The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-08
CHIQUITA.

/ NeQ I1eTTleSs OTB DIS MS CdTu Ecdu
edward T. Herries. c. E." stood in the
doorway of the Rough Diamond anC
looked gloomily forth at the rain as it fel
aslant the cactus growth and chapparaI or
the red soil of the mesa.
From the saloon within came the rattle
of dice, the chink of glass. the rattle ot
coin and the murmur of deep, hoarse male
voices The Rough Diamond was 4 most
lucrative and fourishing institution 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 a night and are deserted in
day along the line of the great road.
Indeed, they followed the track, aud wher-
ever track laying ended temporarily there a
town was certain to spring up-almost as
/ if by magic.
There were thousands of laborers, rail-
road men, engineers and spectators. With
them came peddIers, storekeepers, and last,
! but not least, the great army of gamblers
and saloon men. Some of these towns
| were located in advantageous situations,
and finally took on solid growth and
! prospered. Others, having nothing to JUS
| tify their existence save the presence of
the army of railroad employees, vanished
utterly when that army advanced farther
and farther on its mission of conquering
space and time and binding east and west
together 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 inhabitants, mostly males, and
which was nearly month old, so antique,
indeed, that an election for mayor and
common council was being agitated by the
more enterprising members of the commu-
nifty.
Harvard bred, delicately nurtured, &C
customed to all the refnementS of 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 disheartened Herries, but being, at
bottom. a man of good sense and pluck
and possessing a splendid constitution, a
magnificent hiceps, standing six feet and
over in his boots, the man who had been
Yale's especial terror as right tackle"
and who had filled bis 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 hardships which other men bore
without complaint, even if at times his
soul grew weary of oaths and liquor, mad
deued men and brawls, and bacon and
muddy coffee and hardtack. Indeed, be
grew at last to like the wild freedom of
his life, as all men will do in time, and he
was fast taking on the exterior of genu
inc frontiersman when he
When he met Chiquital
Chiquita was sprite. She was the true
daughter of rocky canyon and desert mesa
"a genuine child of the SierraS-and
woman withal.
Her reputed father was an evil eyed old
Mexican named Ramon; ostensibly herd
er of other mems sheep; really gatherer
of other mems coins.
Chiquita kept house for him in tumbIed
together shack" on the outskirts of the
town, and here 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
frontiersman, in whose life female beauty |
is a rich and rare event.
Many dollar had Chiquita's eyes and |
lips brought to old Ramons sheepskiu |
pouch-and still he was athirst for more
gold.
1t was of this Herries was thinking, for !
he knew Chiquita, aud it was this which, |
thinking of it, drove him out of the warm !
and cozy barrOom (the only place where he |
could possibly stay, save in his cold and |
cheerless 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 voice, a deep, slow
plainsman'S voice, addressing him:
'Pardner, you are good one for ten
derfoot, leastways Eve sorter tackled to
you sence | seen the way you whipped
that ere cowboy chump, and belted him
with his own gun. Some tenderfoots amt
got no sand, but you have, en- rll not see
You double teamed on eff kin help it, sho's
Pm fun TexaS-which I'm known as Black
Waxy jim"
''Why, what's the matter9" broke in Her
ries On Black Waxy's harangUe. as the
turned and regarded closely the call, ath-
letic figure of the man beside him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the barroom.
'In thar" he said in a low tone, Il heern
somethin-about-abo you-en-en"-
"ChiGuitaf"
''Thet's it. pard. You've called the deal.
It's jest about that ere little greaser gal
en- you amt the fust, nor you won't be the
larst, | reckon, thets got his hide bored
long O. her"
whats up, theu?"
keep yer eye skinued-and don't go
nigh old Rsmon's shack. I've warned you.
So long, pard"
And Black Wsxy 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 aud scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight.
"Pete-from Deuverl' he jerked out, and
strode rapidly of
Herries WAS a brave man. but bis blood
chilled at the mention of that name. 1t
was the synonym OF all that was most
fierce, bloodthirsty and wicked even in
that wicked and bloodthirsty little COM
munity.
Denver Pete" be unused. $50 he is
going 10 do me up because I'm trying TO ,
win that poor child from her horrible 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 hotlv
through his veins when Yale's shouts rang
triumphant over the football field as the
goa was almost won, and which rerved
him TO dare any odds, take any risk. so
long as be could save that game, now
nowed again warmly through his heart
III not be bullied," be said, and be
trowned aud shut clos. his mouth and
chncbed his hands. These were ominous