Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-02
A Desperado's CowardIce.

About the year 1851, the most inauen-
tla' man in csn Antonio, was an alleged
I. sperado, named Bob Augustine Be-
came 10 San Antonio with fearful record
He enjoyed the reputat on OF having killed
dozen OF 80 of men, and was respected
accordingly. While he was IN San An
tonic ne did not reduce the census at all,
but tha. was not his fault. He had a
seductive way of drawing his eighteen
iacl Arkansas toothpIck, and examining
il critically, with sinister smile, while
humbly requesting the temporary loan of
five dollars. 4 hus it was that Bob went
about acquiring wealth and warm per-
sonal frieuds, but creating no funerals.
There were rumors that Bob was playing
bluff, but that was after he had marched
away.
1t was during the reign Of Bob Angus
tine, ''the long-ranged roarer OF Cslsve-
ras canyon as he famillarly called
himself, that q young man from Boston,
named John Winthrop. came to San
Antonio, presumably in search of health.
as he Brought very little with HIM He
was far gone In consumption, and nothing
but the fact that he had but a short
time to live, unless the climate OF
| Western Texas saved him, induced him
to come 10 San Antonio. AS everybody
carried a pistol, Winthrop did not car,
to insult public deceney by gong uD-
armed. Besides, such q course might as
seriously interfere with his restoration to
health, as putting on clean shirt.
His Puritan training caused hlm to re
volt at the idea of carrying firearms, 20 he
resorted to artifice. He wore holster,
but instead of keeping a pistol In Il, he
had his cash funds stored away in It and
nobody was the wiser. On the contrary,
Winthrop was looked up 10 by the best
citizens Just the same as il he was loaded
down with deadly weapons Of course
everybody tried to make the stranger from
Massachusetts feel as comfortable as II he
was NJ home. So he was told ali about
Bob Augustine, the Iong-ranged roarer, at
least ten times day, and he was ADVISED
not 10 be particular in asking security for
the debt, In case the roarer wanted TO
borrow q small loan. unless he, (Winthiop,
did net wish TO regain his health.
As might have been expected, the long
ranged roarer called on Winthrop to collect
his usual assessment ON strangers. Win
throp was OF the opinion that If he would
save his life and lose all his money, he
would be ding unusually well. The
long-ranged roarer's idea was to chsse the
blue. bellIed Yankee around the room for q
time or 60, collect five or ten dollars, and
perhaps make some ear marks, a la Win
iers, 30 he would know him in q crowd,
If he should happen to meet him again.
The long ranged roarer sauntered into
| Winlhrop's room at the hotel, but before
the desperate could open his mouth or
draw a weapon, the unfortunate Yankee
1 threw back his coat, and with trembling
fingers tugged at his pistol holster to gel
a, his money to appesse the would be as
sassln.
On the other hand, as soon as the roarei
saw Winthrop trying to get out his pistol
be turned as pale ss ghost. The alleged
desperado's knees kRockcd together, the
cold sweat boiled out all over him, and b,
extended his hand, and said, tremblingly
"Donr draw, good Mir. Yankee. wa