Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-18

A Night Scene In Nogales Gambling
Den

Den
Nogales Is 4 little town down In SCUM,
ern Arizona that is part American anu
part Mexican in more senses than one,
for it calmly sits upon the internatlonai
boundary line and owes half its allegl,
ance TO Mexico and half to the Unlteo
States. Thus the resident OF Nogaies
is much better off than Lieut.. NOLAN,
for instead Of being man WithouV
country, he is man with t"o
countries. The boundary line between
the two republics runs exactiy
along the centre OF the prlnclpai
street, so man needn't leave the town
nor walk very far to plant one 1901 Oh
Mexican soil and yet retain purchase
upon the land of the free, etc. Ihis
peculiar situation is often taken adVah-
tage OF by deserving soldiers from the
Southern Arizona forts, who are inclined
to be facetious. They go over TO the
Mexican side Of the main street, ana
when the sergeant and his squad who
are in pursuit arrive in town they mad
the deserters sitting out in front
Of saloon enjoying life and making
faces at their pursuers with perfect
impunity. For desertion Is not an ex'
traditable offense. All the sergeant
can do is to sit down and patiently wait,
in the hope that the deserter Will I'm
bibe enough mescal or pulqne to render
him reckless and bring him across that
invisible but uncroSs&ble line. Nor Is
Nogales very virtuous town. 1t TACT,
it is somewhat "tough." Almost every
man carries a ''gun," and Is READY TO
use IL when his rights are trampled upon
or his honor wounded.
During the Geronimo campaign l
went down to Nogales TO visit friend
of mine and one night he took me out to
see the sights. Among other sports on
the elephant was the biggest saloon and
gambling room ir the town. l forget
now who ran it. but that doesn't matter.
After passing around and looking on a
while at the various games, we sat
down at a table near party OF poker
players, ordered drinks, and watched
the animated scene. l was partlc-
uarly interested in one OF the play
ers at the table next TO US, who ap-
parently had phenomenal luck, judging
from the pile of gold, silver and chips
in front OF him. he was big, black
bearded, swarthy man, with mean, rest
less eyes, and as another big, full
bearded man, toying with huge pistol,
approached the table with quick
stride, fancied that he suddenly grew
a shade paler. He made an almost i'm
perceptibe movement to reach toward
his hips, but apparently changed his
mind and gazed intently at the cards.
BY this time the other big man was OPP
poSite him.
$50, you dirty, mean skunk, "he said,
"I've run you down at last, have II"
The play at once ceased and the par
Elephants in the game waited passively
to hear the outcome. This was a quar-
rel between TWO men-a personal and
private matter-and it would have been
impertinence and q breach of etiquette
on their part TO have interfered by
word or act.
Eyes, you've 'run me down. as you
put it," replied the other. "What do
you want to say to me? Hurry up, and
don't delay the game"
what do want TO say to you?" the
other burst out furiously, and with
voley OF oaths, 81 don't want to say
anything to you, you thief. l want to
put bullet into your dirty carcass,
ami I'm going to do it. Draw your
gun. I'll give you one chance for your
life"
BY this time the noise had attracted
attention. The players had crowded
TO the side walls, and there was clear
passage for the bullets that were mo-
mentarily expected tn commence flying.
The proprietor OF the gambling den was
Fastening toward the disputants, shout
ing, as he came, a warning to them 10
deSst.
Shoot, II you want to, Bill" said the
black bearded man, his face as pale as
death, "but If you do you murder me,
for haven't gun en- my person."
"You haven't, eh?" replied the other,
insolently. "Wel, I'll shoot no man
like rat. But you miserable hound,
after 4 o'clock this morning I'll kill you
on sight, gun or no gun. Fair warn
ing. Look out for yourself"
He turned TO move away, when, quick
as flash, the black bearded man sprang
TO his feet, drew a revolver and fired at
the retreating figure.
Look out!" shouted some one in the
crowd who had observed the movement.
The man gave start and half turn,
and the motion saved his life, for the
bullet grazed his head and tossed lock
of his thick hair into the air. Before
the black bearded man could recover,
the other shot. The bullet crashed
through the gamblers head and he
dropped down dead. In the confusion
which followed my friend and l escaped
into the street.
was obliged 10 leave Nogales the
next day, but at the first opportunity
wrote and asked for information con-
corning the outcome Of this little cpl
sode, and "what they had done with
the murderer"
why, you poor tenderioot," my
friend wrote back, ''you wouldn't call
that murder, would you? In the first
place, the man would have been justi-
fed in shooting, under any circumstan-
ces, for the other had robbed him OF o
mine in Mexico. And, secondly, the
black bearded coward shot first, and
when his adversary's back was turned,
and deserved what he got In return for
that alone. What did they do with the
murderer?' They-gave him the dead
mans winnings in the poker game"
FRANK r. LINN.
A Child Heroine.