New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12
THE vIa1LANTs' MISTAKE.
BY JOHN THoRNBURY.

Frank Staples served in the cavalry dur.
ing the rebellion, and went through the
war he left the service with an honorable
discharge in his pOcket-and very little
else. He had achieved neither fame nor
fortune. He had done a soldiers duty
faithfully and intelligently. There were
no politicians in his family. His father and
uncles were men of strong convictions.
They had kept the flag of freedom flying in
the unpr0pitious days when 1t did not pay,
but when the change came they were thrust
aside by the bowling dervishes of the elev-
enth hour. So Frank was neither promoted
nor brevetted. There was Tom Tidier, who
had two brevets thrust upon him-one fer
distinguished services in mastering the
troops of the United States IN, and the
other for mastering them 0m. There were
others of Franks college chums who were
brevetted for actions in which he was, but
they were not.
Ii was imperative that he should do some.
thing for livelihood. Going back to the
legal studies he had abandoned year be-
fore he would aave been admitted to the
bar was out of the question. Soldering had
spoiled him for any sedentary occupation.
He could not stand the confne ment OF Office
work. He felt that he must find some pur-
suit which would give him plenty of exer-
else. A horse must nee sssarily be one of
the tools Of his new trade. He knew moth
ing Of farming. Joe Hemphill, who was
much in the same position as Frank, sug
gested that the cattle trade was Just the
thing for them. Franks uncle Asahel gave
him $4,000 as a starter Joe put in like
amount, and they went into the ."eattle
business"
In the spring of 1856 Frank was on his
way to meet his partner on the lower Rio
Grande. Joe had gone into Texas to buy
beef-cattle, which they intended to drive
together to Colorado Tor market. Frank
was driving along slowly to cool his horse
before watering him at the next stage sta
ton, where he intended resting for few
hours, and expanding 81 so for what is
called dinner in those parts He was about
two miles from the ranch when he was Join.
ed by a stranger mounted on a tough-loOk
ing "glass-eyed" Indian pony. The stranger
was quite a good looking fellow, six feet in
his stockings, with large fair face, great
blue eyes, prOfusiOn Of light hair which he
allowed to grow long, frontier fashion, to
keep his ears from freezing in the wintry
cold winds of the lanss. He had mag
niicent flowing beard of the same color az
his hair; it reached below his breast. His
dress was not studied. but it was certainly
picturesque. He wore a broad brimmed
sOmbrerO of gray felt, with band of red
XAUuOus UluC WOOlcu oulIu tUC0u Wltu f6ut
with large mother Of pearl buttons; trow-
sers of buckskin, with long fringes at the
sides, and high boots armed with immense
Mexican spurs. A long lariat of dressed
hide was curled at his saddle bow.
broad leather belt. with large silver
buckle, supported two army revolvers and
. bowie knife. The pistols hung one at
fIont, the right with the stock to the rear
90 as to be 'jerked ont" with the least
possible trouble or delay. The bowie
knife hung midway between the "six.
shooters" Suspended from his wrist was
an Indian whip. In short, his frontier
makeup" was unexceptionable.
The stranger was evidently Q Texan. A
not be fowl anywhere He rode to Franks
side III snD0f hand, CHEEKY sort of way,
and bringing his horse to a walk, said,
laughipgly, Il tell yer what it is, stranger,
yer must be heap better rider than / be if
yer kin ride with them almighty long STIR
rups"
Frank was not shocked by this abrupt
enough on the frontier to know that the
children Of the wilds are not in the habit of
putting on gloves, either physically or meta
physically. II like Q very long stirrup," he
answered: II want my toe barely to touch
it,"
81 don't like short stirrup, nuther;" the
stranger said, "but seems to me them's
Almost too long, now. stranger"
II fell into the habit Of riding with . long
stirrup in California, said Frank, "snd have
mot been able to get over it since. In fact,
the stiffup 10 Of very little use to me. If
horse kleks mp or bucks with me, let 20
the stirrups." And cutting the action to the
word, no drew his feet out of the stirrups.
There was very little vanity IN Franks COM
- L. - L.
any point, however, that point was his
The stranger had strnck the
right chord 1t the first touch.
81 reckon faint Onssfe, stranger" con-
deseendingly rejoined he of the blonde
II haven't found it SOL
"Moy, don't yer find it soruer fa-
mot except on very long trips. But
when ride thirty miles or over, l usually
take up . hole after dinner"
II Thought yer did, stranger thought
yer did" and he INDUCED in . sort of tn
chuckle. "Now,v he continued,
'.Pve done . heap o. ridin' in my time-I
used to be horsebreaker myself-snd
thar ssir.aps ists "a x, yos siIs sids i Sssp
II yer don't"
There was silence between them for
The free and-easy companion
broke it with: "Goin' to hev bite up yon-
deri"
"Yss.p az sgrlsgs 9sl lzliigs
"Me too. Thunderin' poor hashi Scraps
Df jefked buffalo meat, warm dough cad
mud eoAss. Have to pay for il, though
whevw And b gave . long eFescendo
eve nnst havs soasshisg to stay our
wheeeSef u msy c0st. ~ ",
"Go!9 = sfny OYER, neiGhboFI
fhhk nok Isshall lsoaahly lie' By
mtil throe -. feQf o'o1Bi18 aad Sken pu1k |
- TO BoGGgyixs = ~ coal Of the evening" |
AYol'yS ~ besfty gooa animal thar"
AJss," sid rn1nh, ii5asg M stsst.us