The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-17
MURDER IN CINNABAR.

claim the hospitality OF Lne ~. n. uOIel-
Ciunabar sentiment was not usually sus-
picious. Corners to its gates were flung a
breezy welcome, unoccupied with imper-
tinent inquiries. Names were not asked
nor histories desired.
'"This yere askin' of n strangers name Is
onpolite as a play an has its resks beside, !"
eaid Armstrong, who was the Chesterfield
of Cinnabar and an authority on matters
of etiquette. Its ass insultin' a gettin'
curious over the brand on man boss"
''That's whatever" assented Bill Tut.
'I knows party in Laredo who keeps pes
term round a-askin' of strangers name,
an he gets that unpopular the man wipes
him over the head with his six shooter.
You bet he was mighty displeased aboutit."
No; Cinnabar thought was blue eyed and
unsuspicious. Those who came were cheer
fully received and approved of or lynched,
according to their after embodiment. Jack
Moore himself was of a generous, health
full turn, and ordinarily would never have
held the thought which appears in his in
terrogatory touching possible eastern re-
wards. The truth is. the stranger excited
suspicion. No one could tell how or why,
but there was that in his very atmosphere
which would make a dog growl. Old
ghOuJo knew DOJQlDB ABOUT ulUl.
''He takes the stage in Tucson" said
that worthy person as he removed his nose
from a whisky glass for the purpose of
fuller converse. "An' no one knows moth
in about him AS he don't do nuthin'
comm over but lean back an cuss the
world in general an Arizona in pertic'ler,
which, while it's all right for pastime,
after all don't advance no facts, you can
see 1 shore falls short of bein' fully in
formed of this yere man myself"
'Well, I don't anyhow like him none,"
said Rosewood Jim refectively. 'Of course,
he amt earned no word from me either
way, an what says needn't go to his loss,
but shorely takes notion agin' him, jest
the same"
This appeared to represent the Cinnabar
feeling. Still it is probable that Cinnabar
would have thought and said no further
were it not for subsequent happenings at
the o. K hotel.
Cinnabar was at its vesper drink when
the rapid reports of pistol coming from
the hotel aforesaid aroused that mild in
terest which Cinnabar had grown to be-
stow on such phenomena
AZ wonder whoever gets it now?" said
Bill Tutt as he replaced his drained glass
on the Gold Mine bar.
Curiosity, however, was soon made easy
when word came over from the o. K. hotel
that it was simply Texas Thomson, and
that no one had bled.
"He's jest shootin' up the dinin' room
some, on account of the stranger" said the
courier who bore the news, IAN amt
meanin' nuthin' whatever"
The trouble came thus: The O. X. hotel
was in conduct of wide and liberal man.
agement, and its spirit was amply shown
in its motto, "There's Nuthin' Too Rich
for Cinnabar." But nevertheless its menu
was under the grinding control of circum-
stances. Just following those jocund days
which marked the advent of the freighters
from Tucson the o. K. table dhote became
n feast of richness.
After the freighters had departed in re-
turn, and as days went by, the richness
dwindled. 1t was on the day which sor-
rowfully marked the freighters as being
absent some three weeks that the stranger
signed the dCgeared account book, which
served as register and claimed the at
tention of the O. X. hotel as its guest, and
the table had pined to beans and coffee.
Cinnabar could be depended on never to
complain. 1t realized the exigencies of
q. X. hotel from any attempt to put it
to death by starving. Not SO the stranger.
He knew nothing of the freighters to Tue
son and was a-hungered.
IL don't like beans, and don't want any
coffee" said the stranger, with petulant
snap, as the viands described were placed
in his reach by Widow Briggs ''You can
bring me a beefsteak and eggs, and cup
of tea, with toast"
Deans an coffee" said the Widow
Briggs, regarding the stranger with a cold
and stony eye, lis the last two chickens on
the roost. an you eats 'em or lets 'em
alone, Jest as you all please" The widow
then made a majestic exit from the room
in dignified dismissal of the whole matter.
Thereupon the stranger rallied.
Whatever is the matter with you all
anyhow" asked Texas Thomson, address
ing the petulant stranger in a wronged
and injured tone. What you all a-tryin'
TO pull on trouble with them thar friioles
for? Frijoles is mighty succulent food an
Your stomach is a heap too ladylike when
it gets to layin' back its years that away at
frijoles"
But don't like beans" said the stran- |
ger.
''Oh, you like 'em well enough" re- |
sponded Thomson confidently. you Jest |
thinks you don't hike em What you all /
aims at in your proud an sperited way is |
to sorter lay back scornful of the grub |
we're, an put it all over Cinnabar. You /
Jest seizes on these yere frijoles as mere
excuse
"Who are your" asked the stranger in a /
mixture of wrath and uneasiness
'.AAbn he TS'' Taneare3 Thomson, in tomas /
of scoff. ''Who be l? Partner. you hoo /
initiates me- Pm the man who killed |
Bronco McGee; that's who l be- An say. /
stranger, I'll just confide in you, cause /
thar's something about you that drors me- /
If You don't crawl outside them beans" /
and here Mr.. Thomson's tones grew low and /
this yere pertic'lar minute
we all is exchanging our views in, I'll +
shorely leave you on both sides of the
street" Here Mr.. Thomson slowly drew
his large impressive six shooter and lay
Ing it beside his plate contemplated the /
horror stricken stranger with great inter
est.
The latter at once, but reluctantly, pro-
ceeded with his consumption of the dis
tasteful vegetable To his comfort and as
sistance the ardent Mr.. Thomson also
caused TO be purveyed an allowance of
whisky.
An bring it insa tin cup too" said Mr..
Thomson
This was received By the stranger and
quaffed in silence and sorrow; after which
Mr.. Thomson fired his pistol few times
through the thin board walls OF the room
in vague and desultory manner and came
away, leaving the stranger 10 mediate on
Il