Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11
DUTCH PETE.
MRS. BELL BALL.

MRS. BELL RAIL-
care we almost there, CONDUCTOR"
"Yes, madam, only one mile now til
se run on the siding at Gallup"
The conductor passed on to where
some Indians were stealing ride on the
asst car, and the questioner sank back IL
Ter seat while long trembling sigh
doated over her lips.
She was such little woman, and SC
Id and fragile looking to be travelling
by herself. Under the black bonnet and
long Grape veil, snow white hair iPpl.d
and waved about soft, Nrinkled face,
.ud the dim blue eyes looked as though
hey had been washed by rivers OF tears.
Just before the train reached the sid
ing. the conductor came hurridly through
the car and said, there madam, under
that clump OF trees is bis grave" and
turning to glance out OF the window We
saw the low mound and pine head board,
and knew that mother" was looking for
tho first time on the place where her only
son slept his last sleep.
The poor old face was convulsed with
grief, and the thin form shook like q
reed in the wind, and as we slowed up
on tho siding to wait for the freight to
pass, she walked with trembling steps to
the car door, and was helped to the
ground; we watched her till she knelt
DOWN by the rude grave, and then
rush of tears blinded our own eyes.
Did we know herr" "Ah no! but We
knew the boy, and We know how he
loved mother, and how her lonely, old
heart was breaking for love of his sense
less clay. You want to hear the story?
It's short and so very sad"
Zone fair spring morning bright
young man applied to the superintend-
ent Of track laying for the place of time
keeper, on the Atlantic and Pacific rail
road and got it. he gave his name
as Dutch Pete. For six months he was
honest, upright and gave unqualified
satisfaction, but one night he spent the
hours in a tented gaming -bell and re-
primand came from headquarters. He
didn't go again for month and then
when the work train went out one morn
ing, he lay in drunken sleep in his bunk;
that brought instant discharge. Boss of
section caught him next, but gambling
and drink had too strong hold aid he
gave up honest toll and spent his days
and nights at the gambling table. He
was lucky and save that spent in drink,
H. fon , t;,,o ,onk oil ba ,po, 70 E,,,o&hor,
whom he idolized, but the way down hill
was very rapid, and bis cunning failed
when the liquor fred his brain. The
frank, bnyish face became bloated and
the clear blue eyes grew red
and watery. It was terrible even to
those rough men to see one 30 young
and in every way so prepossessing, so
suddenly wrecked; but no one put forth
q staying hand; he wandered about
with only enough rags to cover his ma
kednees, begging food to keep life in his
whisky soaked body, and pleading for
q drink OF liquor to drown his conscience.
The very dogs Stunned his path. One
day he wandered off and only that they
missed his piteous whine, his absence
would not have been noticed; but no
one looked for him and even the memory
Of him was effaced. One day some coal
miners found carcass, black and lJath-
some, lying as it had fallen, over log
IN the pinon woods. Even the birds of
prey, slowly whirling through the air,
had not deigned to touch the putrid
flesh, and the wolves and mountain cats
had left it unmoleeted.
The scanty rags torn as if in delirium.
would not have identified the body, but
IN one Of the bloated fingers AIMED
lender koad RUG, mu .nOsue., -ssS-.r
BE had often pawned it for q ,,lk, but
Always got it back and finally the boys
would no longer take it as security, and
his it was that discovered to the men
vhese body they hsd found. From the
amp jury was summoned and their
7erdict was:
"After an examination of the body
We find that it is that of Peter Smith
ormerly of Chicago, Illinois, and that
le was last seen alive on Friday even
ng, April IA, 1882, when he left the sa-
DON situated about one fourth of mile
asst Of Gallup The immedi-
tie cause of his death is unknown to
he jury. We had his remains placed
n a coffin, and buried about one-eightb
t mile south of the station of Gal
up"
The rough, but kindly men sent
stter to the roor little mother in Chi
ago, whose address they found in let
Or on the body. We had never heard .
rom her and supposed that was the
nd"
"What did you say CONDUCTOR"
II wish you would go and see if that {
Id lady has tainted We must start in :
We minutes. and don't believe she has
Tired since she dropped down; we can't
ave her here alone"
We went swiftly over the stones and
age brush, dashing the heavy perfume
ON the tall weed flowers as we passed
ut we knew we were to late even before
9 reached the small black draped figure d
7e gently raised the bowed head and
'und the tea1-drops wet on the shrivel- d
cheek and look of peace on the 9
i'll features. The wide-open eyes were =
m to earthly sights, but who shall say T
lat the mothers soul had not joined =
at of he loved and loving though II
award son, over the divide in that II