The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-19

him n little, and he began to realize
that he had acted pretty hastily in the
little dispute. But outside of all squeam-
ishness about the murder, he was that
mean as to take a business-like view OF
the matter, and he thought to himself
that he would now have the whole claim
to himself. The next thing to think of
was how to get rid of the dead body.
He thought on it awhile, and then con
cluded TO stick it in a pool of water that
lay about ten rods from the cabin.
'"He thought he would leave it there
till he got back from his trip, and then
bury it. He came down to Denver, got
his money for the ore, and started in to
enjoy himself.
zone night when he was taking in the
town with an outfit of pickcd-up ac-
uuaintanccs, of a pretty hard appear
ance, he comes into saloon on Blake
street, and there he meets me. 'Hullo,
old pard, says /, when did you get in?
oh says Joe. I've been here few
days. then he added, Il am pretty
drunk tonight and want TO shake this
ground Help me to do it, will you?'
! All right, says |. Bar-kcepcr, here;
YOU oct a little back room where my
pard and | can talk things over bit. ,
As | did 50 | iinglcd some coin in my
rocket and added, we have got the
dust. and we want to tackle some bug
Juice and talk over old times. All
right, says he; here, Tom calling to q
'nigger, }, show these gentlemen back
! ROOM
The other fellow, who had followed
Joe in to the bar wanted to 90 out with
us, but | looked around and says: No.
not il the court knows herself; this is
my ante, and / want to keep You out
The fellows were for kicking up row,
but the barkccpcr says: Now, men, L
don't want no fighting inside; go out on
the street if you want to fight.
Gle came from behind the bar, and
an ugly-looking fellow, who, ] suppose,
was the 'bouncer,' came out Of a corner
of the room, ready TO take hand in the
threatened scrimmagc, while we slipped
into the back parlor and ordered our
drinks. Then we drew out our pipes
and began to smoke. | could see that
Joe was pretty drunk and very free to
talk. Where is your pard, Elder"
says l. Joe kind of turned away his
head and says: Bill, | don't know
where he is, so help me - then he
stopped He didn't seem TO want to
say God, and | have thought since he
had better have said the devil. You
see, he added, Elder wandered of and
got lost. haven't seen him for some
time, He was bent on prospecting in
new spot
II saw that Joe hung down his head
while he said this and somehow, though
he was an old side pard, | didn't be-
licye him.
II said: joe it's rather funny that a
man should wander off in that way and
you not know where he is gone
Then Joe said; You know Elder was
Il queer duck anyway, puny sort OF II
cuss, not much fitted to roughing it..
He had a fever down there in the gulch,
and was sort of out of his head some Of
the time He used to rave at times
about finding gold higher up in the
mountains, and so one day when | had
gone down TO the nearest camp for some
grub he wandered away, and | haven't
seen him since nor heard from him
81 looked up kind of suddenly and
caught Joe's eye. | says TO him. Joe,
you and have been friends for nigh on
- six years, but | believe in my heart
YOU re lynn He says to me, no Jabe,
honest to God amt Between whites
Joe and me had been drinking pretty
freely, and as looked at his face | be-
san to fear he was going to have the
Sim Jams. Yes said he, poor Frank,
nc and me never was cut out to get
along well together He was pretty
Eighty, and you can bet your life | have
got quick temper, and used to some
times take him down when he got on
his high horse My God! there he is
now he suddenly exclaimed. looked
around the room but could see nothing.
| was little full myself, and | says
rather sharply, D-n it, Joe, you're
drunk. No. says he, there's Elder
looking at me. He's got Gretchen's
stiletto sticking in his heart. Then
he suicided, did he, Joc?' | said look
ing up. No said he, 'hc didn't-oh!
keep him OFF, he'll throw that dagger at
mel
Then Joe fell out of his chair. rolled
over, and had a fit, | called in the bar
keeper, and we got the man over to my
room. ! called doctor and we brought
him to. He was sick for number of
days, and during that time, as he grad
ualy came to know little, he told me
the whole story of how he killed Elder.
He said he felt easier after he had told
it. and didn't care whether they lynchcd
him or not told him very few people
knew Elder in this part of the country,
and didn't think anybody would take
the trouble to tie him up on a cotton
wood. | told Joe he had done very
mean by Elder, but as long AS he lived |
never would peach on him. After he
was dead | could not answer for it. |
thought he ought to give Elders friends
half his property after he (Joe) was
dead; that is if he could ever find any of
'em. Joe said he was dreadful sorry,
and would do anything told him. He
felt worse about Gretchen's stiletto
than anything else. | asked Joe what he
meant to do, and he said he meant to go
back to the place and bury Elder, but
he wanted me to 90 back with him. In
n few weeks, when Joe got stronger,wc