Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30
MERELY A MATTER OF TENSE.
Death From Heart Failure That was Re-
ported With Only slight Prcmaturcness.


ported With Only slight Prematurcnsss.
From the Arsonaut.
1t was very quiet in Adamsville that after
noon. 1t had been quiet for some time past.
Nobody had been shot or knitted, and no lynch
ing bee had occurred for good many weeks.
Nobody had even been drunk. Adamsvilie was
becoming degenerated, and you could see
ennui written on the countenance Of every
MAZE citizen, in ono form or another. There
were no female citizens--that is OF the sort
subject to ailments Of that nature. Those who
were 'here always had very lively time of il.
ihere was Spanish Dick across the street
now quarreling with one of her male friends
IN front OF the Diamond saloon. Dick was one
OF the leading citizens OF Adamsville, or. rather
one OF the most prominent ones. She had an
other name, but it was too long for every day
use, SO they called her Dick for short
bich was beanty-also a devil in skirts
mat she was bad goes without saving. She
was NOT only bad, but she was about the most
VICIOUS. quick-tempered, ready-to-stab Of her
KIND and calling that ever infested a mining
camp. Everybody was afraid of her; half the
town knuckled TO her. aud she did as she
P!eased- think very few people would have
been sorry to see her leave because she had a
nabit OF shooting in very impartial way when
IN one:of her tempers. and Of course nobody
could shoot back or defend himself
On this particular afternoon she was quite
calm, and We loafers in front of tho hotel only
heard word or two from the pair across the
street; but We could see and guess and our
guess was that Dick was in white heat and
that something unpleasant would result TO the
gentleman with whom she was debating, who
was MIR. Frank Beasley, tho ',gentlemanly and
obliging barkeep" at the Diamond. We
guessed very closely to the truth, but il was
worse than we expected.
After the discussion had proceeded for some
time Frank turned on his heel to re-enter the
saloon. but here an interruption occurred.
Phil Holmes, the gambler. came out OF the
barber shop next door and said something
which caused Beaslcy to halt suddenly aad
wheel around. 1t was all done in a moment
We saw Dick point her finger at Beasley trag-
lcally and heard her voice screeching in Span
ish. We saw Holmes lips move in saying
something to frank-the latter's hand few
back to his gun pocket-there was a report,
sharp and quick. I've rubbed our eyes and
rushed over. On the steps lay Beasley, shot
through the heart-the gambler had had his
gun in hand behind him, all ready, and had
been too quick for the other. 1t was cold
blooded murder, but there was no proof that
Holmes had been ready, as tho first reach seen
was that made by Frank, 80 there was nothing
to be done. However, Holmes evidently
deemed that his presence in Adamsville, for
awhile, could be easily dispensed with. SO, in
less than an hour, he and the woman were on
IL,
five miles distant
There was good deal Of serious talk in
Adamsville that night Beasley. the dead
man, had been very popular; there was not a
man IN the camp who dld not feel his loss as
that of d personal FRIEND and the purse raised
Tor his funeral was the largest thing in the
subscription line the oldest inhabitant could
call to mind. On the other hand, the murderer
was heartily disliked by nearly every one. He
was one of those cold-blooded, hear,less. pale
eyed, tacitGrn fellows, for whose oft-displayed
nerve there were plenty of admirers but whose
real friends might be counted on ones fingers.
lie had been at the camp two years, but had
never, TO any ones knowledge, done a kind
act to man, woman or beast. Although he
had been uniformly careful to keep out of
trouble OF any kind, and there was no specific
act, except the shooting OF Beasley, for which
to condemn him, there were rumors, and
plenty OF them, concerning a past record Of
sufficient righteousness TO make it very dis
agreeable for him If said rumors had found
yerification. The fact was. however, that no.
body, heretofore, had cared particularly about
his record, especially as Adamsville owned
quite number OF citizens whose escutcheons
needed renovating and a coat of whitewash.
Tonight, however, all these rumors and
various other matters concerning Holmes were
dragged in for discussion and rediscussion and
If Dir. Holmes had happened to be about his
usual haunts he would have found the social
atmosphere down near the black ice point. As
l said there was good zeal OF talk, bet that
was about all Talk is not an expensive COM
modify, and l have observed that there are
quite number Of people in the world who
take advantage of its cheapness, and We Of
Adamsville were using the Americans most
cherished prerogatiye to the fullest extent. and
that was ali.
There was only one plan of action suggested;
this was offered by Tootsy McFadden, young
man recently arrived from the least" which
a. Inf dam 10 he, lal
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and other oriental
communities more or less distant toward the
rising sun. Tootsy's idea was an original one.
1t had not it is sale to say, entered the mind
of any other citizen. 1t was too brilliant and
otherwise Observation-Disclosures so-and was
expressed about as follows:
why not and Tootsy lifted his other boot
on to the table and gazed upon it somew hat
admiringly, for Tootsy's undersized fee: were a
never-failing source of Joy to their owner
why not send word to hmm to stay away?"
There were several seconds of pregnant ST.
lence. Then Col. Bliss the landlord of the
hostelry of that name, laid one finger on the
table with some emphasis. my misguided
an inherent young tenderfoot," said he i'm
pressiye.y. ''air you acquainted with tn sub
ject Of this hyar confr'nce?'
wy, yes, :" responded Tootsy wonderingly.
mo, reckon We ain't-nothin' O. tn sort r
We wouldn't perpose no sech fool trick e. We
done jes now. Tn gent as goes t'make any
sech gestion { Mister Holmes had better pre-
pare hisself fer tn worr c come an tn life
everlastin'. Wy, boy. Phil Holmes d send
m cloud chasin' an be back hyar waviu' tn
red flag o defy PLAN in our faces bfore tn
Teller had his talk haff did. D'you want & 20.
my whiskerless young friendf"
Tootsy pondered; he hated to be thought
wanting in nerve, but finally wilted, and re-
quested the barkeeper to give the gentlemen
what they wanted.
The next day is a red-letter mark in the his
tary of Adamsyille. Several of us were sitting
on the steps in front Of the Hotel Bliss still
discussing Phil Holmes, when the mail carrier
from Woodruff came along.
Say, he sang out, Il spose ye heerd bout
tn weddin' in high sassiety over & Woodruff"
We hadn't, and were curious to learn.
why, Phil Holmes an Spanish Dick was
hitched las night, Jedge Bowker oficiatin'"
But this was not the emu of the matter
When the stage from down the gulch stopped
at the Hotel Bliss, at noon. there was another
sensation OF high degree. Instead of the usual
cargo of seasoned mountaineers there was a
woman-not only that, but the woman was Of q
kind we had not gazed upon for many Q day-a
lady! Not only a lady, but q very pretty one.
and she had child, a little curly-headed tot Of
four or five, with her. VIII Borden, the man
ager of the Lady Alice mine, was sitting next
to me, and heard him draw his breath sharply
Then-there was nobody belonging to the
house about-he rose. lifted his hat, and ad-
vanced TO assist her with her baggage, which
courtesy was accepted with Q smile that made