The Portland daily press., 1895-09-28
when / knows Bowman first he's sher.

when knows Bowman first he's sher-
if over in northeast New Mexico. A good
sheriff Mace was too There amt nuthin
as shows the public brand gets run off
while he's sheriff, you bet. When he thinks
anything's his dooty, be lays for 1t permits
Gus. He don't come foolin round after no
judges and sech.
lone time / recalls wagon train with
household of folks into it as camps two or
three days where Mace is sheriff. These
we're peoples headin for some'ers down on
the Rio Grande for to settle some, Mebby
it's the third morning along Of sunup they
strings out on the trail, an we alls thinks
no more of 'em. It's long bout third
drink time when back rides man, sorter
fretful and peevish like, an allows mes
done shy a boy.
'whon did you see this yere infant
last?' says Bowman.
"'Why, says the man, I shorely had
him yis'tday, cause my old woman done
rounded Of EN- up and counted.
"sWhat time was that yis't dayr
"sBout first drink time says the man.
"'How many Of these yere offsprings,
corral count have you got anyway! asks
Bowman.
"'I'd got my brand on to 'leven OF EN-,
says the man beginnin to sob whole lot
of course this yer young one gettln stam-
peded off this way leaves me short one. 1t
makes it mighty rough crossln Tor me,
stranger, after bringin that boy SO far
The old woman, she begged right down
when she knowed, an don't reckon she II
be the same helpmeet to me unless nnds
him agin.'
"sOh well!' says Bowman, tryin for to
cheer the bereft critter up, we lose cards
in the shuttle rs turns up all right IN the
deal, an reckon we're goin to walk down
this yearlin of yours agin too What for
brands or year marks does he show SO I'll
know hims'
'Why' said the man, a-wipin OF his
eye, he was shy couple of teeth, bein
milk teeth as he'd shed, an thar's a mark
ON his forard where his mother swlpes him
with a dippcr, bringin of him up proper.
That's all as remembers quick.
$50 Mace tells the man to take cinch
on his feelin's an stampedes over to the
Mexican part of the camp, which was
called Chilli, on scout for the boy.
Whatever do you thinks become of his
SOB? I'm blessed If Mexican amt some
how cut him out of the herd an stole him.
| Takes him in just as you would Maver-
| lex calf What in the name OF boss stealth
he ever wants of that young one is alters
| too many for me, an sorter allows it's
one of those things as was foreordained, in
| which case, of course, the Mexican don t
| get no say.
'sWhen the abductor hears how Mace is
on his trail, which he does from other
Mexicans, he swings onto his .broncho an
begins pintin out, takin boy an ALL But
Bowman got too far up on him an stops
him mighty. handy with rife, Mace
could work a winchester like you d whirl
a rope, an the way he gets a bullet under
| that black an tan's left arm don't hurry
| him little bit. The bullet tears hole
through hislungs, an they being no further
| good for him to breathe with he comes
tumblin like sot pigeon, bringin the
man 8 offspring with him.
| "Of course this is all mighty f1atterin
| to Mace as shot, an it tickles the boy S
sire too He allows he's lived in Arkan-
saw an knows good shootin, an this yere S
speshul good. An then he gets the greaser' s
skelp to take back with him.
II come kapcy to humor up the old
woman WITH when l gets back to camp. ;