th'ng , and per-
hapy to Joke and bedevil the' girls a little
more than we'd hev' done If we'd bea alone
Well , they laughed nnd we laughed and
tint was the end of It. But this afternoon
as Llnco and me were meandering down
by their cabin , we sorter turned Into th ?
woods to wait till they'd come out. Then
all of a sudden Lance stopped n rigid as
a pointer that's Hashed simethln' , and says :
'B'gosh ! ' And thnr tinder a big redwood
sat that slimy hypocrite Bulger , twisting
h's long mustache and smiling- like clock
work nlcng side o' little Meely 'Baker you
know her ! the pootlest of two slstert > !
and she smllln' back on him ! Think of It !
that unknown , unwashed , long-haired tramp
and bully who must be 40 , If a day and
that Innocent gal of 10. It was simply ! ! .
gustln' ! "
I need not say that the older cynics nnd
critics already alluded to , at once Improved
the occasion ! AVhat more could be expected ?
Women , the world over , were noted for this
sort of thing ! This long-1mlred , swoggei-
Ing bully , with his air of mystery , had cap
tivated them as ho always had since the
days of Homer , Simple Merit , that sat lowly
In bar rooms , and conceived projects for
the public good around the humble , unosten
tatious stove was nowhere ! Youth could not
tno soon learn this bitter lesson ! -And In
this case youth , too , perhaps , was right In
Its conjecture , for this was no doubt the
llttlo game of the perfidious Bulger ! We
recalled the fact that his unhallowed appear-
ince In camp was almost coincident with
the arrival cf the two fatnll'es. We glanced
at Brlggs to our amazement , for the firht
time he looked seriously concerned. But
Mosby In the meantime leaned his nlbons
lazily over the counter and In blow voice ,
added fuel to the flame.
"I wouldn't hev t-poken of It before , " ha
wld with a side-long glanoc at Brlgns"tor
It might be all In tho- line o' Bulger's 'busi
ness , ' but suthln' happened the other night
that for a mlnlt git me. 1 was pjsiin' tns
Bakc-u' shanty und I heard one of them gals
jnglng ! a camp meetln' hymn. I don't
calkllatc to run again you young fellers in
any sparkln' or canoodlln' that's goln' en , but
her voice sounded so pow'ful tooth'n' and
pretty thet I Jest stood there and listened.
Then the old woman old Mother Bakei s > ho
joined In nnd I listened , too. And then
durn my skin but a man's voice joined In
) ci > l belching cuter that cabin and 1 sorter
lifted myself up and kem away. Thet voice ,
gentlemen , " tuld Mosby , lingering artistic
ally as he took up a glass and professionally
eyed It before wiping It with his towel , "that
voles , cumf'bly fixed thar in thet cabin among
them wlmen folks , was Bulgcr'e ! "
Btlggs got up with his eyes looking the
darker for his flushed face. "Gentlemen , "
he said , huskily , "tlinr's only one tiling to be
done. A lot of us have get to ride- over to
Sawyer's Dam tomorrow morning and pick
up as many square men as we can muster ;
there's n big camp meeting goln' on there
and there won't be no dldlculty In that. When
we've got a big enough crowd to s'now we
mean business , we must march back here and
ride Bulger out of this camp ! I don't hanker
urter vigilance committees BP p. rulo-lt's ; a
rough remedy It's like drlnkln' a quart o'
whisky ag'ln rattlesnake , poison bur It's got
tn ) m rlnnnlVn flnn't m'.Tld hpltll ? hnltl Oil I * .
selves , but when It comes lo our standln'
by and eeeln' the only Innocent 'people In
Itattlesnako given away wo kick ! Bulger's
got to be fired outer this campl And he will
be ! " . > i
But he was not.
