The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-04
FOR CHIQUITA'S SAKE.

Edward I. Herries, G. E." stood in
the doorway of the Rough Diamond and
looked gioomily forth at the rain as it fell
aslant the cactus growth and chapparal
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 furnishing institu-
ton in the little railroad town of Pic
ture Canyon, on the line of the Union
Pacific.
1t was one of those places which, at
that time, sprang up in night and are
deserted il 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 almost as If by magic.
There were thousands of laborers. rail-
road men, engineers and spectators.
With them came peddlers, storekeepers,
and last, but not least, the great army
of gamblers and saloon keepers. 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 railroad
employees, vanished utterly when that
army advanced farther and farther on
It's 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 mad been for some
time stationed at Picture Canyon, 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 mem
hers of the community.
Harvard bred, delicately nurtured. ac-
customed to all the refnements of life
which wealth guided by correct taste
may give in an old and settled COM
munity, 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 BIZ
ceps, standing six feet and over in his
boots, the man who had been Yale's es.
special terror as fright tackle" and who
had filed the 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 o8tcupyriIg the
nadoenea -! msna ats own adjacent land !
bnt without anv DDS and bacon
49, 49, -, - coffee and hardtack. In
deed he 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 ex-
terror Of a genuine frontiersman when
he
When he met Chiquital
Chiquita was sprite. 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 /
herder of other mems sheep, really |
gatherer OF other mems coins.
Chiquita kept house for him in tuln- /
bled together 'shack" on the outskirts
OK the town, and here entertained her
fathers guests.
Poor little Chiquisal
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, espe-
cially the heart Of a frontiersman, in
whose life female beauty is a rich and
rare event.
Many dollar had Chiquita's eyes and
lips brought TO old Ramon's sheepskin
pouch--and still ne 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 coy 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.
lie was reused by a voice, a deep,
slow, piainsman's voice, addressing him:
Partner, you are good one for
tenderfoot, leastways I've sorter tackled
TO you sence / seen the way you whup-
ped that ere cowboy chump and belted
him with his own gun. Some tender
toots amt got no sand, but You have,
ca III not see you double teamed on eff |
Kin help 1T, sho's I'm fun Texas-which
m known as Black Waxy jim"
why, what's the natter broke in
herrles On Black Waxy's harangue, as
he turned and regarded closely the tall.
athletic figure Of the man beside him.
The Texan Jerked his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the barroom
In thar" he said ia a low tone. ~
leern Observation-Disclosures you-en
EN-
"Chlquita2
''Thets 1t, paYf. You've called the
sei. IT'S jest about that ere little
reaseT gal, en- you amt the fust nor you
gOn't be tbe larst, reckon, thet's got I
IL hide bsfed long o her"
Whats np, thegf
''Keep year eye skinned and don't go
igi ola EamoD's shack. I've warned
%, 10 lGng, Derd.V
Aud Black Wary l0nnged away into
rs gathering gloom and Iaist,
"ti1ld ~, cried Hegries, rushing after [
ife; ''teii Ble ~ least vino nay enemy
~
Fish WGxg tgyaed ana scanned the
eaS.as aegaa@sg el9sslg h the twilight. .
e Ii - sz.sFas4sa you