Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-04-22

racer in Bonte," roared the outraged
owner with protoxide irony, maybe
that hoss ai'nt in your back correl
now," he continued as he unconsciously
| placed his hand on his holster. At this
iuncture I remembered a curious car
riage robe in the office which [ had
| long desired to examine critically. As
| stepped into dark corner I heard
clicking sound, which seemed to me as
loud as make ready in regimental
dress parade, mingled with the calm
voice of John Jenkins: when gen1-
man of Cotton says to gen'lmen of Ell
Bonte, hain't got your boss, wat more
do gen'Pmen of Ell Bonte want?' I
crouched down to avoid the common
fate of the innocent spectator and
found | was examining the fur of the
sleeping watch dog, Snaps, who was re-
puted to let go his hold only by red-hot
+, iron. Planting myself under a side
saddle | heard the Bontese,' who had
heretofore kept silent, say, in a quick
commanding voice, "W'at do they
want? Why - to take drink"
Peeping out through a small window
| saw the last speaker pull down his
friend, evidently little in liquor, and
join the stable party, who were all
making queer motions by nervously
hitching up their hip pockets.
AS the pursuing party galloped off to-
ward Yuma | mildly upbraided the
partner Of Mr.. Jenkins, who is bit of
a moral model in the Cotton valley,
about the wearing and clicking of fire.
l. 4
planned: Them Mexican spurs make
heap of clanking and useless noise;
besides they was cruel" etc.
Alb! childish subterfuge! Like the
Russian: If you scratch mild citizen
here you find cotton.
For two or three days after this event
my unoccupied mind dwelt constantly
on the fleeing robber and his followers.
In dreams | furtively fed fodder to a
fine clay bank horse far up on the
Mesa. TWAS no nightmare. [ found
1t difficult to convince myself even at
noOntide, that | had not bought the
horse from the thief and was conceal
ing him. Became depressed and
gloomy; avoided the livery stable; was
painfully startled when there was
sound of cantering hoofs or jingling
spurs; and the name Ell Bonte, seldom
pronounced, caused continuous shiv-
er. Although an uuproiessional in
valid this mental hallucInation was be-
coming serious, by reason of loss of ap-
petite and sleep.
One day / raised my courage to walk
by the Jenkins & Co. stable, and was
saluted with, "Hello! You look pale"
Now if there is anything that will APP.
parently exhilarate and bring up the
negative from real invalid, it is disin-
terested assertions that ne is growing
worse. Hence, [ hunted straw, tilted
back my squeaking chair, engaged in
the casual conversation, and cut orna-
mental assures at lively rate on the
supporti. e chair bottom.
[ was so intent on this relief labor |
that | failed to notice the approach of |
a low-riding party of horsemen, and |
barely lodged the hind foot of a rider
less horse that was trying to hurry into |
the feeding quarters in the usual side |
scraping Uanner. With some ire, | |
contemplated the party from my
curved position, and beheld with wide
ming but ecstatic eyes, the stolen yell |
low horse, with stamped saddle and
real silver on the bride, led by the two
gGn'Pmen from Ell Bonte. They dis
mounted stiffiy, and silently looked on
John Jenkins who crooked his thumb
toward Arizona and inquired; "Any |
shootin'? p mo, caught him asleep"
returned the native; and he stared con-
templatively at the horn of his saddle
where there is always a good coiled |
rope IN southern California. The stable |
party followed his look. There was no
rope! With the consciousness of duty
done, hanging like sign under their
sombreso, the gen'l'men of Ell Boute,
with the gen'Pmen of Cotton filed fra
ternally through the private door of the
Hotel Semi-Tropic.