Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-31
SANDY Bradshaw;
OR, HOW THE SHERIFF KEPT HIS WORD.
BY GRAYsoN p. MAC ARTHUR.
Copyright. 1856.


The sheriff of Conetos county looked about
him over the sage-brush covered acres of the
San Luis valley, his horse Iazily drank from
the waters of the La lara. To his right, miles
away, the picturesque Sangre de Cristo range
cut the clear sky with its Jagged peaks. above
all of which lowered the snOw-crested Sierra
Blanca. or "Old Badly and to his left, close
at hand. the foothills rose in tree-cOvered ter
races until they were lost in the distant masses
OF the Sierra Madre the backbone of the great
Rocky Mountain chain. Between these two
lofty walls, reared by nature, the valley
stretched in barren hatness, broken in scat
tered spots by the dark streaks of timber which
marked the course of the Rio Grande River
down the center. and the occasional tributaries
which flowed from the surrounding mountains.
Here and there dot in the picture represented
the humble home of some settler, who with
his rancho of 100 acres. was eking out an exist
ence by agricultural stock-r;lising pursuits;
and now and then, the eye met with an elongat-
ed dash which stood for a bunch of wide horned
cattle. contentedly grazing on the ranges
claimed by their owners.
Presently the horse ceased drinking and IN
Interestingly began surveying his surround
fngs, observing which the sheriff gave the reins
aterk and at jog trot splashed across the little
creek. "A mile of dusty road followed, the hoof-
beats raising suffocatiug clouds of alkali, and
then the shallow Alamosa forded and the
horse was turned abruptly towards the foot hills
To the west After riding some time through
the struggling cottonwOods, which iringed the
banks OF the pretty, narrow stream ne came 10
"a fence OF such a nOndescript and rambling pat
tern as to actually impress an observer as a
work of art ON the other side OF IL growing
oats were sending their green stalks up
through the rich soil, and n few yards beyond
cabin, half logs and half 0do6e, stood at the
wide open. and the sheriff swung out of the
saddle he noticed q curl of gray smoke Sleepily
floating from the top of the mud chimney.
Leaving his horse standing united, the reins
trailing on the GROUND, the sheriff partly elm bed
and partly pushed his way through the fence
and proceeded up the well-beaten path towards
the cabin The inevitable pistol protruded its
huge handle from the holster attached to his
belt, but beyond this he presented neither
formidable nor warlike aspect. small man
with sleepy blue eyes of very light tint, a thin
Tipped mouth and sQuare-cut, determined
color stiffened his upper lip, and the balance of
his features were bronZed by exposure To the
sun, wind and alkali dust. For a man OF his
stature and spare frame, he seemed remarkably
slow in his movements, and he walked with a
careless, lOunging gait, as though he had no
When he had reached within 80 PAGES of the
cabin, and was In the act of stepping over the
halfrotton trunk of a fallen cotton wood which
lay across the trail he was following q young
man. coatless and batless, suddenly appeared
in the open doorway. He carried a rifle in his
hand, and as he moved into view he raised II TO
his shoulder.
stop whar We air, sandy-rve got ye xiv
cred, he said. and his keen eyes glanced along
the Inotioness barrel OF his weapon. With no
exhibition of surprise, or attempt to touch his
pistol, the sheriff halted.
"Ie hev got me kivered, Tom, but 1t don't
make no difference he answered quietly.
II dunno. Sandy" returned the other,
though I'd hate ter drap ye."
ltd do We no good" remarked the sheriff
carelessly. "Yer'd better put yer gun up an
come along soeiable-like, Tom"
I'D Ike ter 'blige ye, Sandy, but reckon I
can't this time. Don't come any higher pard-
ner,"'-as the sheriff stepped across the cotton
an my finger ez pullin two pound now"
Yer pistol pulled on the har yesterday"
commented the officer cooiiy.
1T he'd ter" replied the young man. Ger Jose
Vallejo would hev drapped me, instead o. me
drappin him."
