The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-11-08
DOUBTING DIXON.


day when we was talking of Denver in
'53?''
Emigrant Blakely and were seated
one pleasant summer evening, after a
comfortable supper, in front of the
PaXon House, Omaha. Mr.. Blakely had
been labeled Emigrantn because of
his intimate relations with the Land De-
partment of the Union Pacific Railway,
and his interchangeable exertions in pro-
viding Eastern colonies with new
homes on railroad land in the fresh and
adolescent West.
s. No, believe not, - / replied ''You
told me some very interesting anecdotes
of early days on the frontier, but 1
don't think you referred to Doubling
Dixon"
mo, j b leiYe you. Wal, Doubling
Dixon come on from Massachusetts in
1852, l think, an all he had in the
world was about one hundred and fifty
dollars in cash an n four year-old kid.
He thought everything of that boy, an
Dixon couldn' t very well go back on
him, neither, fur the lad was perfect
image of himself-a regular epitome of
Doubling Dixon, only he war a
dummed sight livelier. Dixon was a
silent, taciturn sort of a bean-eating
Yankee; didn't have much to say when
folks was around. an contrived to keep
hisself to hsself in the best kind of
shape. He got the name of Doubling
Dixon because he seemed to believe in
nothing or nobody, and when anything
little out of the ordinary rut was told
To him, he always kinder threw cold
water upon the account an talked an
acted 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 any
thing that Dixon considered them cool,
calm and unregeneratc liars.
Dixon staked n claim fifteen miles
out from Denver, put up a shanty, and
lived there alone with his kid. He
didn't come into town oftener than once
Il week after some small stores, an
mighty small stores they was, too, l tell
Yer. The boys used to wonder what
him and the kid lived on. He general
ly come in Saturday nights, an after
hanging aroun' the saloons, stores an
post-ofhce while, he'd pile on to his
mule an poke for his claim. There
was another 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 unpopular with the boys, an Dixon
hisself 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
looking York State Teller, gambler,
and the boys all said q skin gambler at
that. He an Dixon were seen together
occasionally, conversing in low tones,
an everybody, wondered why Pistol
Grip, as thisss 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, an he
an the kid left the shanty an come into
town an commenced boardin' at the
hotel. One Saturday afternoon Doubt
ing Dixon sat watching n game of
billiards in the Senate saloon, an Monte
Bill come in, an he says:
Dixon, there's a lady outside in a
kerridge as wants ter see YER
81 don't know no ladies in Denver,
said Doubling Dixon, triie uneasy,
an l don believe as any ladies wants
ter see me-
- Mebbe you think Tn liar said
Monte Bill, carefully rubbing the nickel
plate on his revolver with his thumb.
g" No, l won't say you're liar, Bill
said Dixon, meek as a lamb, but i
don't hardly reckon any lady wants to
see me. Who is she?'
al don't know who she is, said
Monte Bill, but she's lady, an says
she's got some news from your wife
Doubling Dixon started suddenly
from his chair, an then sat back again,
an his face was blue, Just as though he
had been swimmin' in ice water for an
hour or so.
81 don't believe she has got any
news from my wife, said Dixon.
"'Well, come along out an see,
said Monte Bill. Hit amt no use of
your sittin' here incoming an implying
MS if everybody else but you was n liar.
Come along out an see for YOURSELF
When Doubling Dixon got up out
of the chair, he veaved back and forth
. minute, Il if he was going to fall, but
ne braced up, an went out to the car
riage with Bill. There was lady there,
sure enough, an right handsome one
at that, dressed up to kill, an diamonds
all over her where they would do the
most good.
is this Mr. Dixon? said the lady,
with most fascinating smile.
Eyes. MN. said Dixon, huskily.
".Well, your wife is down at the
Tallman House, an she would like to
see YOU
DlAOu SGlEGu AOlti Ol inc liLC VI llic
carriage wheel to steady himself.
She wants to take the kid away
from me, don't she?' inquired Dixon,
with a terrible anxious look in his face.
80, no, l guess not, said the lady,
pleasantly.
She's got a divorce an big
aGmony, and the care of the boy, an
all that sort of thing, suppose. Re
member, I've got the money an I'll
tight it; I'll fight it through every court
in the land.
mo, nothing of the kind, said the
lady, but She wants to see YOU an the
boy. She came here with me from
Boston, where she has been working.
Working said Dixon, blanlzly.
- Yes, she has been living all alone
by herself, and working hard for her
support Get into the carriage with
me, an Wen drive down to the hotel
when they arrived, Dixon met his
wife with the coolest kind of reserve.
an she, poor woman, was almost heart
broken. The handsome lady and Dixon
had stepped on the way, an got the
kid, and Mrs. Dixon cried over the BOY,
an Rugged an kissed him, but Dixon,
he stood BY as cold as an iron-clad, an
never cried drop, while the woman