New-York tribune., 1894-01-07
CALIFORNIA TALES.
FTNNEGAN'.S ABSALOM.

EINNEGAN'S ABSHLO4u.
knew him from the time his birth. twenty
four years ago. shook the nurseless ana phy-
scianless frontier community in Jack County,
which was then on the foremost edge OF adVanc-
fng civilization. to its foundation
Finnegan had been a respectable clerk in his
native Ireland at a starvation salary. and Mrs.
Finnegan a poor dependant who acted as nursery
yoverness and general slave and scapegoat in
tho family of coarse unfeeling. well-to-do
relative.
They had loved each other long and faithfully,
but timidly and dared not venture marriage
OIL poor Finnegans pittance Of salary. But
things come to people-even so far off as Ire
Iand-who wait patiently long enough, and do
not die: and when this pathetic couple were mid
dle-aged legacy came 10 Finnegan-without
anologv for its tardness-whch enabled them to
marry and with which they Immediately came
to Texas of all places, and bought, OF all things
a cattle ranch.
However. Fate appears. sometimes positively
ashamed to be unkind to such innocents when
they are delivered over into her hands; and the
Finnegans were as prosperous as most of their
neighbors
Their loneliness was dspeed in the course
of year or two by the arrival of a son. the
only child Of this gentle pair and the ornariest
baby that ever howed the roof off shack.
At two or three years old. when he got to be
an expert on his feet and with his fists and his
voice he made the ranch-house so hot that the
boys were glad to give it the cold shake ana
he ont on the range or in camp; and by the time
he was four he ran the ranch, whaled and hit
any one that interfered with him. and made
himself such terror that not a Mexican would
stay on the place Finnegan had TO build
messhouse for the men, although the head
quarters house had not long since been made
large purposely TO have them all together
The foreman who was myself, and the cow
bovs only STAYED for love of Mrs Finnegan-
Aunt Mary we called her-and l always
losing my best hands on account of the little
cuss.
He was smart enough; he didn't lack enter
prise and savey. He learned to ride-and ride
like the dickens. too-before he was six. He
used fairly to roar and cavort because the men
would not stand still and let him rope them.
He practiced on every animate and iranimate
object about the ranch; and by the time he was
eight he could ride a cutting pony that was
Just lightning. and rope calf, or even a year
ling. with the best Of us.
In the course Of a couple Of years things got
very much worse Heretofore we had only to
stay away from the headquarters house to be
camps. the outfits. and roundups, and was the
most everlasting lively, ingenious torment.
When he was about ten twelve remember
he was in the camp one day when we were
moving about getting ready to go to roundup
He had California rope he was awfuly
tickled with. and he kept riding up behind the
men. ropng them, jerking the moose tight
around them arms and all. so they We're help
less till he got done whoopng and laughing
and Stacked up on them.
I saw Frosty get out his big-bladed knife. as
sharp as razor and when the kid. after awhile
threw his rope over him. Frosty slashed II
smooth in two at the point where it lay for
moment on his saddle horn. Robbie went back
almost out of his saddle. as he braced back
ward for the jerk that never came; and when
he saw his new California rope cut in two he
yelled with rage.
He ran his pony up to Frostys. and raised his
qurt. bubbering like a great baby:
You cut my ro-o-ope III ki-i-ill you
You little gadny." said Frosty. catching his
arm. you touch me with that quirt. and III
pull you off your pony and wear you to irazzles
with it. I'll stripe you like Zebra-lll skin you.
You'll get it oice in your life. if I'm fired for it
before sundown Now cut loose and quirt me
If you want to-"
But the Kid didn't want to any more lie had
had n taste of the sort OF thing that would have
cured him all along; and he went off as quiet as
a lamb, and never did monkey with Frosty any
He followed Alex McRaven's outfit along one
day-AleX was one Of my wagon bosses-and
kept up his usual tricks Of rOping the riders,
stealing things out Of the case. and charg
ing into the middle of the remuda, scattering
the horses in every direction.
Finally Alex. slow, serious ScOtchman but
as hard to turn buffalo bull when his blood
is hot. jerked him off his pony. and gave him
regular Scotch COvenanter thrashing.
Those who witnessed the spectacle say II was
a most pleasing ana dvcrtinR Onc-Robbic howl |
ing like a pack Of timber wolves. with grief ter
ror and amazemCnt. Alex thrashing away con- !
scient tously and methodically, almost with tears
in his eyes as he reflected that Aunt MARY would |
execratc him. and Finnegan fire him immedi- /
ately: but determined to finish the Lords work |
at any cost to young Finnegans anatomy or his |
own feelings. When he had done. he hogtied |
the believing victim. dropped him in the wagon |
like pig pulled the little saddle off his pony !
and turned il into the remuda.
Toward evening the outfit came to headquar- !
ters and Alex united the entirely eXtnguisned /
Robbie set him out of the wagon without look !
ing at him and after putting the pony in the /
pasture and the saddle In its place, went 10 the /
messhouse.
Not n word was ever heard from headquarters |
A about this awful. reasonable deed. any more |
than there had been about Frostys little scrap !
with the kid which made US all wonder II /
Robbie hadn't some decent points about him, |
and il plenty OF thrashing might not aI'er an
make q man of in.
Al sixteen the boy had little brand Of his /
,wn--all stolen except what his father had given
,im for he was beginning TO be the most auda-
,Io,s skilful, and successful thief in the Pan
handle His earlier and always his most ex-
ensive stealings. were from his rather: ana from
hem he graduated into a regular ful-fiedged
ristler