Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-21
TOM CHAMBERS OF SQUATTERS'
GULCH.
A STORY OF COLORADO.

Z - 9-H"@-AJ ~Srs- A1ipi@1y AS ShS DOtu OFuut
and ugly. The hilarious patrons Of the Taran.
tula saloon had for soma hours been watching
his increasing opulencc Of alcoholism anc
combativeness with that interest which always
marked them when prospects of eight became
prominent In Sou atters' Gulch fight was a;
fulliof at!raciyeness as a strawberry festiva
nosorio".ly s in New England village The
sturdy pioneer wEo conducts the local lheatsl
had been known to take advantage Of this fac
with great financial profit to himself. Bone
aware that two of the most euorge!lc warriors
OF the surrounding country had sworn tc
carve and otherwise rcnder each other the
reverse of ornamental, or even IL ,eful the frs
time they should meet, this genial person SEMI
ehch Of thom g. complimentary ticket to his
hall. He then caused to be circulated the re-
port that they were 70 be present a, the Alham-
bra Palace-such was tho resplendent tile by
which his resort was known to local fame
upon the evening following HIS losses had
been severe. The inhabitants Of Scuatters
! Gnlch had no fondness for dramatic art as
hero interpreted. Macbeth, Hamlet and Sar-
danaratus, performed by Blk persons, had no
attractions for their sor,lid senses Therefore
he had lost money. But mis- reverses were
amply set right by the stroke Of managerial
genius which I have hero recorded The
house was packed. SO were the roofs of ad-
jacent buildings, where eligible standing room,
brought as high figure 800 per square
foot. The canvas top OF the Ahanlbra Palace
had been removed for the occasion. and the
view good The warriors met One of
them requested the other, with that postic
sense Of chivalry which chara cterized the eariv
10 untain settler, to spit in his eYe--an invl'a-
flon which was promptly accepted. The fight
that followed was always renaom bered in the
Gulch How the Tail Slasher Of the Kappa
hammock dexte,ously removed both ears t ON
the head of Sacramento John, and was himself
most elaborately acerated III return, are mat
iEr r>P
admiration, and what Wac left of the two &C
complished young gentlemen involved in this
little entertainment was for years regarded
-lmost with reverence.
1t may be supposed, therefore, that the
mcv ements of the Stranger, upon the night OF
which write, were viewed with something
moro than common interest," One by one the
leading citizens had dropped into the Tarantula
saloon during the evening, until the tables
were all we'll surrounded, and tho bar was
lined with watchful observers.
"Who's the stranger?' inquired Tom Cath
cart, in careless way, as he dealt three cards
to Judge Gashwildel.
sDunno," briefly responded that judicial
lunlinary, throwing his hand down in a dis
gusted way; mes on'y just arriv', and it's my
legal oplnlon1 as how, If be keeps on, he'll
reach the end of his lariat extremely quick'
:'Pve half mind" unused Mr. Cathcart,
pleasantly, ito rise up and give him a benefit
myself + don't like no Missouri mud-eater to
stand the boys up like hos doing"
''Never mind," afably rejoined Judge Cash
wilder, with that air of authority which gave
his opinions upon the bench great weight;
''hold on bit. Fur-lined George will be along
soon, and tho stranger will have to take water
then. Let him 60 on. Gimme two cards"
''Helo!' ejaculated Mr. Cathcart, a moment
later; "tae ball las begun"
Everybody in tho room mad arisen to his feet
The tall Mssourten, man of angular frame
and HlriEt9r had ST la at S17cnan(1nI in
drawing somebody into a controversy. The
citizens OF SQUatters' Gulch were about to be
entertained.
'Humph." muttered Mr. Cathcart, sits a
ID shame for him 10 pick a row with
Gianders The poor chap can scarcely hold
his own head up, let alone fighting. I've q
mighty good notion to sail in mvself"
Hold on" cautioned Judge Gashwilder
with his index tiuger laid knowingly along his
nose; STho1nas Chambers is all right; he is
SLOW but sure. Look there!"
The quarrel at the bar has been growing
louder. The Stranger, inhamed with the fiery
liquor he had been drinking, had selected one
Of the least offensive mon in the settlement as
the special object Of his dlspleasure. This per
son, d Mr. Thomas Glandors, was quiet, re-
specially dressed man, with stoiid face anG
detected manner. who was looked upon in 8
friendly, often 4 pitying: light by his compan-
ions There had been something cad ia his
ifc--that was known to the enti g populatio,
Of the GuIch. What il was, no one precisely
knew. aud no one cared. But nearly every
body took an interest IN him, aud not a sou
lived in the town who would not have fought
for his sake at any time.
The Stranger was Aeaplng abuse on CLAN.
ders' head--abuse which he could not compre.
bend, aud which seemed to half bewider him
But t.le Offensive MissoIrian went on, gOade(
to increased fury by his own words. Still
Chambers stood helplessly gazing about him
making no reply, but occasionally passins
the back of his rough brown hand across
his forehead Finally, in transport Of rage
the Stranger drew a revolver. Then Chambers
seemed to awaken. He spoke for the frs
time
''Put itup," he said, quietly, 'sor will Kill
you." ...t
The Stranger laughed, and the crowd, angry
and 1ne1ocins. began to close in upon him
Chambers nlotioned them back.
put it up" he repeated firmly, cor vii
shoot YOU III your tracks"
The Stranger fired. and part of Chambers
hat fell TO the floor. Few of the citizens OF thu
Gulch had known or would have believed he
cotid act with such decision. He had hitherto
been thought by them to be slow and easy
going person, too inoffenslve to be trodder
upon, and 700 gentle to respond with violence
But upon this OCCASION he belied his reputa.
. ton Quick as liahtning--so quickly that only
one or two in the room saw the movements
derringer sprang from his pocket, q deep re-
Stranger fell to the floor.
Ihare WAS silence for O. moment Then the
wounded Missouri ,au, after Writhing moment
where he Law, beckoned Chambers toward him,
He was no longer violent The fumes of driul
had quite evaporated from Lis BRAIN, and he
reall2ed what had happened. Chambers, whose
anger lad disappeared as quickly az it came
when lie saw he was the victor and his life was
no longer threatened, stepped forward anC
raised Che Strangers head to his knee.
whisky" ne said. shortly, to the barkeeper
The liquor was brought, and he poured il
between tue Strangers lips. 1t was dramatic
scene. So deep, SO solemn was the coloring OF
s the picture that not q man III the crowd-usu-
: auy@a turbulent one-had as yet uttered aword.
sIhe wounded man, somewhat revived by the
. stimulalit,, motionedS Chambers to lean closer
III his rcd face nov, and great beads OF per-
spiratioa stood out upon his forehead The
$stranger whispered a. few words brokenly, and
then suddenly" fell buck, dead. Ganders low
cred the man head to the floor, and then
slowly arose % his feet q The hush which had
some time ago fallen upon the crowd was not
yet disturbed. p ts87: d$ 4sE. 10y ( -
Boys. ''ftssid Chambers, in a voice which
sstremblsd slightly, Il hated to do ii, but il
I M wilhna 10 abide by what.yca say. If was
nhont f af'as ne np and b BE- ID auioh
a nlurrnur that arose a1mos. to shout ran "a;
81 through the room Every man there endorsed
4 his course CHAMBERS Began to move slow1,v
toward the doom lie pa used once. drew his
hat down over his eyes, buttonea his coat hight
n IL about his throat and hfust BIS hands into
q DIS pockets with an air that indicated a pur-
81 pose 49,. ssas .S I s.{ =a - DE-
Poor things e be muttersd, as he strobe
Is "