Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-19
MURDER IN CINNABAR.

Cinnabar sentiment was not uSuall
suspicious Corners to its gates wer
flung a breezy welcome, unoccupiet
with impertinent inquiries Name
were not asked nor histories desired.
This we're askin of a stranger
name is onpolite as a play an has it
resks beside" said Armstrong, VIII,
was the Chesterfield of Cinnabar ant
an authority on matters of etiquette
"Its ass insultin' a gettin' cur Gus Ovel
the brand on mans boss
That's whatever" assented Bill Tut
Il knows party in Laredo who keeps
pester1n round a-askin' of a strangers
name, an he gets that unpopular the
six shooter. You bet he was mighty
dISple2sed about it,
No: Cinnabar thought was blue eyed
and unsuspiciOus. Those who came
were cheerfully received and APPROX
ed Of or lynched, according to their
after embodiment. Jack Moore himself
was of Z generous, healthful turn, and
ordinarily would never have held the
thought which appears in his interrOga-
=
The truth is, the stranger excited SuS-
picion. No one could tell how or why,
but there was that in his very atmos-
phere 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 his
nose from a whisky glass for the pur-
pose of fuller converse "An' no one
knows nothin' about him. AS he don't
do nuthin' comm over but lean back
an cuss the world in general an Ari-
IONA in pertic'ler, which, while it's all
right for a pastime, after all don't adj
vance no facts, you can see / shore falls
short Of bein' fully formed Of this yere
man myself"
"Well, / don't anyhow like him
none" said Rosewood Jim refectively.
''Of course, he amt earned no word
from me either way, an what l says
needn't go to his loss, but I shorely
takes a notion agin' him, Jest the same"
This appeared to represent the CHINA
bar feeling. Still it is probable that
Cinnabar would have thought and said
no further were it not for subsequent
happenings at the O. X. hotel.
Cinnabar was at it's vesper drink
when the rapid reports of a pistol com
ing from the hotel aforesaid aroused
hat mild interest which Cinnabar had
grown to bcstow on such phenomena.
II wonder whoever gets it now?"
said Bill Tut rs he replaced his drain
ed 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.
Hes Jest shoOtin' up tho dinin'
room some, on account Of the stranger"
said the courier who bore the news.
Gan amt meantn' nuthin' whatever"
The trouble came thus: The O. X.
hotel was in conduct of wide and
liberal management, and its spirit was
amply shown in it's motto, "There'S
Nuthin' Too Rich for Cinnabar." But
nevertheless it's menu was under the
grinding control of circumstances. Just
following those iocund days which
marked the advent of the freighters
from Tucson the o. X. table d'hOte be
came a feast Of richness.
After the frei@hters had departed in
return, and as days went by, the rich
ness dwindlod It was on the day
which Sorrowfully marked the freight
ers as being absent some three weeks
that the stranger signed the dogeared
account book, which served rs Il regis
ter and claimed the attention of the
o. X hotel as its guest, and the table
had pinned to beans and coffee. CHINA
bar could be depended on never to
complain It realized the eXigencies
of trade conditions, and fully eXOnerat-
ed the O. X. hotel from any attempt
to put it to death by starving. Not so
The stranger He knew nothing of the
frcighters to Tucson and was a-hunger-
ed.
Z" don't like beans, and l don't want
any coffee" said the stranger, with
petulant snap. as the viands described
were placed in his reach by Widow
Briggs. ''YOu can bring me Il beefSteall
and eggs. and Il cup of tea, with toast"
Beans an coffee" said the Widow
Briggs. regarding the stranger with
cold and stony eye. 'is the last two
chickens on the roost, an you eats
'em or let's 'em alone, jest as you all
please" The widow then made ma
jestic exit from the room in dignitied
dismissal of the whole matter.
Thereupon the stranger rallied.
'eWhatever is the matter with you all
anyhow asked Texas Thomson, adj
dressing the petulant stranger in a
wronged and injured tone. 'What you
ali a-t1yin' to pull on trouble with them
thar friioles for? FriiOleS is mighty
succulent food an your stomach is a
heap too Iadylike when it gets to layin'
back its years that away at friioles."
''But I don't like BEANS" said the
stranger.
S'Oh. you like 'em we'll enough" re-
.sponded Thomson confidently. 'You
lest thinks you don't like 'em. What
YOU all aims at in your proud an spirit
ed way is to sorter lay back scornful
Of the grub we're. an put it all over
Cinnabar. You jest seizes on these we're
friioles as a mere excuse"
"Who are you?" asked the stranger
in a mixture of wrath and uneasineSs
seWho be II" repeated Thomson. II
tones of scoff. 'sWho be [? Partner
Won hoomiliates me. I'm the man who
killed Bronco MCGEE; that's who L be
An say, stranger, I'll just confide IL
you, cause thar's something about yol