River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-10-08

greaser gal. en- you amt the fust. nor
you won't Ice the 1 .rst. reckon. thet's
got his hide bored long o. ner.r
Whats mp, then?"
keep yer eve skinned-and don't
go nigh old Ramon's shack. I've
warned you So long, pard.
And Black Waxy lOunged away into
the gathering gloom and mist.
Hold on" cried Herries, rushing
after him. tell me at least who my
enemy is
Black Waxy turned and scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight
'.Pete-from DENVER he ierled out,
and strobe rapidly OFF.
Herries was brave man. but his
blood chilled at the mention of that
name. IL was the synonym of all that
was most fierce, bloodthirsty and
wicked even in that wicked and blood
thirsty little community.
Denver Pete!r he unused; so he is
going to do me up because I'm trying
10 win that poor child from her horri-
BILE life and save her for something
better / 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
shouts 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 neart-
4EE 4 L. \ L
frowned and shut close his mouth and
clinched his hands. These were omi-
nous signs in Mr.. Herries. and even
Denver Pete, redoubtable knight of the
green cloth IS he was, would have
done well to have needed them; had he
known young Herries better he might
have done so.
For Iierries had stallxed back to the
brilliantly-lighted barrOOm, and had
called for a glass of whisky, the while
he regarded "A knot OF men near by
who were conversing in a low tone.
Among these men was the gambler
against whom Herries had been
warned-a handsome, pale-faced. tall,
slender man. dressed with great neat
ness in black. and without singl- or
which nearly every man wore. lie had
small. keen. hungry-loosing gray
eye. and as he looked at UIeTries he
met the latter's gloomy glance. smiled,
and turned to his friends with the re-
mark:
1.-The kid seems worried about some
thing. wonder If by any chance he
has overhes ri us?'
.'Guess not-he jest come in a minute
ago"
Perhaps muttered Peter,
''but we will soon know"
Events move quickly in frontier
towns. As Hcrries finished his whisky
and banged the door behind him. Peter
arose from his seat
His friends also sprang up, but he
made a gesture of dissent;
No. boys Leave this to me. If
can't deal with one tenderfOot ] GER
tainly won't call in aid
But he might git the drap on We. 8"
persisted one.
Peter shrugged his shoulders and
deigned no reply. lie walked to the
bar. called for and swallowed a huge
glassful of brandy. which draught did
not even bring flush to his pale
cheek. opened the door and was lost in
the darkness of the night
About two hours later the inmates of
the Rough Diamond were startled by
hearing shots, cries. oaths. the heavy
laundering of a horses hoofs on th.e
rocky soil of the mesa and then a long,
loud ''hurrr-a-h."
Then all was silent.
As one man they sprang to their feet
and rushed for the door. but ere the
foremost man among them could reach
IL. il was burst violently open and old
Ramon rushed in, followed by Pete
from Denver, who, swaying and stag
gering like a drunken man, tot:ered up
to the bar, called for brandy, then
came to the floor with crash that
shook the windows
A babel of voices prevented expla-
nation for a long time. and when Pete
had somewhat revived, he told them
what had happened.
where's Chiquita?" some one aske !.
spasm of wrath cOnvulsed the fea-
lures of the dying man.
Gone. " he gasped. gone with that
cursed tenderfOOt"
How did it all happen, Pete?'
''lie was there, when | got there.
Chiquita was all dressed and ready to
90 off with him-womanlike, curse
her, lie saw me coming. His horse
was there. lie waited for me. oh. the
fellow was game enough. | said moth