For wien , the next morning , a determined
and thoughtful procession of the best and
most characteristic citlz'e'ns of liattlejnake
camp filed Into Sawyer's Dam they fuund
that their mysterlpuo friends ha d disappeared ,
although they met with jU Internal- sub-
ducJ welcome from the , general camp. But
any approach to the subject 'of "th'elr vliCt ,
hnwever , was received wltu a chilling disap
proval. Did they not know that-lawles nisr !
of any kind , even under' the ru'de.jnaiitle-
furtive Justice , was to. bo deprecated am )
scouted when a "mentis of uilvatlon , a power
of reoiganlzatlon , " sucli ai > was now ev.Qt-plng
ovct Sawyer's Dam , wttp 'at hand. ? Cou.d
they not Induce this man who was to be
violently deported to accompany' the-n to
Sawyer's Dam nnd Mibject hlirucU t > the
powerful Influence of ilo ; "revlvil ' " 'then In
full swing ? , . * * !
Hattlcsnako brys laughed bitterly. , | and
dei-rlbed the man of whom' they talked BO
lightly. But In vain , "ll's.jko USP , .ppntle *
men , " wld n more worldly bystander 'n a
lower voice , "the camp meetlnVnot.n .fctrong
grip here , and btwixt you , -snd mo there
ain't no wonder , For the man thit runs It
the big picachcr has got new wa > and
methods that fetches the boys' every time.
Ho don't preach no cut , ndi.drlefl gospel ;
lit don't carry around no slop-whop robes
and clap 'cm on you wHether-Mlidy * fit or
not , but he samples und mwtur U'R ' camp
afore ho wade Into It , He scouts find' examines -
amines ; ho ain't no mere Sunday picicher
with a comfortable houeo and oncc-a-week
church , but he gives up his days and n'ghts
to It , and makes his family work with him ,
and even sends 'em foiward to explore the
field. And hu ain't no white- choker nlnil-
belly , cither , but fits himself like his. gospel
to the men he .vorhs among.4 Ye ought to
hear him afore you go. Ills tent Is just
on your way , I'll go with you. "
Too dejected to uffer any opposition and
perhapu a llttlu courloua to tee this man
who had unwittingly frustrated their de-
blgn of lynching Bulger , they baited at the
outer fringe of w rshlpem who packed the
huge enclosure- . They had-not ' ( jaie.tqIn
dulge their cyn'cUms o\e'r this swaying mats
cf emotional , half-thinking and utmost Ir
responsible beings , nor to detect any simi
larity between their ex erne riiethodv and
the scheme of redemption they themselves
weru reeking , for In n few moments , appar
ently lifted to hla feet on a'.wa've cf re
ligious exultation , the famous lueacher arose.
The. men of Hattleenake gasped for breath !
It WM Bulcer !
But Brlggs quickly recovered 'himself. "By
what name , " said he , turning passionately
toward bin guide -"does this man this Impostor
pester call himself here ? " " *
"Baker ? " echoed the lUttk-nnjke eontln-
gent ! "Baker ! " repeated Lance Forester
with a ghaHly smile.
"Ves , " returned their K de , "Yp.u oughter
know It , too ! For he tent hu < wlfe and
daughter over after hli usual style JO sample
your camp , a week ngol Come , now I Wbat
are you glvlu' ul" *
BILLY , THE KID.
By Cnrtnln Jock Crawford , "Tho Toot Scout. "
Whllo ( stationed at Fort Craig on the Illo
Grande river In New Mexico , and on the I2th
day of August , 1880 , I received Instructions
from General Kdward Hatch , commanding
that military district , to proceed at once to
the Sacramento mountains , scout them thor
oughly and report the presence there of any
bands of Apaches to General George P. Duel
at Fort Cummlngs. The order Teachcd mo
late In the evening , aild. at 3 o'clock the fol
lowing morning I wad In the saddle. FordIng -
Ing the Illo Grande 1tA my face eastward
acrcss the dreary desert known as the Jor
nada del Muerto , cr , -Interpreted Into Kng-
llsh , the "Journey touDcwth. "
Shortly after noonil Irachcd the Dripping
Springs In the Sin Andreas mountains , and
halted for a rest and to allow my horse to
graze. Wearied with my fifty mile ride
across the hot dcsett ) I laid down In the
shade of a hackberryr tree which grew near
the springs and slept' fofl.an hour , then catch
ing up my trusted here , "Chief , " resumed
my ride.
