The National tribune., 1893-07-20

| -
Navajo joe and up to date the exercise had
passed Unchallenged.
But to-day it was different Camps like in
| dividuals have moods-now light, now dark,
| and so it was with Cnnabar. Just at this time
Clnnabar was experiencing a wave of virtue.
| ms may have come spontaneously from the
| germs of order which, after all, dwelt sturdiIy
| In the Cinnabar breast Ii might have been
| excited by the presence of pale party Of East
| ern tourists, just now abiding at the o. K Hotel,
| and who the rather sanguine sentiment of Gin
! nabar credited with meditating large invest
ment of treasure in her rocks and rillS. But
whatever the reason Cinnabar virtue was GER
| tainly aroused a condition of the public mind
| which made it bad day for Navajo joe
The angry sun smote holly in the deserted
| causeway of Cinnabar. The public was within
| doors. The Gold Mine Saloon and its sister
| hostels, the dance hall and the Full Blown
| Rose, were thriving nightly. Those games
| known to the world monte, high ball and
| faro, and which generally engrossed the public
thought were drowsy and dull enough, but the
counters whereat the citizen of Cinnabar
gathered with his peers in absorption OF the
incautiOus drinks of the place, were fairly
sloppy from an excess of trade. Notwithstsnd-
ing the torrid heat, this need not sound
strangely. Cinnabar leaning was strongly
homeopathic.
Simiiia similibus curantur-like cures like
said Cinnabar, and when it was blazing hot,
drank whisky.
But to-day there was further reason for this
mption. Cinnabar was excited, and this
provoke ed a thirst. Navajo joe rendering i'm
self prisoner to Jack Moore, rescue or no rescue,
had, by order of that sagacious body been con-
veyed by his eaptor before the vigilance COM
mittee and was about to DO tried for his life.
What was Navajo Joe's immediate crime?
Certainly not grave one. Ten days before it
| would have hardly earned q comment. But
| to-day, in its spasm of virtue, and sensitive in
Its memories Of the cratic courses of Navajo
Joe aforetime. Cinnabar had gravely aud
grimly taken possession of that volatile gentle
man for punishment. He had killed China
man. 1t happened thus:
''Yere comes that prairie dog, Navajo Joe, all
spraddled out" said Bill Tut short half hour
before. He was peering from the window of
the Gold Mine saloon at the time, to which he
had been drawn by the noise of hoofs, and
there was a sense of injury disclosed in the
tone, born of the awakened virtue of CHINA
bar.
1T looks like this yere camp never can
ass0ome no airs" said Rosewood Jim, in a dis
tempered way. but this we're miserble Joe
comes chargin' up to queer it."
As he spoke, that offending parsonage, uneon-
scious of the great change in Cinnabar morals,
swept up the street, emitting gladstone and
ecstatc whOops and whirling his pistol on his
forefnger like wheel of light. A tourist
stood in the door of the hotel smoking a pipe
in short, brief puffs of astonishment, and re-
viewed the amazing performance. Navajo Joe
at once and abruptly halted, and. gazing for a
disgruntled moment on the man from the East
took the pipe from its owners Mortified mouth
and placed it in his own.
"Smokn' of pipes" he vouchsafed in Icon-
demnatory explanation. " is onelegant and de-
gradin,' an don't you do it no more in my
presence. Pm mighty sensitive that away
about pipes. an / don't aim to tolerate 'em /;
none whatever"
This solution of his motives seemed entirely
satisfactory to Navajo joe He sat puff g
aud gazing at the man bereaved, while the
latter stood dumbly staring, with a morsel of
the ravished meerschaum still between his lips
What further might have flowed in the way of
oratory or overt acts may not be stated, for the
thoughts of the guileless Joe suddenly re-
eeived new direction. Just then China
man, voluminously robed, emerged from the
New York Store whittier he had been drawn by
dint of soap.
Whatever is this yere suds-sloppin' Mongol
doin' In camp, I'd like for to knOw?" inquired
Navajo Joe disdainfully. 81 shore leaves
orders when I'm yere last for the immejit re-
moval of all sech.
"Oh, WE'LL" he continued, in tones of weary
and bitter reflection, Pm the only public
sperited man in camp so all this yere work
falls nac5eral TO me. I'll jest have to make an
know whatever Caucasian is, anyhow"
Then came the short emphatic utterance of
a six-shOoter, puff of smoke, which vanished
quickly in the hot air, and the next census was
short one Asiatic. Navajo Joe had shot the
Chinaman to death.
Then came the brief order from Armstrong,
the chief of the vigilance committee to Jack
Moore. That gentleman prOfered Wiuehes-
ter first and request second and Navajo Joe,
realizing fate, at once surrendered.
"Of course, gents" said Armstrong, apollo
getically, as he convened the vigilance COM
mittee in the New York Store, Il don't say this
yere Joe is bein' held for beefin' the Chinaman
sole an alone; the fact is, he's been havin' a
mighty sight too gay time of late an SO
thinks it's good, safe play-bein' as it's hot
day an We has the time-to sorter call the
committee together an ask its views whether
we better hang this yere Navajo Joe yet or
nOt?"
"Mr. President" responded Bill Tut, if Pm
in order. an jest to get the sense of the meetin'
to fiowin easy an smooth. moves we take this
yere Navajo Joe an proceed to stretch him q
whole lot. | amt BASIN this yere on no de-
funct Chinaman. nor nuthin' in partic'ler but
jest lettin' it fly under the general head of good
of the order"
"Do hear any remarks?" asked Armstrong.
" II not l shall take Mr.. TUFTS very excellent
motion as the census of this yere meetin', an
it's hang she is"
Not intendin' no interruption" said Texas
Thompson. :" want to say this. Pm a quiet
man myself, an wants to keep Cinnabar a quiet
place wherein to pass my declinin' years. For
whitehall shorely favors a hangn' of Navajo
joe He's given a heap of trouble. Pm
like Bill Tut. l don't make no pint on this
yere dead Chnaman; we spares him too easy.
But this Joe is alters ridin' an yelin' an
shootn' up the camp till Pm clean tired out.
So / says, let's hang him, an suggest as elgi-
bic place the windmill out back of the dance
hall"
EYES," said Armstrong, "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 day
light, an -
SEQ yere. Mr.. President" inquired Navajo
Joe i'll a tone of truculent inquiry, "don't /
get no hand in this yere? What for deal is
this, | rises to ask. anyhow"
'You can gamble this yere is squar'
American game" said Armstrong confidently.
You're entitled to your say when the COM
mittee is done. Jest stand your hand now an
we'll deal to you in a minute"
well, jest wants to know il I'm in on this
play. that's ALL" said Navajo Joe.
Gents" said Rosewood Jim, who had sat
silently listening, Pm with you on this yere
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
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 uree-scriptiOu These Eastern men is yere