Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-06-08
MURDER IN CINNABAR

wonder whatever for a reward, now
Is offered for that gent in the east" said
Jack Moore as the stranger disappeared to
claim the hospitality Of the o, K. hotel
Cinnabar sentiment was not usually sus
picious. Corners TO its gates were flung n
breezy welcome, unoccupiei with imper-
tinent inquiries. Names We're not asked
nor histories desired.
This yere askin' Of strangers name is
onpolite rs play an has its resks beside"
said Armstrong, who was the Chesterfield
Of Cinnabar and an authority on matters
Of etiquette. "lt's ass insultin' gettin
curious over the brand on man hoss."
That's whatever" assented Bill Tut
81 knows a party in Laredo who keeps pes
term round a-askin' of astranger's name
an he gets that unpopular the man wipes
him over the head with his six shooter
You bet he was mighty displeased aboutit."
No; Cinnabar thought was blue eyed and
unsuspicious. Thosewho came were cheer
fully received and approved Of or lynched,
according to their after embodiment. Jack
Moore himself was OF generous, health
ful turn, and ordinarily would never have
held the thought which appears in his in
terrogatory touching possible eastern re.
wards. The truth is, the stranger excited
suspicion. No one could tell how or why
but there was that in his very atmosphere
which would make a dog growl Old
Monte knew nothing about him.
HE takes the stage in Tucson said
that worthy person as he removed bis nose
from whisky glass for the purpose OF
fuller convcrsa AN no one Ano~s moth.
in about him. AS he don't do uuthin
comm over but lean back an cuss the
world in general an Arizona in pertic'ler
which, while it's all right for pastime
after all don't advance no facts, you can
see | shore falls short OF bein fully in
formed of this yere man myself"
"Well, don't anyhow like him none"
said Rosewood Jim relectively. "Ofcourse
he amt earned no word from me either
way, an what says needn't go to his loss,
but shorely takes notion sgin' him, jest
the same"
This appeared to represent the Cinnabar
feeling. Still it is probable that Cinuabar
would have thought and said no further
were it not for subsequent happenings at
the o. X. hotel.
Cinnabar was at its vesper drink when
the rapid reports of pistol coming from
the hotel aforesaid aroused that mild in
terest which Cinnabar had grown to be
stow on such phenomena.
81 wonder whoever gets II now?" said
Bill Tutt as he replaced his drained glass
on the Gold Mine bar
Curiosity, however, was soon made easy
when word came over from the o. X. hotel
that it was simply Texas Thomson, and
that no one had bled.
"He's Jest shootin' up the dinin' room
some, on account of the stranger" said the
courier who bore the news, "an' amt
meanin' nuthin' whatever"
The trouble came thus; The o. X hotel
was in conduct Of wide and liberal man
agement, and its spirit was amply shown
in its motto, There's Nuthin' Too Rich
for Cinnabar." But nevertheless its menu
was under the grinding control of circum.
! stances. Just following those jocund days
which marked the advent of the freighters
from Tucson the o. X table 'hote became
feast of richness.
After the freighters had departed IN re
turn, and as days went by, the richness
| dwindled. 1t was on the day which sor
rowfully marked the freighters as being
absent some three weeks that the stranger
signed the dogeared account book, which
served as register and claimed the at
tention of the o. X. hotel as its guest and
the table had pined to beans and coffee
Cinnabar could be depended on never to
complain. 1t realized the exigencies of
trade conditions, and fully exonerated the
o. K. hotel from any attempt to put 1t
to death by starving. Not so the stranger
He knew nothing Of the freighters TO Tue
son and was a-hungered
~ don't like beans, and don't want any
coffee" said the stranger, with petulant
snap, as the viands describSd were placed
In his reach by Widow Briggs "You can
bring me beefsteak and eggs, and n cup
Of tea, with toast"
"Beans an coffee" said the Widow
Briggs, regarding the stranger with cold
and stony eye, sis the last two chickens on
the roost, an you eats 'em or lets 'em
alone, Jest as you all please" The widow
then made majestic exit from the room
In dignified dismissal OF the whole matter
Thereupon the stranger rallied.
whatever Is the matter with you all
anyhow asked Texas Thomson, address
ing the petulant stranger in wronged
and injured tone. "What you all a-tryin
to pull on trouble with them thar frijoles
fort Frijoles is mighty succulent food an
your stomach is heap too ladylike when
1t gets to layin' back its years that away at
| Mjoles."
"But don't like beans" said the stran
| ger.
"Oh, you like 'em well enough" re
sponded Thomson confidently. "You Jest
thinks you don't like 'em. What you all
aims at in your proud an sperited way is
to sorter lay back scornful Of the grub
/ IN 10 .n
Jest seizes on these yere frijoles as mere
excuse"
"Who are your" asked the stranger In a
mixture Of wrath and uneasiness
"Who be II" repeated Thomson, In tones
Of scof. "Who be II Partner. you hoo
initiates me- I'm the man who killed
Bronco McGee; that's who ! be- An say.
stranger, I'll just confide IN you, cause
thars something about you that drors me
II you don't crawl outside them beans" /"
and here Mr.. Thomson's tones grew low and
confidential, "this yere pertic'lar minute
we all is exchanging our views in. III
shorely leave you on both sides Of the
street" Here Mr.. Thomson slowly drew
his large, impressive six shooter and lay
ing It beside his plate contemplated the
horror stricken stranger with great inter
est.
The latter at once, but reluctantly, pro
ceeded with his consumption OF the dis
tasteful vegetable. To his comfort and as.
sistance the ardent Mr. Thomson also
caused TO be purveyed an allowance Of
whisky.
AN bring It ina tin cup too" said Mr..
Thomson.
This was received by the stranger and
luaffed in silence and sorrow. after which
Mr. Thomson fired his pistol few times
through the thin board walls Of the room
In vague and desultory manner and came