Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-10-21
FOR CHlQUITA'S SAKE.

Ned Herries, or. as his card read,
Edward T. Herries, c. E. stood in
the doorway of the Rough Diamond and
looked gloomily forth at the rain as it fell
aslaut 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 aud the murmur of deep, hoarse
male voices. The Rough Diamond was
most lucrative and fourishing institu-
tion 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 mp in night and are
deserted in .ong 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 peldlers, 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 a
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
ana which was nearly month old, =
antique indeed that an election fol
mayor and common council was being
agitated by the more enterprising mem
bers of the community.
Harvard bred. delicately nurtured, &c
customed to all the refinements Of lif'
which wealth guided by correct tast,
may give in an old and settled com
munity, the rude surroundings Of hi
present life had at first disheartenet
Herries, but being at bottom man o
good sense and pluck and possessing
splendid constitution, a magnificent bi
ceps. standing six feet and over in hl
boots, the man who had been Hale's es
special terror as right tackle, an.l whi
had filled the seat IN the Varsity eigh
with more than credit when the bin
crossed the line ahead of the crimson
on Lake Quinsigamond. would hardl.
finch at hardships which other men Dor
without complaint, even If at times hi
soul grew weary of oaths and liquor
maddened men aud hrawls and bacol
and muddy coffee and hardtack. In
deed he grew at last TO like the viii
freedom of his life, as all men viii do i
time, and he was fast taking on the eS
terror of genuine frontiersman'whe
he
When he met Chiquita.
Chiquta was sprite. She was th
true daughter of rocky canyon and de
ert mesa--a genuine child OF the bierra
and woman withal.
Her reputed father was an evil eye
old Mexican named Ramon, ostensibly
herder of other mems sheep, really
gatherer of other mems coins.
Chiduita kept house for him in tun
bled together shack" on the outskir
of the town. and here entertained h'
fathers guests.
Poor little Chiquita!
She was brilliantly pretty, with Il
rich rose red flushing her olive cheek
her white teeth flashing betwe,
ripe. dewy, crimson lips, with gloriol
brown ewes under heavy arching brow
and shaded by such long curling lash
as would make ones heart ache, esp
cially the heart OF a frontiersman,
whose life female beauty is rich al
rare event.
Many dollar had Chiquita's eyes 81
lips brought 10 old Ramon's sheepsk
pouch-and still he was athirst for mo
gold.
Ii was of this Herries was thinkln
for he knew Chiquita, and 1t was Il
which, thinking of it. drove him out
the warm and cozy barroom the on
place where he could possibly stay, sa
in his cold and cherries tent, a
forced him to cool his heated brow
the cool. wet wind which blew from
mouth of Picture Canyon.
He was reused by voice, a de-
slow. plainsman's voice. addressing hi
''Parlner. You are q good one 10
tenderfoot, leastways I've sorter tack
to you sence | seen the way You VIII
ped that ere cowboy ehunip and belt
him with his own gun. Some tend
foots amt got no sand, but you ha
en- I'll not see you double teamed on G
kin help 1t, sho's I'm fun Texas-whl
I'm known as Black Waxy Jim
Why. whats the natter broke
Herries on Black Waxy'a harangue,
be turned and regarded closely the I
athletic figure Of the man beside him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over
shoulder in the direction Of the barroC
''In thar" ho said in low tone,
heern snmethin-about-ah you
-ens
'Chiquitay
"Thet's it, pard You've called