The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-28
The Major Was Scare =.

proclaimed to be the Continental
Hotel I did not like the looks of the
place; the neighborhood was wild with
out being picturesque, and the house
had the appearance of warped new
ness. A reddish man in a red shirt,
with great yellow teeth and an ex-
ceedingly red nose, got up from a
bench where he had been asleep and
came out to meet me.
"'Can get Accommodations for the
night?' I asked.
"Owin' to what sorter 'commoda-
tions you want he answered. You
KANT git ice cream nor them big red
crawfish like they've got in St. Louis s,
nur oysters, nur weeds that you eat
after you've dun put leo on EN-
"'What can I get?' asked as I pro-
ceeded to tie my horse.
"Wall, we did have some beef but
it's all gone, an we had some coon
meat yistidy.'
"But what have you got now?"
"'Wall, we've got some of the finest
co'nbread you ever seed
"'What else?
"'Wall, we've got some of the
sweetest sorghum molasses you ever
seed
".Anything else?' I asked, amused
at the fellow in spite of hunger and
WEAKNESS.
"'Yas, some midlin' meat that's got
grease in it strong enough to float a
horseshoe
"'All right I'll stay with YOU
Reckon you'd better. Here, let
me take yo' boss round to tine stable
II went into the house and was met
by mumbling squaw, who showed
me to a room on the ground floor,
Immediately under a sort of
loft. I waited and waited for sup
per, and at last went out to look for
the landlord. found him in the of
fee greasing Winchester rife.
"'What time do you have SUPERB
I asked.
"'Any time you want it,
81 want it now
"Wall, ez soon ez you meet with all
all the 'quirements of the law, its
yourn.
/" Requirements of the law! ]
don't understand YOU
:" Wall, you know the law lows that
a man what amt got no baggage must
pay in advance
".All right. / want to stay tere
until after breakfast tomorrow morn
ing
"Wall, then, give me dollar.
II did SO, and was then invited to
sit down to supper. I do not think
that he had over-estimated the strength
of his bacon-grease, and / do not be-
lieve that he had sounded all the
merits of his corn-bread. A strong
man could have knocked down an oxen
with piece of it. | went to bed soon
after supper, and have an indistinct
recollection of 'halloap and then
there came half-formed idea that
several men were walking on the
porch. 1t must have been midnight
when awoke with a start. My face
was wet, not with perspiration, | knew,
for the night was cool. got out of
bed, struck match and looked into a
small mirror that hung against the
wall. The match went out just as /
saw that my face was covered with
blood. lighted a candle. Yes, it was
blood. Could some one have attempt
ed to kill me and had my sudden
awakening frightened him away after
he had inflicted wound. My shirt
bosom was also bloody and there were
blood-spots on the back of one Of my
hands. I washed the blood from
my face, took my pistol and
sat hear the door. | heard no
sound. Hours seemed to pass;
the candle burned low. I thought I
heard sound! Was it a soft footfallP
Pat, pat It seemed to come from the
bed! / went to the bed, holding my
pistol in readiness. Pat, pat. Hooked
closer. Pat, pat Closer, and then l
made discovery. Blood was dripping
from the room above. My light went
out. I sat down near the door and
waited for day. Hours, hours seemed
to drag their weary length along. A
hoarse rooster" crew; goose tapped
its wings and uttered distressing cry;
horse neighed; feeble light came in
at the window. Pat pat. came from
the bed. The light grew bolder; I
opened the door and went out into the
hall.
Ready fur breakfustp' the landlord
asked. .Helloa, what air you dom
with that pistolP
"'I want my horse!' I exclaimed.
avail, well git him after breakfast.
You look skeered. Whut's the matter
with you?'
Some one has been murdered in
this house. / want my horse.
Mot zackly murdered, mister.
Last night, shortly after you went to
bed, a government deputy marshal
come with teller that he had cotch
out near Talequah. In the night the
prisoner tried to take the officers gun
an the officer stabbed him an put out
his light. You oughtenter let little
thing like that bother you. but reckon
you don't understand the ways of
society out here. just wait a mint.
an you may have some more fun with
that CON bread. n-Opie p. Read, in
Arkansaw Traveller.