The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-20
ABE AND AUSTIN.

We were cattlemen-cowboys they
would call us east-living in ranch on
the Pecos in Texas. Abe was lying on
buffalo robe over against the wall, where
he died He had been grunting around
for several days complaining Of his old
wound. He was taking drink when
went out in the afternoon to salt some
deer; when 1 came back, he was dead.
Austin and Strengthened him out and
threw saddle blanket over him We
closed his eyes, but left his head out. 1t
seemed more natural like.
Austin was sitting facing the corpse.
had my back that way, We were play
ing freezeout poker for yearling heifers.
All Of sudden there was a noise over
by the corpse that made US both start. 1t
sounded like two knocks on the floor.
We dropped our cards and went over.
Everything was all right. l said it must
have been O prairie dog or gopher-we
had no cats nor rats around there. Aus
tin was horribly scared. He swallowed
larger drink of whisky than usual. We
went back TO our game, and presently
we heard the rap again-this time loud
er We up again and went over. All
was quiet as q quit mining camp. Aus
tin was shaking all over, and he says.
D if take any stock in spirits out
side of the jugI'' Then he took another
drink and banged out of the ranch.
When he came in, he says, well have
Il norther tomorrow"
We didn't play any more. We sat
there talking about whether we better
start Jose (our cook out on the range to
round up the boys for the planting. Pres
emily Austin says, Did Abe ever say
anything to you about being married?'
No, he didn't" says l. IF he's mar
ried, some one ought to get word to his
woman" Then we kept still a spell.
Then Austin says: "Was Abe married?
81 know nothing about him." says l.
After little | SAYS to Austin, WAS Abe
marriedY' '1know nothing about him"
he says, and then he went OFF Of his box
onto the floor as if broncho had kicked
him. jumped up to help him, and as l
did SO / saw Abe (the corpse) sitting up
on that bdffalo skin looking powerful
mad. His lip was curled up like he was
trying to hiss something, and his arm
was stretched out, and one long bony fin
ger was pointing at Austin, who lay
knocked out on the floor.
don't want any encores to that act.
was so scared couldn't smoke. l bent
over and shook Austin, but he seemed
like dead. AS l went over for the jug to
get something to help him, / saw Abe
was lying just as we had fixed him, and
the blanket looked as if il had not been
disturbed. took about five fingers my
self, then poured some into Austin. The
first thing he did when he came to was
to look at his shooter. Then he walked
over to the corpse and 'peared to be e1-
aiming the blanket. Then he says:
That's the second OF those d strokes
I've had. / guess the next will fetch
me-" Ididn't tell him what I'd seen, and
didn't ask him what he'd seen. 1t didn't
always pay to ask questions. Austin
drank right along-a drink between
drinks-and an hour later he fell over on
the floor. threw a robe over him.
Il didn't feel any too good sitting there
alone alter what I'd seen, and took
more than should have myself. don't
remember much about going to bed.
The first thing knew was Austin shak-
ing me and saying, bill, where the
DEVILS Abe got too" / got up and looked
around. There was the buffalo skin, but
noAbe, and his Winchester was missing.
We called in Jose. He'd seen nothing
out of the way. We both felt far from
comfortable and decided to ride up to
When we caught up our ponies, there
was Abe's sorrel as big as life. We
didn't come back TO the ranch for a
week. Then we were so played out and
sick nothing could have scared Us, but
both of US kept wondering where Abe
had gone.
Two years afterward Austin and
rode into Cheyenne from the Crazy
Woman's fork, where we were then
living. We went into Talbot's saloon.
The barroom was separated from the
theater part by plain board partition.
We sat down at table in the barroom
and called for liquor. There was long
haired, heavily whiskered man who
looked like bullwhacker stretched out
on bench. He looked as if he were
sleeping. We'd taken several drinks
and got to thinking of old times ant
somehow of Abe. DO You ever thinl
of Abe nowT' / says. Indeed do
often" says Austin. IN never rest til
know what became Of him"
Just as he said this the bullwhacke1
rose up and says: Mr.. Williams, o.
Austin, if you prefer it, you may res
from this date. l am Abew Austin
reached for his gun, but Abe caught hi
arm and said, quietlike: Hold on {
minute. IF you want any shooting later
I'll give you a show" Then he turnei
to me and said: Years ago, back in thu
states, Williams here and l loved tn;
same girl. Her parents did not approve
Of either of rs. She made me think sht
loved me, and she led Austin to believe
he was the favorite. She finally con
sented to secret marriage with me. ant
we slipped away, saying nothing.
Somehow the report got back to he,
home that 1 had taken her off unde1
promise of marriage and had then de
serted her. Austin never recognized mt
up to the day of my supposed death, bu
knew him the first time he showed u
at our ranch on the Pesos. After yo
went out that afternoon 1 felt very sic
and really thought L was dying, so
turned to Austin and said, William.
I'm John Walker Quick as cat
was on me. 1 couldn't get my gun, an
he had me by the throat, so l couldn
speak. He cholied me, as he supposed
to death. The next thing / remembt
was hearing you two talking about u
as if were dead really felt not Fl