National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-06
HER OWN AvENGER.
A Beautirul Woman Who Travelled n
Thousand Miles 60 XIII Man-An
Accomplished Stnbber.


Accomplished stnbbcr.
Denuer Nc,rS,
II was q queer looking group that sat
on tho rude porch Of the Eagle, tho only
hotel in Gulchville, ono warm afternoon
in July, 1864, listlessly gazing down tho
long dusty road over which tho stage
would shortly mako its appearance, and
whose arrival and departure formed the
single daily episode that relieved the
monotony of the sleepy settlement. Tho
judge, who had once hold tho important
position of justice Of tho peace, sat with
his chair tilted back against tho sido of
the house, gazing complacently on his
number eleven boots, which were planted
on the plank rail ut sufficient distance
apart to permit him to pour streams of
tobacco juice with but short intervals be-
tween them, varying the performance by
industrionsly mopping his heated fore
head with huge red handkerchief. The
doctor, who had once been n farrier in the
army, sat on the rail several feot away,
swinging his legs in an impatient way
and muttcring stupendouB oaths 1t the
heat, the stage which was always behind
time, aud at tho largo blue klss, whose
persistent prosecutions, directed par;icu-
larly at his red nose. hal seyorsl times
nearly caused him to loso his balance.
Poker Joe, half gambler aud half minor,
in neither OF which profeerisa had he
made shining success, being pcrpo.ually
dead broke was leaning against tho door
frame in alistless attitide, With one boot
crossed over the other as If IL was a mat.
ter of perfect Indifference TO him whether
thn az no ayar arriyed nr Wa'Eipg
up and down the short length Of the
porch was man who exhibited pecu-
liar admixture OF impotence and
nervous anxiety. Dressed in a woil-
fitting suit Of dark clothing which was
vol brushed and evidently we'll cared
for and with o face that would have
been considered handsome but for an I'M
easy and at times, when excited. n cruel
glitter in his steely eyes, justified by his
whole appearance the name given him in
camp, that Of Gentleman Jack, the gam
bier. As letters of recommendation or
proofs of previous social standing were not
usually demanded or expected in the mis-
cellaneous population that formed the
mining camps of those days, but little
was known Of his history, although it
had somehow got bruited in the little
commu nifty that Jack had been an active
participator in scenes of violence ard was
wanted In the more civilized parts Of the
country for his participation in several
affairs where men met violent deaths.
Although these rumors had gained con-
siderable credence in Gulchville, no one
had ever had sufficient hardihood to ques-
ton tho object of them Us to their truth
or falsity, as he was known TO be man
of violent temper and dead shot, an
accomplishment which always com
manded respect in place where the
pistol took the place Of law and all dis
putes were settled by its arbitraments.
Biting his mustache and kicking from his
path stool which had fallen there, he
walked to tho edge of the porch and for
hundredth time glanced down the road.
This time his impatience was rewarded, for
there, on the rise Of the divide, could DO
seen q cloud of dust, through which was
presently family visible the long ex-
pected vehicle, which in few minutes
arrived in front of tho Eagle with a
flourish and dash more BETTING q
larger and more spprecative gathering of
spectators. No sooner had the stage
stopped than there alighted one passenger,
q woman, who, although beautiful as an
houri, yet had that about her which had
calculated to repel rather than attract ad-
miration. With regular features and
glorious hair, and dressed in neatly
fitting travelling suit, she would have at
tracted attention anywhere. AS she left
the stage she asked for the proprietor in
n musical voice, but with o laugh that
was as heartless as it was uncalled for.
| Stating her desire to obtain accommoda-
tions for several days, she was shown
within, and soon had her wants attended
to as we'll as possible for this out of the
way place. After Joe, the doctor. and the
judge had somewhat recovered from their
surprise at tho advent of so unusual a
visitor as o woman, with one accord they
turned to whore the gambler was stand
ing, and their wonder was great to see
him holding to the post for support, and
gazing at the door through which the
newcomer had entered with fixed, hor-
rified stare, and with his teeth chattering
as with tho ague. whats the matter,
Jack? Have you seen a ghost?" said the
judge. At this the mans Gestures re-
Taxed, and with n scowl and muttered
oath he turn ed from tho steps and strobe
down the road, but with the uncertain
steps of q drunken man, and was soon lost
to view behind a clump of pines. Of
course the new arrival and the effect of
her appearance upon the gambler were
matters of great deal of speculation and
wonder in the camp, and 1t was agreed
oil all hands that there was some
mysterious connection between him
and her visit. The events
which followed verified this in
a terrible manner. Shortly after supper
the woman left the camp to take walk.
pursuing tho same road tho gambler had
taken. The exact details of what occur
red were never known, but several per-
sons ayerred that shortly after dark they
heard loud voices. one of which was that
| of an angry woman, engaged in an angry
dispute near some willows on the edge of
the gulch, and short distance from the
road. On the following morning some of
the miners, on reaching their sluices dis
covered that on raising the gates tho
water would not run. Tracing the ditch
back to the delivery box at the dam, a
horrible sight awaited them. Lying
across the dam and just against the gate
was the body of Gentleman Jack, with
bank, and sticking in his heart a keen
ivory handled dagger or stilletto.
attached to it was tho following note,
written in q delicate female hand:
"This man was robber and murderer
He affected my ruin and robbed and
killed my brother. l have travelled q
| thousand miles to do this, and am
avenged. When you read this l shall be
far away. MAGGIE LAwToN."
1t was afterward found that the stage
passing in the opposite direction late the
previous night had picked up a strange
woman and carried her to Denver, but
further than this nothing more was ever
heard of her.
The Mule and the Boy.