The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-11
UPTHE DRAW"
BY THOMAS P. MORGAN.


bined saloon, postoffiee and general store
had waited for the coming of the mail
carrier ever since the saw mill shut down
at sunset. The time was passed in ours
ing the tardy Government official, imbib-
ing Sigsby's villainous whisky and dis
cussing the occupant of the little log and
slab shanty, half mile up the heavily
timbered ''draw."
They looked a ''hard crowd and
their characters did not in the least belle
their personal appearances. The scum
and ofscourings of many communities
they were, held together by their cause
against the common enemy, the United
States Government The sawmill, deep
in the wilderness. turned out great guam
I titles of lumber from trees cut from Gov
eminent land, and its owners, in their
Eastern homes, knew little and cared less
of the rough men whose toll increased
their employers ill-gotten gains.
Old man Sigsby was the worst man in
the whole gang, that seemed composed
of the champion profane, shock-headed,
tangle-bearded and desperate men to be
found in seven States. They growled at
the generalities of life, cursed each other
and drank great potations of fiery wills
Ky, and Sigsby growled the loudest,
cursed them all individually and collec-
lively and drank oftener than any other
Z of his customers.
The matter had been canvassed thor
] oughly, and the opinion was general that
the occupant of the shanty up the
''draw" was none other than Govern
ment detective.
"Wal," growled big Jim Perdue,
'I'm yere to say that his story's purtV
I Il r'ne 60 OUT on the praiT ike
wife man stead O. comm up we're whur
squatters haint wanted now, saw"
The question was addressed to no one
in particular, but Sigsby took it upon
himself to reply that he didn't know
an didn't keer 4 cussl"
oval, you needn't be so brashl" re-
tortsd Big Jim, with an oath. &"
A clatter of hoofs interrupted him.
The door was flung open and the tardy
mail carrier threw the wrinkled pouch
into the room.
Then Sigsby distributed the mail.
This was done by opening the pouch,
pouring its contents in heap on the
floor and, with several forcibIe epithets,
telling the company to ''drive in" There
were few letters, but bundle of news
papers provided nearly every one with
something to read.
When each had got his own and the
wTangling had ceased, one letter re-
manned. 1t was addressed to the occu-
pant of the cabin up the 'sdraw.p
oval, remarked Sigsby, ''that cuss
gifts entirely too many letters for squat
ter. One every week or oftener. An
Nv all dad-blamed directin' this beats
any Lever seedIo
The address was printed in Struggling,
irregular characters and with shocking
disregard for capitalization. Several
examined the rude characters and all
were of the opinion that they were
traced in that manner to disguise the
writer's chirogaphy.
LES open itln cried Perdue.
''Not muchl" objected old man sigs-
by. Nobody opens any letters in this
we're Iostofiee but mel Understand
The postmaster mentally resolved that
while the gang might do as they liked
outside Of the office, he was not going to
allow them to commit any act within the
office that would incur the wrath of the
Government.
Per'lue rose, cleared his throat and be-
gan:
s'We all know that this cuss Is"
"Yom betl" interrupted several voices.
'fYes, wal, we know what happened
70 The list Teller that come a spyin'
round whuI, he had no call to be.
eve have q ideel" said voice.
oval, shall he have the same?" was
Big Jim's pertinent question. Without
moments hesitation came the almost
unanimous verdict that he should have
the "same." There was a prolonged
wrangle as to ways and means. much
drinking at old man Sigsby's bar, and
then the gang departed for the great
boarding shanty, to prepare for the
nights work, up the 'draw."
''After they had gone sigsby tight
ened his revolver belt. Then be looked
at the queerly addressed letter and NUT
tered
"Wonder why the cuss don't come to
git his letter. Never missed bein' on
time before. B'lieve III Jest sorter take
It up to him. Night be handy for me to
git the lay Nv things in the shanty. Git
the edge on the boys by KNOWN whar
the vsluables is
He extinguished the light and locked
the door with the utmost caution.
''Jest as well fer me, reckon he
muttered, ''if these boys think I'm sick
and gone to bed or sumpin'. If any
thing was to happen--cuss was to plug
one or two NV 'em, they nought low I'd
sorter warned him if they knowed I'd |
ben thar"
He reflected grimly that in such an
event be was very liable TO receive the
same sort of treatment that was meted
out to the last man suspected of spying.
Loud words, beautifully intcrlardel |
with oaths, reached his ears as he passed 1
the big boarding shanty, keeping well in (