The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-15
DOUBTING DIXON.

- - --' ~ -~~~ASA'
81 don't reckon" observed Emigrant
Blakely, Il don't reckon told you any
thing about Doubling Dixon yesterday
when he was talking of Denver in '53P"
Emigrant Blakely and were seated
one pleasant summer evening, after a
comfortable supper, in front of the Pax
! on House, Omaha. Mr.. Blakely had
been labeled ''Emigrant" because of
his intimate relations with the land de-
partment of the Union Pacific railway,
and his indefatigable exertions in pro-
| viding eastern colonies with new homes
on railroad land in the fresh and adoles-
cent west.
mo, believe not, Ireplied. "You
told some very interesting anecdotes of
early days on the frontier, but | don't
! think you referred to Doubling Dixon -
mo, / b'leive not. Wall, Doubling
Dixon come on from Massachusetts in
1852, think, an all he had in the world
was about one hundred an fifty dollars
in cash an four-year-old kid. He
thought everything of that boy, an Dix
on couldn't very well go back ON him,
neither, fur the lad was Il perfect image
of himself-a regular epitome of Doubt
ing Dixon, only he war much livelier.
Dixon was silent, taciturn sort of a
bean-eating Yankee; didn't have much
to say when folks was around, an con-
trived to keep hisself to hisself in the
best kind OF shape. He got the name
of Doubling Dixon becauseShe never
seemed to believe in nothing nor nobody
and when anything little out of the
ordinary rut was told to him, he always
L., 1 |. II
count an talked an actet as if he
didn't take no kind of stock in it. OF
course such monkey business as this
rather conveyed the idea to people who
was telling him anything that Dixon
considered them cool, calm and unre-
generate liars.
Dixon staked a claim fifteen miles
out from Denver, put up shanty, and
lived there alone with his kid. He
didn't come into town oftener than once
week after some small stores, an
mighty small stores they was, too,
tell yer. The boys used to wonder what
him and the kid lived on. He generally
come III Saturday nights, an after hang
ing aroun' the saloons, stores an post
office while, he'd pile ON to his mule
an pike for his claim. There was anoth-
er little popularity about Dixon, he
never would drink anything at the bar,
an he didn't ever carry home anything
in a Jug In consequence of this little
eccentricity, Doubling Dixon was un-
popular with the boys, an Dixon, his
self, didn't appear to have any great
an overpowering affection for them. /
said that he was unpopular, an didn't
seem to have many friends. There was
one exception. That was vicious look
ing York State feller, a gambler, and
the boys all said a skin gambler at that.
He an Dixon were seen together Occa-
sionally, conversing in low tones, and
everybody wondered why Pistol Grip,
as this York State chap was called, an
Doubling Dixon should be so thick
when Dixon didn't gamble nor drink
either. One day this Doubling Dixon
struck it rich in his claim, and he sold
out for one hundred and forty thousand
dollars. an he an the kid left the old
shanty an come into town an went to
boardin' at the hotel. One Saturday
afternoon Doubling Dixon sat watchin'
a game of billiards in the Senate saloon
an Monte Bill come in, an he says:
:" "'Dixon, there's lady outside in q
kerridge as wants ter see yer.
81 don't know no ladies in Denver,
said Doubling Dixon, a trifle uneasy,
an don't believe as any ladies wants
to. see me-
"'Mebbe you think I'm liar said
Monte Bill, carefully rubbing the nickel
plate ON his revolver with his thumb.
"'No, l won't say you're liar, Bill,
said Dixon, meek rs lamb, but
don't hardly reckon any lady wants tc
| see me. Who is she?'
81 don't know who she is, said
Monte Bill, but she's a lady, an says
>she's got some news from your wife.
'.Doubting Dixon started suddenly
from his chair, an then sat back agair
an his face was blue, just as though ht
] had been swimming in ice water fOl
an hour or SO.
81 don't believe she has got an.
news from my wife, said Dixon.
"sWell, come along out an see,
said Monte Bill. Hit amt no use o
your sittin' here incoming an implying
as if everybody else but you was liar
Come along out an see for yourself.
| ''Whcn Doubling Dixon got up ou
of the chair, he weaved back and fort
| minute, as if he was going to tall
but he braced up, an went out to tn
carriage with Bill. There was a lad
Z there sure enough, an a right hand
some one at that, dressed UP to kill, an
diamonds all over her where they'd d
the most good.
".Is this Mr.. Dixon?' said the lady
with most fascinating smile.
..Yes, m'm,' said Dixon, huskily.
"'Well, your wife is down at tn
Tallman House, an she would like
see you
"Dixon seized hold of the tire of til
carriage wheel to steady himself
She wants to take the kid ava
from me, don't she?' inquired Dixo
with terribly anxious look in his fac
go, no, guess not, said the lad
pleasantly.
'.She's got divorce an big alim,
ny, and the care of the boy, an all tn;
sort of thing, I suppose. Rememb,
o I've got the money an I'll fight it; L
i fight it through every court in Il
land
= "'No, nothing of the kind said Il
: lady, but she wants to see you an Il
! boy. She came here with me from Bo
7. ton, where she has been working
n "'Working! said Dixon, Blankly.
Eyes, she has been living all alol
by herself, and working hard for h