After leaving the tprlngs I rede up a slopIng -
Ing mountain side from' which I could uec a
largo scope of country back on the trail over
Which I had come , and while scanning the
low hills at the root lot the range with my
powerful field glasneif 1 was somewhat
startled to see a band > iot about twenty In
dian ? , hostllcs of the -worst type , moving
toward the springs , and Icsd than a mile dis
tant. Through an adjacent gulch 1 descended
to the trail leading toward the Sacramentos
and rode rapidly forward.
A few miles from the Dripping Springs I
entered a narrow canon which led through a
spur of the San Andreas range to the level
plain beyond , the precipitous walls of the
great gulch rising hundreds of feet on cither
sldo cf the trail. 1 was pushing rapidly
ahead when a monster "silver tip" bear ap
peared on the trail but a short distance
ahead of mo. Taking a position In the path ,
the savage brute stood there closely looking
at me , evidently determined to dispute my
passage through his Iwunts. I could have
easily dispatched him with a shot from my
rifle , but the report of the gun would have
revealed my presancc to the Indians , and I
dared net fire. My thoroughly frightened
liorwj was rearing and prancing In terror ,
and utterly refused to move forward and at
tempt to pass the beast. Dismounting I
threw stones at the unobliging animal , but
all my efforts to Induce him to vacate hlo
position but elicited from him a scries of
savage growls and n display of gleaming
teeth. Realizing that the Indians were liable
to put In an appearance and that further
delay might bring about very unpleasant re
sults , I determined to force my frightened
horse by the monster If It was In the power
of steel to accomplish that much desired
object. At cvoty prod of the spurs the anl-
mnl xvnnlil rn.ir and nlunco. until , irnarlnil tn
desperation by the cruel rowels , he gave a
snort of pain and terror and rushed forward
with terrific leaps , swerving aside to pass
the shaggy obstacle. Evidently divining his
Intcntlcn , the bear sprang aimrlly In front of
the horse , and before I could reJlIze what
was taking place "Chief" had risun In tl
air and plunged over the astonished brute
and was speeding sw'ftly down the canon.
After riding some distance out on the
desert I slackened speed , knowing If the In
dians were In pursuit i coula ECO them as
they emerged from the canon , and when , at
a distance of several miles , my glass yet
failed to reveal their presence I felt satisfied
that they had not seen me and had gone
Into camp at the Dripping Springs. That
afternoon I came upon a young man sitting
upn a rock , his horse quietly feeding ne.jr
him. After the usual greetings I dismounted
and sat down near him , and In the course of
conversation suggested that he was liable to
lun Into thcs3 Indiana In the direction he
was traveling , and .advised him to keep n
sh-irp lookout for them. Ha replied that he
had 'no fear of Indians ; that it was white
men he most desired to avoid. The remark
struck me as being a queer one , but I paid
: ittlc attention to It until something in the
ycung fellow's looks and actions set me to
thinking. He"was heavily crmodi carrying
two large Colt's revolvers In scabbards In his
bait , while'I"obscrveditint he never removed
his hands from a WlUchcster rifle which
laid across his knees. : The recollection of
certain printed handbills came to mo like a
flail ) , and I said :
"I believe your name Js Lslloy. "
"Well , and what 1C31 Is ? " he asked.
"It Is no matter to3me , " I replied. "I am
hunting Indians , anil have no business to
transact with 'Billy , thelKld. ' "
"What makes you think I am that cuss ? "
he asked.
"I have saen prlntedi'descrlpllons of you.
