The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-27
ask its views, whether we better hang this
Vnra NsYain Ina YET or not

nor nuthin in partic'ler but jest lettin it
fly under the general head of good of the
order"
do 1 hear any remarlls?" asked Arm
strong. ''If not, / shall take Mr.. TUFTS
very excellent motion as the census of this
ycrc nlee5in, an it's hang she isl
Not intendin no interruption" said
Texas Thompson, 81 wants to say this:
I'm quiet man myself an wants to keep
Cinnabar q quiet place wherein to pass my
declinin years For which all I shorely
favors hangin of Navajo Joe. He's given
us heap of trouble. Pm like Bill Tut l
don't make no pint on this yere dead
Chinaman. We spares him too easy But
this Joe is alters a-ridin an a-ycllin an
a-shootin up the camp till I'm clean tired
out. So says, let's hang him, en- suggests
is Il eligible place the windmill out back
OF the dance hail.
YES" said Armstrong, 1.-THE windmill is
upholstered for jest sech plays, an as delays
is aggravatin the committee might as well
canter over right now an get this yere done
by daylight, an''--
See yere, Mr.. President" inquired Ma
vajo Joe in q tone of truculent inquiry,
don't / get no hand in this yere? What
for deal is this, ! rises to ask anyhow"
s'You can gamble this yere Is a squar
American game" said Armstrong conf
IDENTIFY. YOU'RE entitled to your say when
the committee is done. Just stand your
hand now, and we'll deal to you in min
ute"
well, l jest wants to know If Pm in on
this play, that's all" said Navajo Joe.
Gents" said Rosewood Jim, who had
sat silently listening, ''Im with you on this
we're hangin. Any attempt on my part to
pint out those features in the daily life of
this camp as makes me tired might seem
invidious an I don't aim to do it none. But
we've got to do somethin in the way Of
takin good, firm, moral step. takes it,
hangin Joe will fill the prescription These
eastern men is yere in our midst It'll i'm
press 'em that Cinnabar means business an
is good, safe, quiet camp. They'll carry
reports east as will do us credit, an thar you
be. AS to the propriety of stringin Joe,
there need be no doubt. If the Chinaman
amt enough, if assaultin of innocent ten
derfoot amt enough, you can bet he's done
plenty beside as merits lariat He wouldn't
deny it himself, if you asks him."
There was silence succeeding the rather
spirited address of Rosewood Jim, and at
last Armstrong broke it by inquiring of
Navajo Joe if he had anything to offer
Il reckon it's your play now, Navajo, he
said, 80 come a-runnin."
"Well," said Navajo Joe disgustedly,
these yer proceedings makes me sick. l
shore objects to this yere hangin idee, an all
for meanly Chinaman too This yer camp
of Cinnabar is a-gettin mighty sight too
stylish for me- It's gettin that per-dad-
binged-tic-ler it can't take its reg Ter drinks,
an''-~-- sr ssa 5
stop right thar" said Armstrong, with
dignity. Don't cuss the chair none, cause
the chair won't haveit. lisa parliamentary
law if any one cusses the chair he's out of
order, same as it's law that all chips on the
floor goes to the house, an when mans
out Of order once that settles it. He can't
talk no more that meetin. Seem we're amin
to hang you, we won't claim no rule on you
this time, but be careful how you cor
trackin round, an don't crowd us. You
sabe? Don't crowd us none''
. "Well, I won't crowd you," retorted
Navajo joe II don't have to crowd you.
What 1 says is this: I s'pose sees SO men
stretched by committees between we're and
Oregon, an l never sees man get roped
yet on account of no Chinaman An Of
fers side bet of Il hundred even it amt
law to hang people on account of downin a
Chinaman. But you all seem sot on this
thing, an I'll tell you what I'll do. Pm
plain everyday sport, an there's no filigree
work on me, but if it's congenial to the
gents here assembled-not putin it on the
grounds of no miserable pigtails, but Just
to meet public sentiment half way-rll
gamble my life, hang or no hang, on the
first ace turned from the box, an Rosewood
deal. Is it go?"
Cinnabar tastes were bizarre A propo-
sition original and new found in its very
novelty a strong argument for Cinnabar ia
vor. So the unusual offer of Navajo Joe to
stake his life on a turn of faro was APPROX
ingly criticised. The general disposition
agreed, and even the resolute Armstrong
saw no good reason to object
Navajo Joe, said Armstrong, 1--WE don't
have to do this yere OF take this chance. an
it's a-makin OF mighty bad precedent as
may tangle us hereafter, but Cinnabar goes
you this time. Rosewood, turn the cards
for an ace"
"Turn squar, Rosewood" said Navajo
Joe, with an air of interest. "You wouldn't
go for to sand no deck nor run brace we're
agin perishin flesh an blood, would yous''
well, should shore say not" replied
Rosewood. II wouldn't do it for moasy,
an you can bet don't do it now when the
epeesode comes more under the head of a
picnic
well, then" says Navajo Joe, roll your
game. plays it open"
II dunno" says Bill Tut meditatively,
''but Pm thinkin I'd a coppered"
The turn proceeded, and as may happen
IN the interesting device named faro split
secured. Two aces came together
Ace lose, ace win," said Rosewood.
Whatever be we a-goin to do now, I'd like
for to know"
Gents" said Armstrong, with dignity,
"a split like this yere creates doubt, an
it's law that doubts go to the prisoner,
same as a maverick goes to the first man
as runs his brand onto him. This yere
camp of Cinnabar abides by the law, and
Navajo Joe goes free. However, he should
remember this little Craze and restrain his
fun maxim methods yereafter Some of
them ways of his leads straight to ever
lastin life, an if he's wise he alters his play
from now on"
so the camp really lose an this ye1e cuss
goes Free" said Jack Moore dejectedly II
alters was agin faro as game. Whar we,