The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-17
ABE AND AUSTIN.

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We were cattlenlen-cOwboys they
would call us cas:-liying 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 Ills old
wound. He was taking a drink when /
went out in the afternoon TO salt some
deer; when | came back. he was dead.
Austin and | Strengthened him out and
threw a saddle blanket over him. We
closed his eyes, bIt left his head out. 1t
seemed more natural ike.
Austin was sitting facing the corpse. |
had my back that way, We were play
ing freezeout poker for yearling heifers.
All of a sudden there was a noise over
by the corpse that made III both start. 1t
sounded like two knocks on the floor.
We dropped our cards and went over.
Everything was all right. | said it must
have been a prairie dog or gopher-we
had no<kats nor rats around there. Aus
tin wasNhorribly scared. He swallowed
a 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 a quit mining camp. Aus
tin was shaking all over. and he says,
''D-i 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 III, he says. Well have
a norther tomorrow.
We didn't play any more. We sat
there talking about whether we better
start Jose tour cook oat ON the range to
round mp the boys for the planting. Pres
emily Austin says. did Abe ever say
anything to You about being marriedY'
mo. he didn't" says |. 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.
II know nothing about him." says l.
After a little | says to Austin, WAS Abe
married. II know nothing about him."
he says, and then he went off of his box
onto the floor AZ Il a broncho had kicked
him. | jumped up to help him, and IS |
did SO | saw Abe 1.-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 stretched ont, 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. | bent
over and shook Austin. but he seemed
like dead. As | went over for the jug to
get something to help him. | saw Abe
was lying just Us w had fixed him, and
the blanket looked as if it 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 ex-
amining 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
Ididn't ask him what he'd seen. Itdidn't
always pay to ask questions. Austin
drank right along drink between
drinks-and an hour later he fell over on
the floor. | threw a robe over him.
didn't feel any too good sitting there
alone after what I'd seen, and | too.
more than | should have myself. don't
remember much about going to bed.
The first thing | knew WIS Austin shak.
ing me and saying, Bill. where the
devils Abe got to- got up and looIed
around. There WA the buffalo skin, bai
noAbe. and his Winchester was missing,
We called in Jose. He'd seen nothing
ont of the way. We both felt far from
comfortable and decided to ride up tt
the next ranch and tell the boys there
When we caught Up orr 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 ont 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 Graz;
Woman's fork, where we were ther
living. We went into Tslbot's saloon
The barroom was separated from ths
slleater part by a plain board partition
We sat down at a table In the BARRON
and called for liquor. There was a Ions
haired. heavily whiskered man wht
looked like a bullwhacker stretched on
on a bench. lie looked as If he wer,
sleeping. We'd taken several drinks
and ! got to thinking of old times an,
somehow Of Abe. do you ever thinl
of Abe now? | says. Indeed / do
often, Z says Austin. I'll never rest til
know what became Of him.
Just a he said this the bullwhacke
rose up and says: Mr.. Williams. D
Austin. il you prefer it. you may res
from this date. | ann Abel" Austil
reached Tor Iii. CUR, but Abe caught hi
arm and said. quiethke: Hold on
rainute. gDu want any shooting later
Ill give you d show Then he turne,
to me and said: Years & o back in tn
states, Williams here and | loved tn
saine girl. Her parents did not approx
Of either OF as. She made me think sh
loved me, and she led Austin to believ
lie was the favorite. She finally con
scented to q secret marriage with me, an,
We slipped away. saying nothing,
s'So1nehow the report got back to DE
home that | had taken her on undo
promise Of marriage and had then III
serted her Austin ever recognized d
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