Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-10-05

Az W " tshhN NhtG W. DeAttbA9 NGA0 w
ting outside their hut. and putting Oh her
sweete-t smile, first Of all asked Mr.. Bill
II he would mind doing a little ~tattooing
for her. 10 this Mr.. Bill, finding time
hang heavy upon his hands, and wishing
70 be kept ont Of the temptation OF the
rum cask, ~graciously assented, saying that
he had seen some sharp fish bones lying
about which would be the very thing,
though he shook his head at the idea OF
using gunpowder as the medium. He said
10 would not do at all well, and then, as
though suddenly seizad by an inspiration,
started of down 10 the shore.
Then Augusta, as gently and nicely as
she could, approached the question with
Johnnie. who was sitting with his back
against the hut, his battered countenance
wearing a peculiarly in-favored express
sion, probably owing to the fact that ha
was suffering from severe pain in his head,
as 2 result Of the desauch of the previous
night.
Slowly and with great difficulty, for his
understanding was none Of the clearest,
she explained 10 him what was required:
and that il wa suggested that he should
provide the necessary corpus Dile upOn
which it was proposed that .he experiment
OAASLAAA D@ az bCAl Ak A1SN AC IL
stood what il was asked that he should do,
Johnnie's eountenance was a sight to see,
and his language was more striking than
correct. The upshot of 1t was, however,
that he would see Mr.. Meeson collectively,
and Mr.. Nelson's various members separ-
ately, especially his eyes, id first.
Augusta retreated till his wrath had
spent itself, and then once more returned
70 the charge.
She was sure, she said, that Mr.. John
ME would not mind witnessing the docu-
ment, il anybody else could be found to
submit TO the pain OF the tattooing. All
thai would be necessary would be for him
10 touch the hand Of the operator while
his ~tJohnnie'sl name wss tattooed as wit
ness To the Will. well, - he said, II don't
know how as ! mind doing that, since it's
you "a asked me, Miss, and not that id
Old hulks Of a MeesOn. | would not lift q
finger TO save him from Ell. Miss, and
that's a fact"
Then that is a promise, Mr.. Johnnie?'
said Augusta, sweetly ignoring the garn-
ishing with which the promise wa3
adorned; and on Mr.. Johnnie stating that
he looked at it in that Light she returned
TO Mr.. Meeson. On her WAY she met Bill,
carrying in his hands a MISUNDERSTANDING
fish, with long feeiers and a head like a
parrot-in short, a cuttleilsh.
Now, here's luck, Miss" said Bill, ex-
ultingly; Il saw this gentleman lying
down on the beach there this morning.
He's n cutie, that's what he is; and Ill
have his ink bag out of him in q brace Of
shakes; just the ticket for ~tattooing, Miss,
as good as the best Indian ink-gunpowder
is a fool TO it,"
BY this time they had reached Mr.. Nee
son, and here the whole matter, including
Johnnie's obstinate refusal to be tattooed,
was explained 10 Bill.
We'll" said Augusta, at length, sit
seems that's the only thing to be done, but
the question is, 10Y 10 do it? / can only
suggest, Mr.. Meesou, that the will should
be tattooed on you"
'Oh.' said Mr.. Meeson, feebiy, ION mel
Ne tattoOed like a savage-tattooed with
my own willr'
1T wouldn't be much use, either, gov
ernor, begging your pardon," said BIZ,
b is, IL you Is agoing 70 croak. as you
says; cause where would the viii be thenf
We might skin you with a sharp stone,
perhaps, after you've done the trick, You
know" he added. redecdvely. But then
we have no salt, so I doubt if you'd keep,
and II we set -FOUR hide in the sun, / reckon
the writing would shriyel up SO that all
the courts OF law in London could not
make head nor tail Of IT," =
Mr.. Meeson groaned loudly, 3 well he
might. These frank remarks would have
been trying TO n man; much more wer9
they SO TO this opulent merchant prince
who had always set the highest value on
~kar pff1 rrIafu nallaa hsu skbf1a -
There's the infant" went on Bill, mad
itativeiy. He's young, and white, and I
fancy his top crust would work wonderful
easy; but you'd have to hold hirH, for / az
pect hat he'd yell proper"
'Ycs," said Mr.. Meeson, 'let the viii BE-
tattooed upon the child. He'd be some use
that way
Yes" said Bill; .'and there'd allus be
something left TO remind him of a very
queer time, provided he lives to get out OF
it, which is doubtful Cutie ink won't
rub out, III warrant"
81 won't have Dick touched" said Au-
gusta, Indignantly. 1T would brighten
the child into hts; and, besides, nobody
has q right to mark him for HE 10 that
way"
well, then, there's about an end of Tho
QIcetivu, sd4N NIL, GAu tAlo EcuOACLAaAo
money must go wherever it is he don't
want it TO-"
NO." said Augusta, with a sudden
flush, there is not. Mr.. Eustace Meeson
was once very kind to me, and rather than
he should lose the chance of getting what
he ought to have, II will be tattooed."
"Well, bus mer' said Bill, with enthus-
issm; bust me! II you amt agood-plucked
one for . female uomani and IL I was thAt
there young man I should make bold -
tell you so."
Yes" said Mr.. Meeson, "tGat is an ex-
cellent idea. Your skin Is very white.
quite as white and soft as the child's, and
you are young and strong. and rs there il
lots OF food eere, I dare say that ron win
take n long time to die. You might sven
live for some months Let US begin AZ
once. fc.l dreadtally weak. l do1t
think that / can live through the night.
and IL I know that 1 have done all l can to
make sure that Eustacc gets his own per
haps dying win be q little easier"
CRATER x.-rRE Asr or Mr. MEEsoS.
Augusta turned from the old man with
q gesture OF impotence not Inmixed with
disgust. His selashness was OF On order
that revoked her.
II suppose" she said to Bin. with an