The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-27
NAVAJO JOE.

Navajo Joe was out of luck. Ordinarily
his vagaries were not regarded in Cinnabar
His frequent appearance in the single street
in voluntary Of nice feats of horseman-
ship coupled with en- exhibition of pistol
passe beer bottles performed SIS targets had
hitherto excited no more baleful sentiment.
in the Cinnabar bosom than disgust
''Shootin Up the town whole lot" was
the name for this engaging pastinne as
given by Navajo Joe, and up to date the ex-
ercise had passed unchallenged
But today it was different. Camps, like
individuals. have moods; now light, now
dark and SO it was with Cinnabar. Just
at this time Cinnabar was experiencing a
wave Of virtue. This may have come spon-
taneously from the germs of order which,
after all, dwelt sturdily in the Cinnabar
breast 1t might have been excited by the
presence Of . pale party of eastern tourists,
just now abiding at the o. K hotel and
who the rather sdnguine sentiment of Gin
nabar credited with meditating large in
vestment OF treasure in her rocks and rills.
But whatever the reason, Cinnabar virtue
was certainly aroused, a condition of public
mind which made it bad day for Navajo
Joe.
The angry sun snote hotly in the desert
ed causeway of Cinnabar. The public was
within doors The Gold Mine saloon and
its sister hostelries. the dance hall and the
Full Blown Rose, were thriving nightly
Those games known to the world as monte,
high ball and faro and which generally en-
crossed 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 ex-
cess of trade Notwithstanding the torrid
heat, this need not sound strangely. Gin
nabar leaning was strongly homeopathic.
''Similia similibus curantur-like cures
Ike said Cinnabar, and when it was blaz-
ing hot drank whisky. But today there
was further reason for this consumption
Cinnabar was excited, and this provoked
thirst. Navajo Joe, rendering himself pris-
oner to Jack Moore, rescue or no rescue,
had by order of that sagacious body been
conveyed by his captor before the vigilance
committee and was about to be tried for
his life
What was Navajo Joe's immediate
crime? Certainly not a grave one. Ten
days before it would have hardly earned
comment. But today, in it's spasm of vir-
tue. and sensitive in it's memories of the
erratic courses of Navajo Joe aforetime,
Cinnabar had gravely and grinly taken
possession of that volatile gentlemen for
punishment. He had killed Chinaman
1t happened thus:
"Yere comes that prairie dog, Navajo Joe,
all spraddled OUT" said Bill Tut, a 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 sense of in
jury disclosed in tbs tone, born of the
awakened virtue of 1anslsr
ut looks like this yere camp never ca.
assoome no airs" said Rosewood Jim in q
distempered way, ''but this yere miser'ble
Joe comes chargin up to queer it,"
As he spoke, that offending Parsonage
unconscious Of the great changa in CHINA
bar morals swep: up tho street emitting
gladsorn and ecslatic whoops and whirl-
ing 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 astonisament and reviewed the
amazing performance Navajo Joe at once
and abruptly halted, and gazing for dis
gruntled moment on the man from the
east took the pipe from its owners horril
lied mouth ard placed il in his own.
d ''Smokin of pipes, The vouchsafed in con
demnatory explanation, lis onelegant arc
degradin, an don't yon do it no more in
my presence Pm mighty sensitive thelt
way about pipes an don't aim TO tolerate
em--none whatever
4 This solution Of his motives seemed en-
tire;y satisfactory 10 Navajo Joe. He sat
putting and gazing ct the man bereaved,
while the latter stood dumbly staring with
3 morsel of the ravished meerschaum still
Between his lips. What further might
have flowed in the way Of oratory or overt
gets may not be stated, for the thoughts of
the guileless Joe suddenly received new
Affection. Just then Chinaman, volumi-
flously robed, emerged from the New York
store, whittier re had been drawn by dint
of soap.
Whatever is this we're suds sloppin Mon
gol doin in camp I'd like for to knowl' IN
quired Navajo Joe disdainfully. II shore
leaves orders when Pm here last for the
immejit removal of all sech.
"Oh, WELL" he continued in tones Of
weary and bitter reflection, Pm the only
public speTited man in camp, SO all this
yeF0 WOEh luis EaCHeTSl TO me. L III 1sSC
have to make an example Of this perticler
Bpeciment to let 'em know whatever :.
Caucasian is anyhow"
Then came the short, emphatic utterance
of six shooter. puff of smoke which
vanished quickly in tho hot air. and the
next census was short one Asiatic Navajo
Joe had shot the Chinanian to Death
Then c2loe the brief order from Arm
strong, the chief OF the vigilance commit
tee. to Jack Moore. Tint gentleman prof
fered winchester frst and Il request sec.
ond, and Navajo JOG. realizing fate, at once
surrendered.
'Of course, !;e:its," said Armstrong apol
ogetically as he convened tie vigilance
committee il he New York store, Il don't
say this ,-e-a Joe is bein heid for beefn the
Chinama:l s,le IN alone; the fact is, he's
been Layi:, !. mighty sight too gay time
IF late, an so | thinks it's good, safe play
-bein rs it's q hot day IN we has the time
TO sorter call the committee together an