The country Is flooded -with handbills offer
ing n reward for youpdead or alive"
He reflected a monlenf eyeing me closely ,
and then replied :
"I know you , or think ) I do. You are Jack
Crawford , an' I donlc think you ars locking
for white game. I am i Billy , the Kid , and
this Is the carcass the tofllcers want to pay
such n big price for. Do I look like 1 was
worth so much ? "
I told him that while his eyes possessed a
nowlsa angelic gleam , he didn't look Ilko a
very bad man. After some conversation re
garding lily past life and the causes which
led him to become an outlaw I said :
"Billy , I believe you are the mout notorious
victim of trashy novel reading the country
has ever produced. Is It not the prime cause
cf your present situation ; n fugitive from
justice with a terrible record behind you and
the keen-scented hounds of the law forever
on your trail ? "
"Well , you ore not far from right , " he re
plied. "Of course there were other things
which drove me to this life , but If reading
those books hadn't roused the devil In me I
would now be a square man. Hew did you
get onto that ? "
"I Inferred It from the fact that nine-
tenths ct our to-called 'bad men' were first
Induced to go wrong through reading the vllo
blocd-and-thunder novels wh'oi ! are dally firjng
the brains of boys with false Ideas of western
romince anil adventure , causing them to
leave gocd homes In the east and come west
to bo Indian fighters or famed as highway
men. The writers and publishers of such
trash are a curse to ths country , "
"That's right , " ho forcibly replied.
"That's dead right. I know just as well as
I know I'm stttlng her talking to you that
the officers will run onto me unexpected
Ecmc day and do me up. It's only a ques
tion of time , but I'll Btntul 'em off as long
as I can. One more on my list wouldn't
make any difference to me , and I tell you
right now I'd like to add a name to my roll
bsfore I'm picked up. . It would be a
pleasure to mete make the last act of my
life an Interview with naming a well
known dime novel publisher ) . After I'd got
a start reading his Infernal books I couldn't
stop , and they put a devil In me that has
brcilgtit me to this. I have won the tiame
the books set mo to longing for , and what's In
It ? Hunted like a dpg day and night , and
knowing death will get Its clutches on me
before I'm much older. O , It's glorious , this
'terror * business. "
I could not but feel sympathy for the
poor wretch , rd-handed murderer though I
knew him to bo , and I never preached such
a sermon as I then did to him on that barren
desert In the heat of the- summer sun. I
talked to him of his mother , his homo , what
ho might have been had he resisted the .In
fluences which led him astray , and the
softened expression which came over his sin-
hardened countenance convinced me that my
words deeply affected him. At our parting
ho said :
"Jack , you are the only man that ever
talked to me that way , and I thank you
for It. You have stirred up something In
mo that tells mo I < am not all bad. Such
talk a long time agoi might have done eome
good , but It's tco lats now. No matter how
earned I might bei In wanting to bottle-
down and lead a ttrateht life , the oflicers
wouldn't let me , and till I can do Is to go
ahead until my time cornea. Goodbye ; I
must bo pulling ahead.'tl hope I may meat
you again tome time , "
He mounted his hcnoiand rode away , and
co great was his confidence In me that ho
never looked back.1 A tliot frcm my rifle
would have rid' the country of Its most
dreaded desperado anfl have considerably en
riched myself , tut be 'Crusted ' me with hit
life , and not /or wdrld * would 1 have be
trayed that trust , villain though ho was.
I was not at all rurnrleed when I heard
that he had met wlttt Utath at the hands cf
Dsputy Sheriff Pat 0 mt , nt a ranch where
ho was resting for aiday or two , HU name
IB but ono more added to the Hit of the
poor victims of the dlnte novel , and It U a
tad commentary on our UwB that the writers
and publishers of such ] toul-deitroylrig fiction
are permitted to continually lucrcaue that
run somcn nv MAI.AIMA.
Mlivitlloii SlionH ( linl It IN ( If letter
III ( luVnrr Tliiin ( In- , \p | ,
The Investigation on the potirco of malaria
has had the writer's attention for over two
year * , any * the Medical Journal , and In that
tlmo a largo amount of clinical testimony has
been collected from all known malarial dis
tricts ) In North America ; the final report ,
however1 , will hardly be ready for publication
for some month * , but from the work already
completed certain fncts have been obtained
which will bo embodied In this hort notice.
