Connecticut western news., 1892-01-14
FOR CHIQUITA'S SAKE.

"Edward T. Herries, c. E.," stood in the doorway of the Rough Diamond and looked gloom1ly 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 a most lucrative and hourishing institu- ton in the little railroad town of Pic ture Canyon, on the line of the Union Pacific.
 It 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, 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 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, city of some 5000 inhabitants, mostly males. and which was nearly a month old, sn antique indeed that an election for mayor and common council was being agitated by the more enterprising mem berS 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 con- 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 splendid constitution, a magnificent bi- ceps, standing six feet and over in his boots, the man who had been Yale's es- special terror as right tackle" and who had filled 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 oaths and liquor naddened men and brawls and bacon and muddy coffee and hardtack. In- L. 1,c4 41 ll freedom of his life, as all men will do in time, and he was fast taking on the ex- terior of genuine frontiersman when he
 When hs met Chiquital
 Chiquita was a sprite. She was the true daughter of rocky canyon and des- ert 1nesa-s. genuine child of the Sierras and d woman withal.
 Her reputed father was an evil eyed old Mexican named Ramon, ostensibly d herder of other mems sheep, really a gatherer of other mems coins. Chiquita kept house for him i'll tum- bled together shack" on the outskirts of the town, and here entertained her fathers guests.
 Poor little Chiquita!
 Sine 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 frontiersman, in : whose life female beauty is a rich and l rare event.
 Many a dollar had Chiquita's eyes and lips brought to old Ramon's sheepskin X pouch-and still he was athirst for more ! gold.
 ! It was of this Herries was thinking, 1 for he knew Chiquita, and it was this 1 which, thinking of it, drove him out of the warm and cozy barroom (the only l place where he could possibly stay, save l in his cold and cheerless tent), and i forced him to cool his heated brow in l the cool, wet wind which blew from the 1 mouth of Picture Canyon. He was reused by voice, deep, slow, plainsnan's voice, addressing him
 ''Pardner, you are good one for a 1 tenderfoot, leastways I've sortes tackled to you sencs I seen the way you whup- ped that ere cowboy chump and belted him with his own gun. Some tender foots ain't got no sand, but you have, 1 en I'll not see you double teamed on eff kin help it, sho's I'm fum Texas-which I'm known as Black Waxy Jim."
 "Why, what's the matter?' broke in Herries on Black Waxy's harangue, az he turned and regarded closely the tall
 athletic figure of the man beside him.
 The Texan jerked his thumb over hii shoulder in the direction of the barroom
 "In thar" he said in low tone, ''l
 heern somethin-about-about you--er -en"-
 "ChlquitaF
 "Thet's it, pard. You've called ths deal. It's jest about that 'ere ittk
 greaser gal, en you ain't the fust nor yor
 won't be the larst, reckon, thet's go
 his hide bored long O her."
 "What's up, thenT'
 "Keep your eye skinned and don't g
 nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warned
 you. So long, pard."
 And Black Waxy lounged away int ) the gathering gloom and mist.
 "Hold on" cried Herries, rushing afte
 him; ''tell me at least who my enem.
 js.''
 l D1aak Waw turned and scanned th