The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-01-26
Doubling Dixon.
Texas siftings j


81 don't reckon, observed Emigrant
Blakely, Il don't reckon told you any
thing about Doubling Dixon yesterday when
we was talking of Denver in '53F'
Enigrant Blakely and were seated oae
pleasant summer evening, after comfort
abe supper, IN front of the Paxton house,
| Omaha. Mr.. Blakely had been labeled Emf
| grant, because of his intimate relations with
the land department of the Union Pacific
railway, and his indefatigable exertions in
providing eastern colonies with new homes
| on railroad land in the fresh and adolescent
west.
"No, believe not,n replied "You told
some very interesting anecdotes OF early
days on the frontier, but don't think you
referred to Doubling Dixon
"No, blieve not. Wal, 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 4year
old kid He thought everything of that boy,
an Dixon couldn't very well go back on
him, neither, fur the lad was a perfect inn
age of himself-a regular epitome of Doubt
/ ing Dixon, only he war dummed sight
/ hvelier Dixon was SILENT tacitum sort of
/ a bean-eating Yankee; didn't nave much to
| say when folks was around, an contrived to
| keep hisself to hisself in the best kind of
shape. He got the name of Doubling Dixon
because he never seemed to believe in moth
ing nor 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 anything that Dixon consid-
cred them cool, calm and unregenerate liars.
"Dixon staked claim fifteen miles out
from Denver, put up shanty, and lived
there alone with bis kid He didn't C ne into
town oftener than once week after some
small stores, en- mighty small stores they
was, too, / tell yer. The boys used to WON
der what him and the kid lived on. He
generally come in Saturday nights, an after
hanging aroun' the saloons, stores an post
Office a while, he'd pile on his mule am pike
fer his claim. There was another little Pc
culiarity about Dixon, he never would drink
anything at the bar, an he didn't ever carry
home anything in jug. In consequence
of this little excentricity, Doubling
Dixon was unpopular with the boys, an
Dixon, hisself, didn't appear to have
any great an overpowering affection for
them. I said that he was unpopular, an
didn't seem to have many friends. There
was one exception. This was vicious look
ing York state feller, gambler, and the boys
ali said skin gambler at that. He an
Dixon were seen together occasionally con-
versing in low tones, an ever, body wondered
why Pistol Grip. as this York state chap was
called, an Doubling Dixon should be so
thick when Dixon didn't gamble or drink
either. One day this Doubling Dixon struck
it rich in his claim, an he sold out for $140,-
000 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 lady outside in ker-
ridge Us wants ter see yer
''1 don't know no ladies in Denver said
Doubling Dixon, trife uneasy, AN don't
believe as any ladies wants ter see me-
"'Mebbe you think Pm liar said Monte
Bill, carefully rubbing the nickel-plate on his
revolver with his thumb
"'No, won't say you're liar, Bill said
Dixon, meek as a lamb, but 1 don't hardly
reckon any lady wants to see me. Who is
sheF
'I don't know who she is,' said Monte
Bill, but she's lady, an says she got some
news from your wife
Doubling Dixon started suddenly from his
chair an then sat back again, ali his face
was blue, Just as though he had been swim
min in ice water for an hour or 80.
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 as if everybody else
but you was liar. Come along out an see
for yourself
"Wken Doubling Dixon got up out of the
chair, he weaved back and forth minute, as
ii he was going to fall, but he braced up, an
went out to the carriage with Bill. There
was lady there, sure enough, an a right
handsome one at that, dressed up to kill, an
diamonds al over her where they would dc
the most good.
"'Is this Mr.. Dixonp said the lady, with
most fascinating smile.
eyes, m'm,' said Dixon, huskily.
"'Weli, your wife is down at the Tallman
house, an she would like to sec you.'
"Dixon seized hold of the tire of the car
riage wheel to steady himself.
"tShe wants to take the kid ..way from
, me, don't shep inquired Dixon, with terrible
anxious look on his face
40, no, guess not said the lady pleas
antly
''5he's got divorce an big alimony, and
the care of the boy, an all that sort of thing
suppose. Remember I've got the money an
I'll fight it; I'll fight it through every court il
the land
"'No, nothing of the kind said the lady
but she wants to see you an the boy. She
l came here with me from Boston, where she
has been working
'Workingr said Dixon, blankly
"rYes, she has been living all alone by her
s self, and working hard for her support Ge
into the carriage with ME, an we will drive
down to the hotel
''When they arrived, Dixon met his wifi,
with the coolest kind of reserve, am she, poo
\ woman, was almost heart broken. The hand
some lady and Dixon had stopped on the way
an got the kid, an Mrs. Dixon cried owe
the boy, an hugged an kissed him, but Dixon
he stood by as cold as en- ironclad, an
never cried drop, while the woman washes
the boys face with her tears. Dixon spok
up an said:
Katie, where's the gambler
"'What gambler said Katie, lookin)
d suddenly up, an it seemed as if the fire in he
eyes had dried up all the tears.
''The gambler chap you took up with an
run away from home with
g It's false said the woman, false a
heIlp
Fl 'Doubting Dixon looked wonderfully puz
zled at this.
Didn't you leave me, KatieF he said.
al did, Harry answered the woman, :
left you for your own good. / left you be
!, cal.se saw nothing but ruin for you, bod
am sosil, an weary poverty for the lite bo
!, an, me- You drank the last cent away tina
" | 7 \