Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-05-04
MARK TwAiN's DESPERATE.


ing OF Jules by SHADE.
I'VE liked to work for Slade. lie
knew how TO use good men well, " said
Jack Wells. the stage driver. as he fin
gered tho lines that guided the four
horse team. He had been ono of the
honchmen of tho Slade immortalized by
Mark Twain-the man killing Slade
more feared on the plains of the far
west than any other man of his day
Now the old time driver was minded to
talk of his old chief as the stage rolled
over the Santa Fe trail.
when you talk of SHADES doings,
you must remember that those were
tough times that he lived in and tough
men he had 10 deal with. No soft man
could have kept things straight rs he
did when he was superintendent on one
or another hard division of Ben Holli-
days stage lines across the plains and
mountains. There were red Indians and
white outlaws 10 deal with right along.
and you had to fight 'em with their own
weapons. Many's the night I've been
walked ont of my sleep to get up ON a
stage box with my Henry rifle beside
me, not knowing what was waiting
along the way in shape of Indians or
road agents Yes, Jim Slade was n good
deal of desperate and did good bit
of killing. don't think he'd have kill
ed so many people if it hadn't been for
his wife She was high strung Texas
woman and was proud TO have n hus-
band who was famous among men for
his deeds. But Jennie was kind friend
to all tho Buys who worked for her hus-
band and would tend them in sickness
like mother.
About that affair with Jules? ! sup.
pose that's what gave Slade his reputa-
tion more than any other thing jules
kept store at the station where Slade
made his headquarters. he had a boy
that worked for him. and one day Slade
sent this boy off to do something or 9TH
or. and it made Jules angry, and he used
pretty hard words about Slade, damning
him up hill and down for not sending
some man of his own on his errands
Slade heard of what Jules had been say.
ing and came in TO see him about it.
+" You ought not to talk like that
about me, Jules, he said. Iwon't stand
it to have q man damning me. and you
ought to know it. ,
=" IN talk about any man please.
said Jules. I'd like TO see the color Of
the man that I'd BIO afraid to speak nv
mind about.
We'll, that made Slade angry, be-
cause he knew il was meant as u slur
he being very dark complexioned man.
Then he slapped Jules face When he
turned to go out Of the door, Jules
picked up n gun from behind the coun.
ter and shot him in the shoulder. Slade
fell terribly wounded, and we all
thought he was done for We carried
him into the house, and then one of the
hostlers and / arrested Jules and were
going to hang him. We'd already got n
wagon tongue up and the rope round his
neck when tho sheriff and some of the
other men took him away from us. They
got up somo kind of court and jury.
and Jules was acquitted. He didn't stay
there for Slade to get well, but went off
down the road upon another division
and went into business there. Slade
came round all right at last, but instead
of going after Jules, rs people might
think he would, no just kept on his di-
vision and looked after his stages and
stations.
Jules had some cattle that he had
left on the range round the station when
no went away, and word came to him
that they were being stolen or killed.
At last he heard that Slade was away
from the station. and so up he came in
company with the sheriff TO see aboat
them. guess Slade had something 10
do with having that report get TO him.
because no wasn't away. and he walked
in on Jules and the sheriff rs they stood
IN tine barroom at the station.
Now, jules, said he, I'm here TO
have cur quarrel out Pull your pistol
and get to work.
Jules refused TO draw his gun. Slade
asked him once again to do so and then
shot him. As Jules lay there dead on
the floor Slade said to the sheriff:
What do the Indians do when
they've killed an enemy?
Tho sheriff said. They scalp 'em
and cut their ears off.
''Slade took out his pocketknife and
cut Jules ears off. They say he after
ward carried 'em about in his vest
pocket. About that l haven: got any
thing TO say. New York Sun.