Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-27

of the claim.
HE won't know I'm slouch," he added
half bitterly. ~ am not very widely noted'
No dogs, so common on the average claim,
rushed to meet him, with suspicious growli
and wagless tails No little army Of white
headed children ran bashfully to hide at the
approach Of the stranger.
deserted, looks like" the "slouch" told
himself "Well, SO much the better for me-
Loneliness and will get along right well
together, and ''slouch" without company Is
just as good as anybody elseI"
The swift falling twilight had filed with
darkness the little room that the half oper
door revealed. The "slouch" knocked, fol
manners sake, and gave a great start as
low moan replied. The moan was repeated
and, after calling questioningly several
times, he entered.
only occupant of the 'shack, /" gaunt, feebly
tossing man, who, stretched on the rude bed,
seemed hardly conscious Of the intruder'4
presence.
"What's the matter, pardnerl" the 'slouch''
asked, kindly.
The other, who seemed to be conscious only
in glinmering fashion, strove feebly to
answer, and as the ''slouch" bent close to him
there came the one word:
'Water!"
A cooling draught from the well near at
hand seemed to revive the sick man, and as
the ''slouch" bent above him again he whis
pered hoarsely:
s'Thank we, pardner Git! Smallpox"
Out into the darkness the t'slouch" fed as
If pursued by demon. When he paused he
was almost to the wire fence that surrounded
the claim. He took off his battered hat and
looked up at the stars, twinkling into sight,
one after another.
The deadly danger of the plague was only
one more link to his chain of misfortunes.
Perhaps if he fled he could escape 1t. The
man in the cabin, if left alone, would die OF
neglect, if not of the plague. "slouch"
could help him to battle with death just as
well as the most fortunate and influential
citizen of Coyote City. The sufferer in the
Bhanty had no claim on him, but
Then he replaced the battered hat, and,
burning about in the darkness, strobe toward
the open door, from which came a long,
cleaning shaft of light from the candle he
had lit. Presently the door was shut, and
the ''slouch" and the sufferer were alone with
the plague.
1t was just such another day as the one
upon which, two weeks before the "slouch"
left Coyote City, that a gaunt, pale man.
weary with his long tramp from the isolated
claim near the lone mound, stepped just be-
yond the end of the one street of Coyote and
shouted hoarsely to a lad:
''Ten the big gun in the town to come
yar"
The lad very properly sought Col. Bender
son as the individual most worthy of the
title of ''big gun" That gentleman rose
from table in the Jumbo saloon, and
Pierce Fanshaw and Arthur Lemon followed
him.
''Halt, thar" cried the stranger, when
they had gotten within a hundred yards Of
him.
News flies fast in border settlement, and
quite squad of curious ones strolled up and
Joined the colonel and his friends
The colonel did not heed the command, but
continued to advance.
"Halt, tharl" repeated the stranger.
Smallpox You'll halt now, reckonl" he
added, grimly.
Not only did Col henderson halt, but he
turned SO quickly that he nearly fell on his
face, and started to hurry away.
"Halt, tharl" was the command.
A huge revolver cleaned in the hand Of
the stranger, and the colonel stopped.
''What does this mean, sirg' he demanded.
rather family. "Who are your
'Name's Ike Masters" the stranger shouted
in reply. "Know William Hatfeld7'
"Never heered Nv him!" Col henderson,
answered positively.
"Hatfeld was the 'slouch's' name," said
Pierce Fanshaw.
'sNever knowed 1t. Wall"-to the stranger
-"what Nv HING
"Nuth'n," answered Ike Masters "He's
dead, that's all Don't reckon any Nv you'll
keer none, bein's you run him out; but Jest
want to say that the man you called the
SLOUGH died hero!"
The group about the colonel listened in
awed silence as the stranger shouted the
story of the "slouch's" heroism and death.
"He sent you some word" Ike Masters
added, as he closed the recital "Said fer me
to say to you that the last effort Nv the
SLOUGH WANT failure, but that fer once he
icomplished what he set out to do. What he
set out to do was to save the life Nv Ike Mas
tiers, which Ike Masters is me-"
The colonel, usually ready tongued, was
silent.
cam jest want to say furder," shouted
the gaunt stranger, shat I h'ain't overly
strong yit but If the cuss, or any two Nv tbs
cusses, what bossed the runnin' out Nv the
SLOUGH will step out from the crowd, me and
ole Betsy yar''-tapping his huge revolver
twill give 'em all the satisfaction they want,
case they feel insulted when I say that ever
man connected with the runnin' out Nv Will
lam Hatfield is a liar an boss theft" /
These epithets may not have been appro-
pirate to the occasion, but they were of the
kind that on the border are regarded as the
deadliest insults.
can jest want to add" went on Ike Mas
tiers, 'that my claim is on the southwest
quarter NV Section Three an kin allurs be
found thar or tharabouts, case anybody
wants to take this var matter upl"
And turning he strobe across the prairie.
The crowd that soon gathered in the Jumbo
saloon was less noisy than usual; they wanted
to hear what Col. Henderson would say, but
that gentleman did not seem inclined to
talk.
'sMebby made a mistake" was all he
said.
''Few of us would do as the 'slouch' did,"
said Pierce Fanshaw. II, for one, would not
die for anybody but myself"
"There is verse in scripture"- began
Mr.. Arthur Lemon, of Boston.
"And with which it will doubtless surprise
you to learn that I am passably familiar" u,
interrupted Pierce Fanshaw. "'And greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends. '"-Frank Les
lies Pictorial.