II dunno" was the listless answer seeing
tibet wasn't at the fight. Thet'n ali be fixed
though In Their court, and as he seated himself
on the fallen log at his feet, he added: Tibet
must be gittin' hevy, Tom, an ye'd better spell
yer arm awhile"
The rifle was lowered from the shoulder,
though Its muzzle still pointed at the uncon-
eerned visitor, and the finger continued to rest
against the trigger. Then the young man sat
"Oats looking wei, Tom," said the sheriff.
casting his eyes observantly over the surround
ing field. He'd much trouble with the prairie
dogs"
some" was the laconic reply
They've been drefful bad down our way.
Jordan hez Loot a power o. his seed, an he put
In 40 acres. Their greasers, too, complains con-
siderable. Grain II be high this year.
shouldn't wonder; it's wuth six cents at the
end o Their track now, an Their railroad hez ter
bring 1t frum Kansas ter ther teams.''
Then there was a silence for a few minutes.
"Hev ye got anythin' yer want ter take with
Yer, TOm?' he said.
Il amt goin, sandy"
"fes, ys air. Tom sed I'd bring We back
with me. when / cum" was the cool state
aye oughtn't ter a-done 1t, Sandy" replied
The other, Eye didn't know what my pin
ion'd be, an ye didn't know whether wuz
here"
Yes did. Iknowed ye'd cum with me. an.
i knowed We hadn't skipped. Let's get along
Iom. and the sheriff showed signs OF rising
Nm xsSxf
light; be he'd his gun on me, only wuz keenest
on the trigger. Thar amt no use o Their law
sharps hevin amy chip In this game, an the
Jedge don't want me-"
Yes he does. an thet's Their reason I've cum
arter ye- He wanted me TO bring posse but
allowed tibet wuz damned ridikulus. 1 seys
seys Il know Tom Mason too WELL seys l. .an'
NE an him ii cum ridin' inter town in time ter
dinner he don't want no posse, nor more do
1, seysI.''
We wuz right bout the posse, Sandy
I'm course don't go much on posses 'thout
ther most too sociable-like ter friendly talkin'
re KIN bring yer gun with yer, Tom, eff We feels
stole while yer down with us. eff We left it," and
The sheriff stood up and stretched himself.
Il reckon IN stay yere. returned the other
tie changed position of the officer
but ye can't, Tom, expostulated the sheriff
cause I've cum Ter ye. an ven have ter jine
Yer lockin yer cabin"
Hes in the shed yander," replied Tom,
thOuShtiuiiy, "OUt don't blieve I'll back him
Jest nov.
The sheriff made no reply but walked over to
the dIrl-rOOied, pOle-wall construction which
served as IL stable, aud In a few minutes re-
turned leading "A sturdy looking brOnchO W hich
lie had stddled and brided. Tom still sat on
The doorstep, a doubtful expression on his face
AHu AN Undecided look In the eyes which fol-
lowed the movements Of his wOuid-be captor
Jest stop thar u minute. Sandy" he said as
Tue other eaIne near, Il aim quite made up my
mind yit.'
ier only wastin time, Tom, said the sheriff
As De obeyed the request, IAN ther sun ez purity
nigh now 1har's no sense in tibet Suppose We
urap HE whar i am, Their boys would be on We
alore night They Il know what he'd happened
ei dldn show up with ye at dnuer-time an
III amt sensible Ter We 10 buck this wav Ye kin
pug me now CT we want ter, fer / reckon thar $
SO grains o powder behind Their ball at Their
bottom u tibet barrel an it's headed nv way
but IL wouIdn do Yer good. Ye would hey
let sunlight inter me, but I'm only one, an ven
ulatin % my insides would mt help ye any"
Il reckon Yer right, sandy" said the other
slowly, but allow wouldn't go with no other
crltter, and he rose TO his feet, let down the
hammer and leaned his rifle against the wall
Then ne went inside and put ON his coat and
hat, aud alter locking the door, shouldered the
ionS-baTreicd weapon and swung into the sad
Ole At The fence the sheriff mounted his
horse, and the two men trotted southwark.
Close 10 the old Agency buildings, and facing
the Gto0e CHURCH whose battered exterior su.-
gested centuries instead of years a. the period
neat frame front. 1t differed from the sur
rounding houses in that il was two stories in
height, while they were mostly confined TO the
Hat-rOo!ed ground floor. Paper shades. too.