St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-09
CHIQUITA.


looked gloomily forth at the rain as it
fell aslant the cactus growth and chap
paral on the red soil of the mesa.
From the saloon within came the rat
tie of dice, the chink of glass, the rattle
of coin, and the murmur of deep, hoarse
male voices. The Rough Diamond was
most lucrative and flourishing insti-
tuition, in the little railroad town of
Picture Canyon, on the line of the
Union Pacific. 1t was one of
those places which, at that time,
sprang up in night and were de-
serted in day along the line of the
great road. Indeed, they followed the
track, and, wherever track-laying ended
temporarily, there town was certain
to spring up-slmost as If by magic.
There were thousands of laborerS, rail-
road men, engineers and spectators.
With them came peddlerS, stOrekeep-
ers, and last, but not least, the great
| army of gamblers and saloon men. Some
! of these towns were located in advan-
tageous situations, and finally took on
solid growth and prOSpered; others,
having nothing to justify their existence
save the presence of the army of rail
road employees, vanished utterly when
that army advanced further and further
on its mission of conquering space and
! time, and binding East and West to-
gether with bands of steel.
Herries was attached to the engineer
corps of the road, and had been for
some time stationed at Picture Canyon,
| a city of some 5000 nhabitants-mostlY
males-and which was nearly month
| old. So antique, indeed, that an cleo
| ton for mayor and common council
was being agitated by the more enter
| prising members of the community.
Harvard bred, delicately nurtured,
life which wealth, guided by correct
taste, may give in an old and settled
community. the rude surroundings of
his present life had at first dis
heartened Herries. But being, at
bottom, a man of good sense and
! pluck, and possessing a splendid con-
! situation, magnificent biceps, stand
ing six feet and over liz his boots, the
man who had been Yale's especial terror
as Fright tackle" and who had filled
his seat in the varsity eight with more
than credit when the blue crossed the
line ahead of the crimson, on Lake
| QuinsigamOnd, would hardly finch at
hardshlps which other men bore without
| GN6u IL IlluCS SOul
grew weary of oatbs and liquor, mad
dened men and brawls, and bacon and
muddy coffee and hard tack. Indeed.
he grew at last to like the wild freedom
of his life, as all men will do III time,
and he was fast taking on the exterior
of a genuine frOntiersman when he
When he met Chiqulta!
Chiquita was sprlte. She was the
true daughter of rocky canyon and des-
ert meSa-a genuine child of the SierraS
and woman Withal.
Her reputed father was an evil-eyed
old Mexican named Ramon: Ostensibly
aherder of other mems sheep; really a
gatherer of other mems coins.
Chiquita kept house for him in tum-
bled together shack on the outskirts
of the town. and there entertained her
fathers guests.
Poor little Chiquita.
She was brilliantly pretty, with the
rich rose-red flushing her olive cheeks,
her white teeth flashing between ripe,
dewy, crimson lips. with glorious brown
eyes, under heavy arching brows. and
shaded by such long, curling lashes as
would make ones heart ache, especially
the heart of a frOntiersman, in whose
life female beauty is rich and rare
event.
Many dollar had Chiquita's eyes and
lips brought to old Ramon's sheepskin
pouch-and still he was athirst for more
gold.
1t was of this Herries was thinking,
for he knew Chiquita, and it was this
which, thinking Of it. drove him out of
the warm and cosy barroom (the only
place where he could possibly stay. save
in his cold and cherries tent, and
forced him to cool his heated brow in
the cool, wet wind which blew from the
mouth of Picture Canyon.
He was reused by a voice, deep,
slow plainsman's voice, addressing him
"Pardner, you air a good one for a
tenderfoot, leastwayS I've sorter tackled
toyOu sence seen the way you whipped
that 'ere cowboy chump, and belted
him with his own gun. Some tender
fleets amt got 10 sand, but you have,
en- I'll not see you double-teamed on eff
| kin hep it, shO'S Pm from Texas
which Pm known as Black Waxy jim
"Why, what's the matter?" broke in
Herries on Black Waxy's harangue, as
he turned and regarded closely the tall,
athletic figure of the man beside him.
The Texan jeTked his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the barroom.
In-thar." he said, in low tone. 81
heern somethin' -about-about you-en
! Ell"
"Chiqulta?''
"Thet's it, pard. You've called the
deal. It's jest about tibet 'ere little
greaser gal, EN- you amt the fust, nor
you won't be the larst, reckon, thet's
got his hide bored long o. her."
whats up, then?"
Keep yer eye skinned-and don't go
nigh old RamOn's shack. I've warned
you. So long, pard."
And Black WaXy lounged away into
the gloom and MIST
Hold on" cried Herriss. rushing
after him, tell me at least who my
enemy ISL
Black Waxy turned and scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight.
"Pete-frOm Denverw he jerked out,
and strobe rapidly on.
HerrieS was a brave man, but his
blood chilled at the mention of that
name. 1t was the synonym of all that
was most fierce. blOOdthirsty and wick
ed even in that wicked and bloodthirsty
little community.
"Denver Pete!' he unused, $50 he is
going to do me up because Pm trying to
win that poor child from her horrible
life and save her for something better.
l fear me, Edward you're in no end of
a bad 'scrape."
But the blood which had rushed so
holly through his veins when Yale's
shout rang triumphant over the foot ball
field as the goal was almost won, and
which nerved him to dare any odds,
take any risk, so long as he could save
that game, now flowed again warmly
through his heart.
"I'll not be bullied," he said, and he
frowned and shut close his mouth and
clinched his hands. These were onl-
inOus signs in Mr.. Herries, and even
Denver Pete, redoubtable knight of the
green cloth, as he was, would have
done we'll to have needed them; had he
known young Herries better he might
have done so.
For Herries had stalked back to the
brilliantly lighted barroom, and had
called for a glass of whisky, the while
heiregarded knot Of men near by who
were conyersing in low tone. Among
these men was the gambler against
whom Herries had been warned-a
handsome, pale-faced, tall, slender man.
Ia = 1. l.. -