Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-05-04

news. lie was apparently unmoVed but
again | saw the same peculiar look IN his
eyes
'Thought you had more sense" he re
marked 60 Charley, "hitehin yourself 10 a
gel you don't notlin about.
"What DO you know about hyyf" de
manded Charley, springing 10 his feet
All his rollicl,ing ioviai manner had dis
appeared, aud there WAS an angry flush
on his cheek ana "A dangerous sparkle in
his eyes. you've been a-hackin at me
ever since Lizzie came here. 1 didn 'tmind
that, but when you come TO shO0tn of
your mouth against her / reckon I've got
sumthin 20 say You're jealous cause
you didn't cut no ligger with her, that's
what's the matter.
"You're on a blind trail, Charley, was
the cool response. 81 knowed Lizzie long
before you did Seen her many IA time in
dance hall i'm Fort Worth, AM
"You liep shouted Charley, his hand
dropping ON pistol in holster, which
was hanging from bunk. AT the same
instant Bill thrust his hand under the
pillow of his bunk on which he was sit
ting. There was a hasty scramble of the
other boys TO get out of the line of fire.
Two pistol shots rang out almost together,
the reports being almost deafening in the
little 'dobe house. Charley gave n moan
of pain and sank TO the floor with his left
hand pressed TO his right shoulder. Bill
toppled on his bunk, blood flowing from
CHASTITY wound along the side of his
head. The "old man" alarmed by the
shots, rushed in and took charge of affairs
after getting hasty explanation. A
messenger was dispatched for the doctor,
who lived across the river, and pending
his arrival both men were made as COM
Portable as possible.
Neither man was fatally wounded, but
1t was n long time before they could leave
their beds. AS soon as he was able TO
ride Bill left the ranch, ragged scar
along his temple disfguring his handsome
face. He refused TO give any further in
formation regarding Lizzie, nor was he
questioned. The subject was dropped from
the night of the shooting. Meanwhile we
had returned 10 the roundup, leaving
Charley to be nursed by Lizzie.
At the end of the season the wedding
took place in the big ranch. Lizzie looked
very pretty and Charley was resplendent
in new suit of "store clothes" We
danced and made merry until daylight,
and had the satisfaction of sending the
justice of the peace, who performed the
ceremony, back 10 town in his buggy obliv
ious TO surrounding scenes. The young
couple remained on the ranch for few
months, then Charley succeeded in nego-
tiating for small ranch on the banks Of
the Pecos and with a few head of cattle
settled down to the quiet enjoyment of a
cattle owners life. OF Bill Hunt we
heard nothing save that he was said to be
employed on "a ranch away up the coun-
try.
A year later travelling peddler, who
was our only newspaper, brought US news
of Charley and his wife. Lizzie soon grew
tired of the humdrum life on cattle
ranch, isolated from civilization and seeing
no face save that of her husband. She de-
veloped also "A most ungovernable temper
and led poor Charley dogs life. After
long importuning she finally persuaded
him TO sell out his ranch and go to Fort
Worth He was utterly unfit for any bust
ness but "cowpunching, and soon their
little stock of money was exhausted. Their
quarrels grew more frequent and one day
when Charley came home after fruitless
search for employment he found note
from Lizzie lying on the table. She in
formed him in few terse words that she
was tired OF poverty and was going TO
"better her condition" advising him at
the same time 90 return to cattle driv-
ing. This was the last drop in the poor
fellows cup of misery. He made no effort
60 search for his wife, and his once proud
spirit was too much broken TO encourage
any thoughts Of vengeance. Yet he could
not return to his old comrades with this
disgrace upon him. He hung around town
for several days, then suddenly disappear
ed.
Some months later | was recalled TO
New York by business matters. An acct
dent TO the train delayed us in getting TO
Fort Worth, and / missed my connecting
train and was forced TO remain in that
city over night. Under the pilotage of
an acquaintance made en- route, ! visited
that section Of the city known as "Hell s
Half Acre. " In one of the dance halls
saw familiar face The once fiery red
hair had been bleached 10 blonde hue,
and the face was plentifully roueed, but
recognized Lizzie. She had "bettered
her condition"
Recently / received letter from friend
In the northwest, "A cattle man. The con-
Guiding paragraphs of his epistle were TO
me of more than ordinary interest. They
read:
SPY the way, there is man on our
ranch named Charley Wells, who says he
knew you in Texas. He is wild, harum
scarum sort of chap, and is the life of
the camp. At times he has fits of melan-
cholia, but they soon pass away. | hap
pened 20 mention your name the other
night ~gnd he said ne had participated in
many roundup with you. When you
write to him, said he, tell him Bill Hunt
was right
"What does he mean by that9 lie re-
fused TO tell me- a peculiarly about him
Is his aversion 20 women.
did not tell my friend of Charley's ro-
nance That he had recovered from the
blow was good news to me- What brought
Lizzie into that section of the country
where they met | never found out. Per-
haps in a fit Of remorse she had resolved
TO abandon her gay career and settle down
quietly in some obscure place. The dull
ness of her life WAS perhaps too much for
her to stand.-Exchange
Imprisoned Mites.
A Bombay doctor is exhibiting n really
extraordinary chronological specimen in