The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-12

ever hccrd. You see that boy" said the
backwocdsman, when Mr.. Murphy and HIM
self we're seated together In private apart
ment which commanded view of the
camp: "vou see that boy" he repeated,
pointing toward the eldest of his party, who
was in the act Of Iassoing the OK with all the
ease Of prac iced vaquero; swell, sir, that
ain't no boy it's gal"
"a whatr' cried Mr.. Murphy, sprineipe
to bis feet In establishment. and gazing intent.
IL out of the window at the wel-kntt figure
sitting certain.like on risky pony, While
the SLOUGH bat pulled down over the eyes,
and the loose coat and other male attire, gave
the indicated figure the masculine appearance
which accorded best with her actions.
GA pirl - repeated Mr. Murphy, unable
to overcome his establishment.
eyes. sir" said the backwoodsman ga
gal. an not mine at that" s..
This was another revelation, but the worse
was to come. "An' more than thst, sir. ]
don't know who she is or where she came
from an she don't know herself. All |
know about her Is that l met her down 10
Texas fifty miles from any house, ah' came
near shooting her in the mistake for wild
beast. From the description she gives OF
herself, and The tincture of Spanish and In
dian she's got, guess she was raised down
somewhere in Mexico or Arizona. She
don't know much about herself anyhow
until she was about six years OF age, when
woman that she calls "mother,' and used 10
live with. moved TO Arizona, where she
picked UP with a fellow named Job Smith
that passed himself off as Methodist
preacher"
The pioneer then took skip to the girls
twelfth year, wen she was living with
Smith and her supposed mother in the heart
of the Iudian country. One day she accom-.
panied her s,epfather sore distance from the
house TO a lonely ravine for the purpose OF
fetching some trewood. She never returned,
however, for her inhuman guardian gagged
and tied Ter to tree, and then went back
and informed bis paramour that the girl had
been captured by Indians, and that he bad
himself narrowly escaped being scalped.
With degree Of heroism, however, which
no doubt as,onished his consort, he declared
bis intention Of pursuing the girls cap.ors,
and taking his rifle and mounting his horse
lie started out apparently in hot pursuit the
fleeing band of Indians. Returning to the
canyon where the crime bad been committed,
he released the girl, and placing her on a
mustang captured in the rayine, turned bis
UuTSG Uciu l. vi sSfCIui udSS
and nights Smith compelled the girl TO re-
main In the saddle, almost without sleep or
rest, until all darger of pursuit by his
deserted paramount was over. Then the
fuoitives drew rein and ieisurely pro-
eeeded towards Nevada. Here he dressed
the girl in boys clothing, and representing
her as bis son, lived a romantic life for
several years, wandering through the va
rous mining towns of the interior, gam
bling, fighting, horse.stcaIing. and even rob-
bing-apythine, however, to gain livcli-
hood. In all bis adventures the girl was bis
companion, aud equally shared The fortunes
and plivationS Of their predatory expeditions,
knowing no home or God. fearing nothing
but the stern law Of Judge Lynch, and iguo- |
rant Of the customs of civilized life. No one
ever doubted that the sex OF the girl was |
her than her banner ard masculine attire |
would indicate. A crack shot with the rifle |
or pistol, daring equestrian, and skiiful |
cook Of the class best suited TO the primcral |
wilderness, she was an inyaluabl" auxiliary |
to her reckless partner, who, nevertheless, as |
the sequel will show, failed 10 appreciate |
Justly her devotion and services. While on |
one of their suspicious visits TO the neigh
borhood OF Death Valley, Smith became in
volvcd in difficulty with another advcn-
turer, if possible more desperate and de-
graded than himself. The unpeasantness |
was arranged in the manner most satsfac-
tory 10 both-in other worCs, by resort to
the pistol and knile. Smith, who was armed |
with six.shooter, was badly wounded by a
cut in the pistol arm, but changing bis wea-
pom to the other hand, continued the fight
with undated spirit. His aim, however,
was not as correct as usual, and one of the I
bullets intended for the brain of his adver.
sary lodged in the right foot Of the girl, who
was passive spectator of the duel. After |
his adversary had been placed h0rS de COM
bot Smith discovered that the girl was
wounded, but in the excess of bis brutality
made DO further comment on the fact than
to cXclam, with an oath, 'Why in -
didn't you keep your feet out Of the
wayT' Then, apprehending that his
favorite stamping. grounds were getting
too warm for bis peace of mird, he
picked up his scanty outfit and started for
Idaho. Thence he went to Montana, where
he cndcavored to induce the girl to resume
female attire and travel with him us his sis
ter through the various mining camps.
Ignorant and deblsed as she was, with blunt
cd scusbiIiticS and bsstul ignorance Of
what the civilized world calls virtue, the girl
streDuously opposed the proposition. Smith
vas memorable, however, and knowing bis
disposition too we'll TO hope to copciliate
him, the girl fed from.hiS camp one evening
with the intention Of hiring out as 4 herds
msn on some distant ranch. She Was over.
taken, however, by her heartlesS partner,
who was so enraged by ner resistance that he
triccd her up 10 q tree, and, stripping her TO
the waist, coWhided the unfortunate girl |
until he blood trickled down her back, and |
the wretch had satisfied his Vengeance. a
short time after, in a fit Of drunken rage, he
stabbed her in the leg, inflictiug serious
aud nearly fatal wound. When the girl had |
sonew hat recovered from this last injury, the
strange pair moved to Texas, where they |
pursued their Domadic mode of life uutil a |
few weeks before the girl was discovered by |
the hunter. One evening their camp was
visited by two herdsmep, whom Smith |
entertained in his usual style, with
whskey and cards, until the fun be-
CAME uproarious, and, fearful that the
hiarity would eliminate in fight, the girl
went out, and, hiding in the brush, awaited
developments. Subsequent events proved
that her suspicious were correct. About
midnight the sharp crack of rife, followed
by oahs and pistol.shotS, told Of the terrible
struggle that was going on in the camp. The
sounds Of deadly strife were followed BY the
noise of horses boots leaving the camp, and
then all was still. Next morning the girl
returned TO the camp, but nothing WAS TO
be seen of Smith or his companions. The
horses were gone, but Smiths rifle lay
in it, accustomed place. The turf around
the camp fire was broken as if by
4 desperate struggle, aud large pool
OF blood showed where one of The