The Introdfctlon of artc Ian wells , first by
the raflroad companies who desired n larger
supply of water than had hitherto been available -
able , and the accidental use of that water by
the people In the Immediate vicinity , soon
produced a marked diminution of malarial
trouble In those localities. The artesian sup-
rlloo were , on the whole , so satisfactory to
the railroads that their Introduction became
very rapid , nnd In a few yeani most of the
South Atlantic lines depended upon this
source of water supply. The evidence that
In the exclusive usa of the deep-seated waters
there was apparently Immunity from malarial
trouble was apparently so Incontestable that
I determined ip n n cilt'cn1 examination of all
waters known to produce malaria nnd the o
that In malarial districts were proof against
It ; this examination ID not only chemical , but
blclcglcal and pathological.
In-the hreseni state of our knowledge wo
do hot expect tn bo able to draw n sharp line
between water * that produce malaria nnd
those jifoof against It by purely , chemical
analysis , nor , on the other hand , can wo hope
to Identity by biological examination the pro-
lozca producing that trouble ; but we may
by the 'former succeed In Isolating certain
toxic products peculiar to those waters only ,
and by " thc , , latter n certain line of testimony
that , lt"conjunction | with the chemical Inves
tigation , 111 yield very valuable results.
The , work _ thus far has proved satisfactory
beyond , cxpectatlon , and , from the work al-
reaily done , and the character and amount cf
evidence before me , I au Justified In stating
that the long current belief that the source
of malaria li In the air Is In error.
Iho gcrrn , which la of soil origin , Is strictly
a protpzoa , and reaches Its highest develop
ment In low , moist ground , with a favorable
temperature. Surrounded by the proper soil
ccndlticns , thlo protozoa passes from ono
ftago of life Into another with considerable
rapidity , so that In the present state of our
experimental * knowledge It Is Impossible to
Identify It , nor Is It probable that by c-iltiire
we shall , be/ able to produca the accepted
Laveran germ outside of the human system.
As a rule- the potable water fiom the
malarial districts Is derived from driven
wells not ever twenty-two feet deep , In soil
with clay or some other Impervious sub
strata , which water Is generally cool and
palatable , often tparkllng clear , but more
frequently a little turbid. This water Is filled
with an Incalculable numbar of these germs
In all stages of development , nnd If used as a
potable .water they naturally find their way
tntn tlm nvstnm Ihrnnali the alimentary chan
nel. This protozoa passes through so many
forms or stages of life that In some stages It
Is light enough to float and be transported
by the moist air of low grounds , but In this
state It Is comparatively harmless except
under most extraordinary conditions ; It Is
not until the surface water Is used that the
real mischief begins , when , by reason of
higher development. It has become much
more virulent than that floating In the air.
A very short period of Incubation Is sufficient
to develop a severe case of malarial fever In
the newcomer who uses the surface water.
From personal observation I know that the
exclusive use of pure , deap-seateJ water af
fords entire immunity against malaria In sec
tions of country where no white man dared
live using the surface water. Nor must It
bo understood that the exclusive use of pure
water simply fortifies and strengthens the
system agalnH the attack of the germ. The
water Is the primary cause of Infection ,
which acts-ns the direct carrlsr of the germ
Into the system through the Intestinal tract.
The Impression that malaria Is causad by
purely atmospheric InfluenceD has become so
fixed In our minds that , unless we come In
actual contact In the evidence produced In
the use of pure water as against that hereto
fore us3d , the physician will , in all probabil
ity , be very slow to allow himself to be .con
vinced that the word malarial ( mal , bad ; aria ,
air ) Is-a misnomer , nnd that malaqua ( mal ,
bad : aqua , water ) Is the word that should bs
used to convey the pernicious1 effects known
under the name of malarial fever.
New so-called remedies spring up every
day like mushrooms ; but the people still
cling to Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup.
< ; j'lnl < 'H Arc > ISvrrytvlivrc.
