The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-01-26
Why the "Roarer" Left Town.

desperate named Bob Augustine. Bob
came to San Antonio with a fearful
record. He enjoyed the reputation of
having killed a dozen or SO of men, and
was respected accordingly. While he
was in San Antonio he did not reduce
The census at all, but that was not his
fault. He had a seductive way of draw
ing his eighteer-inch Arkansas tooth.
pick and examining it critically with a
sinister smile while humbly requesting
the temporary loan OF fiyedollars. Thu,
1t was that Bob went about acquiring
wealth and warm personal friends, but
creating no funerals. There were some
rumors that Bob was playing bluff. but
that was after he had marched away.
1t was during the reign of Bob Au-
gustine, "the long-ranged Rsarer of the
CAlaveras Canyon as he familiarly
called himself, that a young man from
Boston, named John Winthrop, came to
San Antonio, presumably in search of
health, as he brought very little with
him. lie was far gone in consumption,
and nothing but the fact that he had
but a short time to live, unless the
climate Of Western Texas saved him,
induced him to come to San Antonio.
As everybody carried aplstol, Winthrop
did not care to insult public decency
by going unarmed. Besides, such a
might as seriously interfere with
restoration TO health as putting on
clean SHIRT.
His puritan training caused him to
revolt at the idea Of carrying firearms.
SO lie resorted to a%rtllice. He wore a
holster, but instead Of keeping apistol
in it he had his cash funds stored away
there and nobody was the wiser for IT.
On the contrary, Winthrop was looked
up to by the best citizens just the same
as if he was loaded down with deadly
weapons. OF course everybody tried to
make The stranger from Massachusetts
feel as comfortable as if lie was at
home; so he was told all about Bot
Augustine, the long-ranged Roarer, at
least ten times a day, and he was ala
vised not to be particular in asking
security for the debt in case the Roarer
wanted to borrow a small temporary
loan, unless he, Winthrop, did not wish
to regain his health.
AS might have been expected, the
long-ranged ROarer called on Winthrop
to collect his usual assessments on
strangers. Winthrop was of the opin-
ION that if would save his lite and
lose all his money he would be doing
unusually well. The long-ranged Roar
er's idea was to'chase the blue-bellied
Yankee around the room for Il time or
so. collect five or ten dollars, and per.
haps make some ear-marks a la Whita-
ker, so he would know him in a crowd
if he should meet him again.
The long ranged Roarer sauntered in
to Winthrop's saloon at the hotel, but,
before the desperate could open his
mouth or draw a weapon, the unfortu-
nate Yankee threw back his coat and
with trembling fingers tugged at his
pistol holster to get at his money to APP
peaSe the would-bc-assassin. On the
other hand, as soon as the Roarer saw
Winthrop trying to get out his PISTOL,
he turned as pale as a ghost. The al
legged desperadO's knees knocked to-
gether, the cold sweat boiled out all
over him and he extended his hand and
said in trembling accents:
Don't draw, good Mr.. Yankee! |
was only Tying to fool you. My bold
Arkansaw heart beats for you, my hoy,
| just wanted to teach you Il lesson.
Never let any darned galoot get the drop
on you. If any body insults you, just
tell them that Bob Augustine, the Roar
er, is your friend"
Winthrop, who was more scared, il
possible, than the Roarer, replied:
20, III give you what you want" and
kept on Juggling at the holster, which
came u%nbuckled. q.
With a yell of dismay the desperate
passed out through the window, carry
off the sash, and ran down Commo-
dore street, the principal thoroughfare,
with the sash on his neck, bowling, "Po.
lice! policey' closely pursued by Win.
Jhrop, who kept on tugging at his hol-
;ter, trying to get out his money, he be-
the desperate was running
10 his loom to procure a shotgun with
which to commit murder. All that af-
ternoon Winthrop kept on hunting the
Il larer to purchase peace on any terms,
md the Roarer hid himself to avoid the
pistol of the Boston man. Next morn
ng the long-ranged Roarer of the Gala
'eras Canyon was missing, while Win
.hrop was the lion of the day for hav-
ng run off the terror of the Alamo
Jity.
San Marclal appears to be a fat, n