The Meeker herald., 1893-04-29
A FLASH IN THE PAN.

1t takes tough man t stand it
when You Texas fellers drop a link
an strike an all-day gait. Y think
tibet because Il mans punched COWS in
TIL North he don't know an "apple-
horn" from "Nisalia," err a "rope"
from a lass" err either Of EN- from
"necarte." / s'pose, now, y'd look
at me red-eyed Of was t tell " tibet
I've done as much twinin' amongst
tn chaparral as have on top O. tn
bunchgrass. an Topped my lip over
tn chuck in u greascr's adobe as oftes
as I've pounded my ear in Montana
shack.
Now jest s'pose man--not me, but
another feller-t' be peaceably shack
in along on his mustang over one
o them big mesas down there, when
out from TIL gates o. hacienda he
was passin' rode beautiful creature,
not sixteen-they ripen early down
herewith black hair, languishin'
eyes, an a figger t set fire t tn
heart o any vaquero that ever coiled
a rope. an dashin' up t Bill Shocks
turned loose her pleadin' dark eyes
on him. an said:
docs tn caballero ride Z TIL
rancho of Senior tn 1ntendant O. TIL
herds o tn Blazin' Brazoss"
Good Lord" said Bill Shocks to
himself, this lays over me-" But t.
her he said in his softcst voice. n
good deal spoiled by pretty steady
years;
Isl. senorita; y can bet yer sweet
life he does"
AN will he charge himself with
this, to me, letter o. life an death,
an deliver it safely into the hand of
one Don Henrico Martinez Mt that
rancho?"
That little cuss, Hen Martin, fer
tn whisky! George, whut luck some
men do have,' said Shocks ag'in to
himself. But. bein' short on Spanish,
he had t git off pretty much TIL
same old gag t. her.
Isl, senorita: y can bank on Hen
ON Don Henrico's gettin' it all
right"
"An' 1 shall t TIL Senior Caballero
my thanks o. tn most deep. an
prayers t tn Holy Mother of Heav-
EN-" with which polite remark tn
lady wheeled her horse an vamoset
As sudden as she come.
Martin was man o. simple habits,
an easy t find. He was stretched in
a hammock under big cottonwood,
with cigarette in his mouth, dirty
French novel in his hand and n
whisky cocktail close by. He was n
handsome little cuss, born and bred
in Boston, where most o tn company
stockholders lived, and though his
services wasn't very valuable it was
understood t be worth all it cost to
his friends t keep him safely cached
5000 miles away from home.
Shocks havin' delivered TIL letter.
Martin chucked away his cigarette
and perccded t. read it. not noticin'
tibet Bill was still standin' there.
Now, as told y Bills affections had
taken such strong delawelt around
tn lovely senorita tibet not havin'
much fear o. Hen Martin before his
eyes he jest materially stayed there
Z SEQ whut d happen; an in about u
minute Martin jumped up, an pitch
in his novel after his cigarette yelled
out: "Oh, Lord. whut fix! Whut an
informal fix"
"Whut's upP" said Bill. There be-
in nobody else there he took TIL view
tibet Martin must a spoke t him.
"upm said Martin, lookin' at Bill
sort o. wild like. "Everything's up!
I'm up. up a tree! Look here, Bill,
v saw tibet girl tibet sent me tn
letter. We're in love. Bill; madly
in love! An at last she's consented
t go off with me. Listen. 'One so
adoredr Bother, thet's not it. I'm,
um, here you are:
Meet you on foot, at Q tonight,
by tn broken cross where TIL roads
meet. an ny-t' be parted, never"
Well" says Bill, "whut's tn
matter weth tibet? You'll fly, O.
course. an everything'll be lovely"
"Oh, Bill, / can'tP / haven't got
any money. I'm dead broke, strap
ped, clean busted! I got my quarters
pay on Friday, an Willy tn Kid an
Black Joe cleaned me out at draw
before night. Oh, curse tn luck!
Bill, whut shall do? l love her SO!
An she'll die weth shame an dis
appointment, fer she loves me just as
hard. Oh, Bill! Bill!"-
"How much d it takep" said Bill.
"About five hundred. Jest tn lot
dropped at those cursed cards.
Enough t go North an live on till
we can bully her uncle out O. some
more. She's an orphan an rich. II
we was once married he couldn't keep
her out o. 1t long"
I'm lend it to "" said Bill.
Martin pulled himself up an glared
at tn other weth blink O. manly
spirit in his ego. II didn't suppose
you'd go t. baitin' me now. Bill" said
he.
"Baitin', be blowed" said Bill. an
give " square check on the Stock
mans bank in Dallas for 500 good
states dollars"
Martin looked hard at him "Bill, :"
said he. I'D y mean it?"
Sure" said Bill Shocks.
"Where'd y git it?"
Saved it up. Meant t. quit punch
in an go in for sheep on my own
hook.
"An' now y offer t. lend it t meP"
"On TIL dead straight" said Bill.
"An' give up yer sheepP Five hun
bred in sheep'll make man o'y' in a
few wears. Bill. A Teller like you