Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1886-01-29
JUDGE LYN5jH IN COURT.

1t was strange scene. The skill.
ed hand of nature never placed
among the wild beauties of the fal
West more lovely spot than the lit
tie nook in the Black Range of New
Mexico. A small basin amid the
towering peaks, carpeted with green,
luxuriant grass, studded with the
most beautiful flowers; on every
hand, like an irregular, broken wall,
the rock-ribhed mountains shut in
the lovely spot, as though 'twere an
Eden which must be guarded from
the foot of man forever. To the
northward, cascade came leaplng
down the rocky sides of the noun
tain from shelf to shelf like great
ribbon of molten silver, throwing out
its crystal spray IN the glad sunlight
until the air seemed filed with n
shower Of diamonds. After reaching
the level the waters formed little
brook that cut the mountain meadow
in twain; sparkling, purling brook
that, in its onward flow, filed the air
with musical, dreamy melody.
About midway of the meadow
strange scene met my eye as L rode
out Of gulch in my search of the
murderous Victorio, the Apache
Chief, and his painted band of de-
mons. A group of eight frontier
men lolled about on the grass in pic
turesque attitudes, their rifles by
their sides and their horses picketed
near by, feeding upon the succulent
grass. The animals were sweat
marked, and showed evidence of
having been ridden hard When I
rode up to the party 1 was warmly
welcomed, for they were all frontier
friends with whom had for years
faced the constant dangers Of border
life. The presence of this band of
hearty pioneers in that lonely spot
and the fatigued condition of the
horses told me that the occasion was
not an ordinary one, and, in response
to my inquiry as to the cause of the
gathering, one of the boys pointed
to figure lying on the ground few
feet distant.
The figure was that of a handsome |
youth, bound hand and foot with |
1uckskin throngs. He was appar-
entity not over Is years of age, with
/ frank, open countenance, bronzed
oy exposure to the sun and wind.
His light-brown curly hair, tangled
rom inattention, fell in picturesque
confusion over his youthful shoul-
lers, and pair of eyes of the soft
st blue looked up at me in a half
'leading, ,half-defiant manner when l
topped up to where he lay. The
ruth had burst upon me in a mo-
nent. He had committed some crime
nd was about to be called upon to
nswer for his misdeed at the dread
tribunal of Judge Lynch.
"What's the kid been doing
ovs?" asked.
"Shot Dandy Frank, the gambler,
t Chloride last night. Come up to
m in saloon an pulled gun AN
owned I'm without word, an then .
an out an jumped Apache Bill's
oss and got inter the hills. We jest
vertuk the little cuss, var about
alf an hour ago, an was debatin'
'hether to give i'm a trial 'yar or
Ike i'm back 'an let the boys in
amp assist at the obsequies. Apache
ill wants to take i'm back, but the
est of us think ito save trouble to
ear his story, eff he's got one, an
tring i'm up to that tree 1t. war
'ill's boss he jumped to git away on,
n out o. Difference to the OF mans
fishes we've just about concluded
, run i'm back to Chloride an let
he boys all take a hand in the fun
raj festivities.
Apache Bill, so called on account ,
f his hatred of the red devils and
is constant warfare upon them, was
noble specimen of rough manhood.
lie stood about six feet high, was
trongly built, and in his pictures
ue suit of buckskin presented
pleasing and stirring picture.
here was always pleasant, mild
xpression on his face, except at
uch times as his eye fell upon an In
ian form, and then his own true ma
nre seemed to be dethroned and
Implanted by the spirit of an eveng
lg demon. The course of this
eadly hatred for the Indian race no
ne knew, but it was generally sur
,ised that Bill had a history. He
rst appeared in the vicinity during
he summer of III, and had been of
service to the trappers and
be settlers IN the capacity of scout. ;
lie was always retlcent regarding
is early history, and while there
Tasn't man in the range who was
ot proud of his friendship, all look
d upon him with feelings of awe,
nd regarded him as man of mystic
y.
After the speaker referred to
ad thus brifiy outlined the case, Bill
ose up on his elbows and said:
tBoys, you mustn't think I'm OBJ
tinate or mulish for opposin You and