The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09
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he was. Ell she Il Gare0 or KICKED III Iuo
traces, Or hung back only Ell much ez that,
we'd hev given him just five mlnlts law 10
gee up and get and leave her, and we'd
hev toted that gal and her fixin's back tn
her dad again. But she jest gave a little
scream and start, and then went off inter
Mysteries, right on his buZzum, laughing
and cryin and sayin, that nothin' should
part EN-. GOSH if / didn't think he woz
more cut up than she about ita mint it
looked as eff he didn't allow to marry her
arter all. but that passed, and they were
married hard and fast-you bet! ! reckon
he's had enough of stayin' out nights to
last him. and if the valley settlements
hevnt got hold of a very shining member,
at least the foothills hey got shut of one
more of the Ramon Martinez gang
Nv hats that about the hanson Martinez
gangF' said quiet potential voice.
Bill turned quickly. 1t was the voice
or the divisional superintendent of the ex-
press company-a man Of eccentric deter
mlnation of character. and one of the few
whom the autOcratic Bill recognized as an
Squal who had just entered the barroom.
Ills dusty ponsee cloak and soft hat ndi-
Gated that he had that morning arrived on
round OF inspection.
Don't care if | do, Bill" he continued,
IN response to Bills invitatory gesture,
walking to the bar It's a little raw ont
on the road. Well, what were you saying
about the Ramon Martinez gang? You
haven't come across one of 'em, have you?"
NO" said Bill with slight blinking
OF his eye, as he ostentatously lifted his
glass to the light.
And you won't" added the superintend-
emit leisurely slipping his liquor. For the
fact is, the gang is about played out. Not
from want of a job now and then. but
from the difficulty of disposing of the re-
suits OF their work. Since the new in.
strucuons to the agents to identify and trace
all dust and bullion offered to them went
into force, you see. they can't get rid of
their swag. All the gang are spotted Mt
the offices, and it costs too much for them
to pay fence or middleman of good stand.
Ing; Why, all that haky river gold they
took from the Excelsior Company can be
identified as easy as if it was stamped with
the company's mark. They can't melt it
down themselves: they can't get others to
do it for them; they can't ship it to the
mint or assay Offices in Marysville and
Frisco, for they won't take it without our
certificate and seals and we don't take
any undeclared freight within the lines that
we've drawn around their beat. except
from people and agents known Why, you
know that well enough, JIM" he said. sud
denly, appealing to the expressman, don't
you?"
Possibly the suddenness of the appeal
caused the expressmap to swallow his liq-
nor in the wrong way for he was overtaken
with a fit of coughing, and stammered has.
tily as he laid down his glass, "Yes-of
course--certainly.
cheerfully, they're pretty well played
out. And the best proof of it is that
they've lately been robbing ordinary pas
sengers' trunks. There was freight wag
on held up near BOWS Flat the other
day, and a lot of baggage gone through.
] had to go down there to look into it..
Ddrned if they hadn't lifted a lot o wo-
mans wedding things from that rich couple
who got married the other day out at Ma
rysvle. Looks as if they were playing
it rather low down, don't It? Coming down
to hard pan and the bedrock-eh?'
The expressman's face was turned anx-
iously toward Bill, who. after hurried
gulp OF his remaining liquor still stood star
ing at the window. Then he slowly drew
on one of his large gloves. 'Ye didn't
he said. with a slow. drawing, but perfect
" distinct articulation, happen to Know
old Skinner Hemmings when you were
over there?"
Yes"
''And his daughter?"
"He hasn't any"
"a sort o mild, innocent, guilelcss child
of nature?" persisted Bill with a yellow
face, a deadly calm and satanic delibera-
ton.
No. I tell you he hasn't any daughter.
Old man Hemmings is a confirmed old
bachelor. He's too mean TO support more
than one"
'And you didn't happen to know any o.
that gang, did YEP? continued Bill, with
1ndennlte DfOIrdcuOH.
Yes. Knew 'en all. There was French
Pete, Cherokee Bob, Kanaka Joe, One
eyed Stillson, Softly Brown, Spanish Jack.
and two or three greascrs."
And We didn't know a man by the name
of Charley ByngT'
NO" returned the superintendent with
a slight suggestion of WEAKNESS and a dis
traught glance toward the door.
"A dark, stylish chap. with shifty black
eyes and curled I'D mustache?" continued
Bill. with dry. coiOresS persistence
''No. Look here, Bill, I'm in a little bit
of a hurry-but suppose you must have
your little Joke before we part. Now, what
is your little camc|'
''Wot YOU meany demanded Bill. with
sudden hrusqueness.
Mean? Well old man. you know as
well as I do. You're giving me the verv
description of Ramon Martinez himself,
ha ha, No-Bill, you didn't play me this
time You arc mighty sprv and clever, but
You didn't catch on just then!'
He nodded and moved away with
light laugh. Bill turned stony face to
the expressman. Suddenly CLEAN OF
mirth came into his gloomy eyes. He bent
over the young man, and said in a hoarse,
chuclling whisper:
"Rnt / got even after all!'
"How?'
Hes tied VI to that living little she-deviA
hard and fasti''
Copyright 1893, by Bret Harte.,