The midland journal., 1894-03-23

Wy0 A6VCA Cut W AOuk AAs OoS w az SANAA w
all hisself. I think the boys got to
think he hadn't much grit in him till he
showed 'em their mistake.
sIt was in simpsons bar as the row
got up, an that led to the queer thing
1 was going to tell you Of Alabama
Joe and one or two other rowdies were
dead on the Britishers in those days,
an they spoke their opinions pretty
free, though warned them as there'd
be an almighty muss. That partic'lar
night Joe was fighting drunk, and he
staggered about the town with his
six-shooter, lookin' out for chance.
Then he turned into the bar, where he
know'd he'd find some O. the English
as ready as he was hisself Sure
enough, there was half dozen loung-
ing about, an Tom Scott standin' alone
before the stove. Joe sat down by the
table, and put his revolver and bowie
down in front of him. Them's my
argiments, Jeff.' he says to me, If any
white livered Britisher dares give me
the lie.' tried to stop him, sirs; but
he weren't man as you could easily
turn, an he began to speak in way
HS uO CIlbp COQl0 SLdA0s CNOh q
sGreaser' would flare up If you said as
much of Greaseland! There was q
commotion at the bar, an every man
laid his hands on his wepins; but afore
they could draw we heard a quiet voice
from the stove: Say your prayers,
Joe Hawkins; for you're dead mani
Joe turned round, and looked like
grappin' at his iron. But 1t weren't no
manner of use. Tom Scott was stand
ing up, covering him with his Der
ringer; a smile on his white face, but
the very devil shining in his eye. 1T
amt that the old country has used me
over-well,' he says, but no man shall
insult it afore me and livel' For second
his finger frightened round the trigger.
an then he gave laugh, an threw the
pistol on the floor. NO. he says; 4
can't shoot a half-drunk man! Take
your dirty life, Joe, an use it better
nor you have donep He swung con-
temptuously round, and relit his half
smoked pipe from the stove; while
Alabama skunk out O the bar, with
the laughs of the Britisher ringing in
his ears. saw his face as he passed
me, and on 1t saw murder, sirs-mur-
der, as plain as ever seed anything in
my life!
81 stayed In the bar after the row,
and watched Tom Scott as he shook
hands with the men about. 1t seemed
kinder queer to me to see him smilin'
and cheerful like; for knew Joe's
bloodthirsty mind, and that the Eng.
lishman had small chance Of ever see
ing the morning. He lived in an out
of-the-way sort of place, you see, clean
off the trail, and had to pass through
the Flytrap gulch to get to it This
gulch was marshy, gloomy place,
lonely enough during the day even-for
it were always creepy sort o thing to
see the great eight and ten-foat leaves
swapping up IL aught touched them;
but at night there was never soul
near, Some parts Of the marsh, too,
were soft and deep. and q body thrown
in would be gone by the morning. !
could see Alabama Joe crouchin' under
the leaves ,of the greet Aytrap in the
darkest part Of the gulch, with scowl
on his face and revolver in his hand.
could see it, sirs. as plain as with my
two eye,
"'Bout midnight Simpson shut up
his bar, so out we had to go. Tom
Scott started of for his three'mile
walk at a slashing pace. just dropped
him hint as he passed me, for kinder
liked the chap. Keep your Derringer
there or about it, says. for you might
chance to need it. He looks round at
me with his quiet smile, and then I lost
sight Of him in the gloom. never
thought to see him again. He'd hardly
gone afore Simpson come up to me and
says: 'There'n be old - In the Fly
trap gulch tonight, JEFF. The boys
say that Hawkins started half an hour
ago to wait for Scott and shoot him on
wanted tomorrow
What passed In the gulch that
night? It was question as were
asked pretty free next morning. A
half-breed was in Ferguson's store
after daybreak, and he said as he'd
CHANGED to be near the gulch bout one
o'clock in the morning. 1t warn't
easy to get at his story, as he seemed
so uncommon scaredj but he told ps, at
last, as he'd heard the fearfulest
screams in the stiffness Of the night.
| There weren't no shots, he said, but
scream after scream, kinder muff1ed,
like man with a serape over his head,
an in immortal pain. Abner Brandon
and me, and few more, was In the
store at the time; 80 we mounted and
rode out to Scott's house, passing
through the gulch on the way. There
were nothin' particular to be seen
there-no blood nor marks of fight,
nor nothing; and when we gets up to
Scott's house, out he comes to meet US
as fresh as lark. 'Hullo, Jeffr says
he; mo need for the pistols. after ALI
Come in an, have Q cocktail Poys.'
did ye see or hear nothing as ya come
homo last night% says !. No. says
he; sall was quiet enough. An owl
kinder moanin' In the Flytrap gulch-
that was all Come, jump off and have
a glass Thank ye.' says AbneE So
off we gets. and Tom Scott rode into
the settlement with as when we went
back.
"An alfred commotion was on In
Main street as we rode into 1t. The
'Merican party seemed to have gone
clean crazed. Alabama Joe was gone
NOT q darned particle of him left
Since he went out to the gulch nary
eye had seen him. AS We got off our
horses there was considerable crowd
in front Of simpsons, and some ugly
looks at Tom Scott, I can tell you,