Nearly every c'vlllzed country In the
world has bands of gypsies wandering about
within Its boundaries , nnd their futility and
apparent lack of any definite object In life ,
so characteristic of this nomadic race , gives
peculiar Interest to statistics concerning
them. Frcm' Hungary , the center and startIng -
Ing point of the race , we learn from n census
that their total number In that country
alone amounts to 274,010. About half of
them were settled In towns and villages ,
whllo the other half led a constantly wan
dering life. Altogether there were 104,700
gypslea who professc.l Hungarian as their
mother tongue , 67,046 Roumanian , 9,857 the
Slovak language , 0,861 the Servian , 2,036 the
German and 2,008 the Huthenlan lan
guage. The number speaking only the
Czlgany or Romany tongue that Is , the
gypsies who' do not amalgamate with other
nationalities was 82,045 , or about 30 per
cent of the whole.
J. W- Fierce , Republic , la , , sayii : "I have
used One Minute Cough Cure In my family
and for my as ] ! , with results so entirely eat la-
factory that 1 can hardly find words to ei-
press myself as to Its merit. I will never
fall to recommend It to others , on every oc
casion that presents Itself. "
The general belief among
doctors is that consumption -
tion itself is very ramy
inherited. But the belief
is becoming stronger that
tfye tendency to consump
tion is very generally
transmitted from parent
to child. If there has
been consumption in the
family , each member
should take special care
to prepare the system
against it. Live out doors ;
keep the body well nour
ished ; and treat the first
indication of failing health.
of Cod-liver Oil , with
Hypophosphites , is a fat-
producing food and nerve-
tonic. i.Its use is followed
by improved nutrition ,
richer blood , stronger
nerves and a more healtny
action of all the organs.
It strengthens the power
of the body'fo resist dis
ease. If you have in
herited a tendency to weak
lungs , shake it oft.
JUST AS GOOD IS NOT
. SCOTT'S EMULSION.
PLUG IN THE LEAD
TTLE
# AS JUMPED INTO PUBLIC FAVOR ON
ACCOUNT OF ITS SIZE AND QUALIT
A GREAT BIG PIECE
OF HIGH GRADE TOBACCO FOR
IOCENT
BRIGHT'S DISEASE
Is the most dangerous of all
" " " Kidney Diseases. Pains in
\ the Back , Irregularities in
\ the Urine , Swelling of the
Limbs or. Abdomen are the
first symptoms
Dr. J. H. McLEAN'S '
LIVER AND KIDNEY BALM
Has proven , in thousands of cases and for many
years , to be the Peerless Remedy for this dreaded
disease. It relieves promptly and works a per
manent cure "
. , .
FOR SALC CVCnyWHIRI. PRICE 31.00 PER BOTTLE
THE DR. J. H. MCLEAN MEDICINE co. , ST. LOUIS , MO.
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE.
Something New
*
;
r
South Arabian Nights
Mew Story from "IkleRemiJs"
< so named )
TheSonofBenAli
Told by His Friends and Acquaintances.
BBy , JOEL CHflNDLER H/HU08 /
I This story began publication Feb. 2. To
5 run six weeks. Illustrated by Oliver Herford.
I
* J" L * * " * - * - " " ° L 'r
w |
i THE OMAHA SUNDAY 13EE.
RE3TORB'
LOST VIGOR
When In doubt i tul t us ft.r K rv j | D UJlf , J.GIJ cf Si-i | . , . _ , . _ . . .
) . Jutpotcncv , , Atroi'by Vrlc cl nd tbcr wttkBttMi , from . tty cpiM.
8 itn fills lrtia . c/icck d nd full ljl blrkly rtl rod. Jf rWcindbj .
. tfoublcsiriultftiittjr. M ll a or nci < . ttI d , ( orfi oj 6liwf | | ] 4 1lM
lt IB 4 vreeki. rir | | j o ord r w rf ft l t l gutriBM * i rrf or iffiina thttmfRtft AtltH
BBRMAN * IfcCONNEM. DJIUO CO. . 1811 Dotgt Btrtil , OauU , 'K | J ,