The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-14

CIoo bIli ICoC oSoi oAU H~AAe
ing his right foot firmly turned his
body so as to place his left back where
his right breast had BEEN
''There," said he, don't you see how
man standing in front of me could
shoot and hit me in the back?"
had to confess the feat was posi-
bic Pecos Bill triumphantly resumed
his seat and turned upon ne look OF
pity, which meant that l was "a deal
greener" than he ever supposed The
jury remarked faeetiously among them
selves that nobody but a freak or a
lunatic ever travelled without gun.
The judge suggested that possibly l
was ICON comps mentis."
It was evident that Pccos Bill had
friends in that jury with whom was
unacquainted. unto whom it would have
to be made pretty clear that my pref
judicial evidence had not been given
with malice prepense before it would
be safe to meet them out of court.
wished more than ever / had stayed in
nv tent and read novels before going
near that cursed roundup" Mr..
| Potter of Texas" at the third reading
was preferable to murder trial in Ari-
IONA without gun. Shakespeare
wrote: '"Thrice is he armed that hath
his quarrel just" Shakespeare had
never been in Arizona.
I However, in due course of law the
case was concluded and the jury
charged. They lost no time in return
ing verdict of justifiable homicide.
Pecos Bill celebrated his release from
custody by leading the crowd, judge,
bar and jury over to the licensed liquor
house presided over by one Honest Or
gan, noted as being the greatest single
handed liar in the territory-and there
we irrigated. After many assurances
that my mistakes had been misinter-
! preted. and that there was no i'll will, l
was permitted to mount and set out for
camp Even my mule trotted out brisk
ly with the JOY of getting away.
As logged along, watching the red
dening sun drop lower in the heavens,
the silence and loneliness became OPP
pressive. Every bush rabbit that
crossed the trail gave me start. The
possibilities of the desert multiplied in
/ my mind. Any wayfarlng desperate
met could lay me low and drag my body
out among the bushes, where the coy
otes would prepare my bones for later
discovery, and the label, in some
dime museum: Traveller overcome
with thirst in the desert" Geronimos
entire band might be sojourning on
that very trail between me and the
camp. An elegant evenings entertain
mcnt l would furnish them!
Toward sunset I approached a deep
cou lee that crossed the trail. Looking
ahead into the gathering dusk / saw
two ponies laria ted among the mes
quite bushes The saddles appeared to
be of the Indian pattern, but there
were no riders anywhere in sight. My
first thong hit was to put about and re-
treat, but that was useless, for either
pony was far better mount than my
mule. It would be wiser to keep
straight ahead on the ira il and trust to
finding ''friendlies' Mountains
or Pimas.
AS approached the ponies a tall
white man sauntered out of the bushes
and planted himself squarely in my
path. He wore the Undermined hat,
dirty blue overalls and greasy buckskin
shirt OF a miner, and most prominently
a scraggy, san dy beard, which, after
radiating in all directions from his
head. fell half way to his waist He
concluded the movement by thrusting
the butt of his Winchester rifle be-
tween his toes and holding up his left
hand.
Pause, strangerl'' he said, quietly.
Pausing was right in my line. 1
wouldn't have refused his request for
half the territory in fee-simple.
paused and said: Good evening""
Light" he said. lit.
Without altering his position he
looked me over from head to foot.
Then turning his beady eyes full into
mine and wrinkling his shaggy eye
brows, he inquired:
"You air that medico from the SOL
der camp? Thought likely you might
pass this way" He turned and beck
oned me to follow him into the chap
arral
answered Eyes" and walked after
him, feeling like doomed convict on
his way to the cart. Surely the hour
had come.
We entered an open space, in the cen
ter of which was the figure of a man re-
clining upon blanket.
'Pard," said my captor, addressing
the figure, Il hev brought you the
medico" Then turning to me he added:
'Pard an me he'd dispute about who
owned the mine, an winged pard."
JOY of the thought! My professional
skill was required. The other fellow
was to be the victim, not me. l might
leave my revolver behind, but my pocket
surgical case, never.
what can l do for you, my frieud?"
I asked bending over him. The right
arm was bound up with red bandana
handkerchief and blood was oozing out.
You might patch UP that hole Tonic
bored in me- he answered, feebly.
''He got to rar.n' aroun' here all cut OF
my claiTnin' the mine. When he swore
he would never let me own that mine
alive it riled me, an l war roin' to
make medicine weth him. but Tonic air
double geared - easy doe, it air very
techy - double-gearcd lightenin' on
pullin' trigger, an he winged me fore
l could git my gun levil. l reckin the
mines his"
Which will teach ye hereafter to re-
spect the wishes Of al honest pardner,"
observed the master or the situation.
sententiously.
1T air q ticklish thing to shoot
mans old pardner," continued the
ii 81 I ,.-a,at OF, with NJ