New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-26

again. and yet we knowed we'd 90
to. II you must you'd better has al
ways been my favorite motto. But ther
we was fifty miles from water, and tina
water was alkali, and about as bad as non,
at all. And for two DAYS we'd been dry
Well, We feit we'd never see Busted again
and we Just sot and waited for the moon t,
rise and light US out. Eff it hadn't bee,
moonlight and eff We hadn't waited wei
died sure. But its being little cloudy savet
US: Tor, as we was sitting there we heart
steps, and there was Busted. He came VI
to US and smiled. Ofcourse we was mi
glad and mighty relieved to see him
but we was puzzled by his oraccount
able behavior. He kept p kind of buckin2
around into us and brayhg, and at last VT
see the reason. He kept trying to brush
ag in us, and finally that canIeen that huns
on his saddle hit Joes hand. English
just yelled Joe. in his hoarse and husky
voice. that canteen'a wet And sure
enough i. was. That mule had smelt water
AID hat come back at.e.ward: and, though
Il couldn't Il the carteec. it had stopped
dow. AID %: its outside wet. We saw il
al! in Il .n.9.e. We'll. lead US out. good
Busted, dear Busted said Joe, patting bis
neck and half hysterical. And that mule
just went for water straight; and we follow.
ed. you bet, sir. And he led US straight on
growing around US. and nice bunch grass
Just a little way off. Oh it was lovely
We stayed there all the next day and Just
swilled water; and then We started back;
Joe and both riding Busted.
"Well. we kept pretty quiet for some
timeo But Joe he kept hearing people talk
OF Drytogel's discovering gold over there,
you knows how Dryfoge! went out and
found gold and left his private mark there,
and then came back, aud when he went
out again couldn't find his mark nor Moth
ing. Well. Joe. he didn't know Dryfogel;
but he kept hearing and hearing about 10,
till he grew kind OF crazy about it. And
nothing would satisfy him but he must
start out again. Well, I'd had enough of
the AmargOsa country and the Death
Valley. and | didn't believe in the Dryfo-
gel story. But Joe and me was sitting in
Manwel's store. Well says Joe, If
nobody'll go with me, I'll 60 alone. Just
give me- Busted. and I'll travel through
this country from one end 20 the other
Aud tell you what. I'm going over there
to settle, bag and baggage. I've got $500
in gold, that III put in my belt, and III
start alone, if it's necessary
"'l!l go with yoU.' said MAXWELL. sud
denly.
well, Joe was in for it. and he'd have
gone with any body rather than not have
gone. and it ended in his starting as he
said. Well, as might have been expected,
Joe never come back. But MARVEL did. In
less than fortnight he was back again,
with his hair all right; but he said he'd
lost his hat. He couldn't stand the desert,
he said; but he'd left Joe well and hearty
and on the way across the Death Valley.
The story seemed reasonable enough, and
we didn't think nothing strange about it,
except that Joe didn't write no message
to me. 1t might have been all of two
months after this when Captain Herring
came through with pack train. And a
precious bung-eyed old rascal he is, YOU
know. Well, he filed along with his train
and stopped to take dinner with u.s. and.
as he tied up his train, who should see
but Busted. At first couldn't believe it,
for knew that Joe never would have part
ed with him; but he brayed and recognized
me when come up l didn't say nothing
to no one, but drew Captain Herring out
side. Cap says l, do you mind putting
that mule into my shed, and just keeping
quiet about it" Well, Cap, he was little
but he said yes Now. Cap
said l. that mule belonged to Joe Childers,
[ am quite sure. Tell us where you found
him. And then Cap said it was over in
the Dead Valley region. And what is Gu
rious, said the Captain, 'he had an old felt
hat in his mouth, and q flesh woxnd in one
Of his buttocks, but no saddle nor nothing
Can you show me that hat 2 says l. NO
says the Captain, for threw it away; but
t was tor all the world just like the one
you're wearing Well says I. Joe never
wore hat like that Look here, Cap,
you're going trip up north, and will pass
through here in few DAYS agaia Just
cave that there mule with me, and
ct rae investigate this thing. so
he Captain agreed, and let NE keep
5usted. No one had recognized him under
us Gpparcjo, and | and my partner Kept
Lulet about our having him in the she'd |
}ut that evening we went into ManweTs
tore. BY the way said |, quite careless |
nd indifferent like. there was mule |
nightly like Joe CEilders' Busted in Captain !
ierring's train to-day. Maxwell started. |
Did 1t have wound or scar on his hipv
avs he. Why, no. saysI. Neither did |
'usted:' And then l see he looked con.
lsec; but l kept quiet and said no more /
lat night. But talked it over with my
artner that night. and we reflected great
cal more about the circumstance Of hi.
aving hat in his mouth when Captain
-erring found him. Finally we decided to
t Busted loose, and give him niy hat and
re what he'd do. We held the Lat before
I'M next morning. He smelt of it: and final
:. OF sudden, grabbed it in his mouth and
arted out. We followed. He went straight
own by Manwels store. Maxwell was
It in front. talking TO some one. That
ule just stepped up and dropped the hat
Eat and square on his head. Whats all
lis z says MAXWELL, trying to look uncon.
rncd. III just tell you what it is says
4 suspect that Joe Childers has been
urdered. and suspect tha: you done it,
Veil. says MAXWELL, its lie. You al.
avs hated me, English: bu: to accuse me
numbering man when you don't know
IS dead. just lays little over anything I
er heard on Well. it was Nigh V fortu-
tie Tor II. that Judge Perry happened to
il the crowd. He'd ridden over that
ornin: before to lock at some mines. and,
airing some noise, he come up Gentle.
en- said he. in his lawyerisl sor: of way.
I US know the point at issue Well. /
ID him the whole story. and he listened
ry grave. Hentlemen.' said lie. let us
TIL. thing calm and proper. Assuming
at the late Mr.. Childers is dead. was
ere any property which might offer an :
iucement TO cupidity about him. In !
Ter words, what did he have worth steal. I
=: Five hundred dol lars in gold says ..
in belt The gold,' says the Judge, :
~ impassive, lis net distinguishable as q
} property of the late Mr.. Childers. But e
) belt may be about. and would recon. q
nd a search for it. Stop, gentlemen. .
US do this thing calm and deliberate. .
uld appoint Messrs. Tom Shaw and Al s
d Kelly committee OF two to investi- q
Q and search tor this belt in Manwels a
lse.' &
Well. sir, they went in. MARVEL looked ~
&c enough at us. We waited. Jest hold. 2
our breath: and in about fifteen minutes =
they come-and they had found it !
the yell that went up! It seemed lest =,
,nst out OF itself and split things. Stop, -
tlemen: says the Judge. still. cool and
nltied. The law gives every criminal
benefit OF doubt. Prisoner. do YOU
Tess your guilt. after this strong circnm- =.
ltiai evidence. No. snarled MARVEL, ~ ~
{ NrOyea pOthjrps sTha, $o1Io,,x -; | I'll