The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-22
Antlsrso,t gnteIligenter,
How Texas Abe Come to Life.

w
Austin and l were sitting up with the
corpse. Abe had been stiff since 8
O'Clock, and it was then six hours later.
We were cattlemen-cowboys they
would call us esst-living in ranch on
the Pecos in Texas. Abe was lying on q
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 a drink when l
went out in the afternoon to salt some
deer-w,en I came back he was desd.
Arstir and / Strengthened him out and
threw saddle blanket over him. We
closed his eyes, but left his head out; it
seemed more natural like.
Austin was sitting facing the corpse; |
had my back that way. We were play
ing freeze out poker for yearling beffers.
All of sudden there was 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 alright. I said it must
have been prairie dog, or gopher; We
had no cats or rats around there. Austin
was horribly scared be swallowed a
larger drink of whisky than usual. We
went back to our game, and presently We
heard the rap again, this time louder.
We got up again, and went over. All was
quiet as quiet mining camp. Austin
was shaking all over, and he says
ODD if take any stock in spirits out
side of the jug!" Then he took another
drink and banged out of the ranch
when he came in he says: "We'll have
norther tomorrow"
We didn't play any more; we sat there
talking about whether we'd better start
Jose (our cook out on the raDgeto round
up the boys for the planting Presently
Austin says: "Did Abe ever say any
thing to you about being married p
,"No, he didn't" says I; "if he's married
some one ought to get word to his wo-
man." Then we kept still spell. Then
I says to Austin: "Was Abe married ?"
"I know 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 did so ]
saw Abe (the corpse) sitting up on that
buffalo skin looking powerful mad. His
lip was curled up like he was trying to
hiss something, and his arm was stretch
ed out, and one long bony finger was
pointing at Austin, who lay Knocked out
on the floor.
don't want any encnres to that act. l
was 80 scared couldn't smoke. 1 bent
over and shook Austin, but he seemed
like dead. AS I went for the Jug to get
something to help him, saw Abe was
lying Just as we had fixed him aud the
blanket looked as if it had not been dis
turbed. took about five fingers myeelf,
then poured some into Austin. The first
thing he did when be came too wss to
look at his shooter; then he walked over
to the corpse and 'pesred to be examin'
ing the blanket; Then be says: 'That's
the second of those Id strokes I've
bad I guess the next will fetch me-" l
didn't tell him what I'd seen and l
didn't ask him what he'd seen. 1t don't
always pay to ask questions. Austin
drank right along-a drink between
drinks-and an hour later be fell over on
the floor. threw robs over him.
didn't feel any too good sitting there
alone after what I'd seen, and I took
more than should have myself. I don't
remember much about going to bed. The
first thing knew was Austin shaking me
and saying, "Bill, where the DEVILS Abe
got to?" Igot up and looked around.
There was the buffalo skin, but no Abe,
and his Winchester was missing. We
called in Jose; he'd seen nothing cut Of
tie way. We both felt far from COM
Portable and decided to ride up to the
ranch and tell the boys there. When we
caught up our ponies there was Abe's
sorrel as big as life. We didn't come
back to the ranch for q. week. Then we
were so played out and sick nothing
could have scared US, but both of us kept
wondering where Abe had got.
Two years afterward Austin and I rode
into Cheyenne from the Crazy Woman's
Fork, where re were then living. We
went into Talbot's saloon; the barroom
was separated from the theater part by q
plain board partition. We sat down at
table in the barreom and called for
liquor. There was q long haired, heav.
ily.whiskered man, who looked like a
bull-whacker, stretched out on bench.
He looked as if he were sleeping. We'd
taken several drinks and got to think.
ing of old times and somehow of Abe.
'Do you ever think of Abe now?" I
says. Indeed do, often," says Austin ;
"I'll never rest till I know what became
of him."
Just as he said this the bull-whacker
rose up and says: "Mr. Williams, or
Austin, if you prefer it, you may rest
from this date. I am Abe |" Austin
reached for his gun, but Abe caught his
arm and said, quiet like: "Hold on a
minute; if you want any shooting later
I'll give you show" Then he turned
to me and said: "Years ago, back in the
States, Williams here and I loved the
same girl. Her parents did not approve
of either of us. She made me think she
loved me, and she led Austin to believe
he was the favorite. She finally con-
sented to secret marriage with me, and
We slipped away, saying nothing. Some
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