The record-union., 1896-11-08
What's un. Iack2' saws I.

How did he come to cheat you out
of the job l queried.
| Well, / went on a drunk, and when
l wanted to go back on the day shift
again, they said that dirty cur would
do
If that's the case, I yentured, you
amt got no one to blame but yourself.
Ii you hadn't gone on spree you
wouldn't have lost your job.
| The Indian, who meanwhile kept on
guard lest any of the others should
strike, chimed in, 'Wanatah no can
| Eelp,' but was Immediately silenced
With shouts of Dry up, you liar.
rOsborne, who was now worked up 70
fever heat, started toward the Indian
again, saying to me: oh, what in the
devil you got to do with this anyway. :.
| III teach the -
Jack Osborne said I, whipping out
| my six-shooter, if you touch hair or
that Indian I'll let daylight through
you. Thinking that his friends might
! jump me, l blew a shrill whistle, and
| instantly Dan Austin, my barkeeper,
| and few friends came running TO my
| side. He understood the situation at
| glance, and as he was noted for ms
bravery and reckleslsness, the men drew
back, and after many curses and threats
mounted their ponies and disappeared
down the road.
'.They can say what they want about
| the treachery, cunning and mercliess
| ferocity of Indians, but / couldn't see
| the poor devil sent to eternity for no
such cause as that. l knew l had stuck
my foot into a hornets nest, but
didn't care
'Wanatah,' said l. come to the hous
and I'll dress your wound, and then you
must get out of the way, for the chances
are these ruffians will come back again
| with reinforcements'
| The Indian wiped the blood from his
forehead, and drawing his blanket over
/ his chest followed at my side. Wanna
tab not fraid to die White man no good.
| InJun no forget good white man, and
| then the fire kindled in his eyes as he
! pointed to the direction in which his
tormenters had disappeared, and said,
| 'Injun fix him.
| +
! Months had passed and all went
well. Jack Osborne, Pete Halbert, and
| the others had never come near me.
| Wanatah came occasionally, and on his
| third or fourth visit brought his young
souaw, whom we named Mary. Provi-
| sionS began to run short, and decided
| to go to Sacramento to lay in a new
store. l left the place in full charge of
Dan, my wife remaining behind, as in
those days. let me tell you the accom-
| modationS, danger of travel, and scar
city of the female sex made travelling
not very tempting to women.
Il arrived in Sacramento after an un-
eventful trip. The town then had
population of about 4 900 or 5000, but
llvelier little place you never saw. The
roads leading into town were swarm
irg with pack mules, wagons, stages
and the like, and the streets Were
| crowded with miners and cowboys. |
| tended to my business, and on the sec
| ond evening met q. friend who insisted
upon my taking in the sights. The city
| was alive with gambling hells and sa-
| looms, and as we passed the different
places oaths and songs were waited on
| the hot night air. We dropped into
saloon and soon started up a game of
poker. l never was considered a good
| player, but somehow everything went
my way that night. ! won and won,
until had quite killing. When I quit L
| had about thousand dollars in money
and dust to my credit. After setting up
/ the drinks for the crowd | managed to
get away, and laid awake half the night,
as knew it was mighty unsafe to have
| so much about me, particularly when all
| those who were in the place knew it,
But morning dawned and / had not
been molested. L finished my business
| n nd fof nd CT arta a1
| turn with my mules loaded down to
their utmost capacity. 1 staid in Dia-
mond Springs that night, retiring late
and rising early so as to strike home
| that night.
About noon / came to a shady spot
on the river and led my mules to the
| river to drink and rest. / had slept lit
tie the night before, and as the day was
extremely warm l laid down under a
large pine tree. / had almost fallen
asleep when I heard the distant thump-
ing OF horses hoofs upon the hard
ground. The sound grew nearer and
nearer until / heard voices. Presently
/ recognized Jack Osborne's voice, and
of course listened more attentively. He
was speaking to his comrades, and said:
He can't be far off now, for Tim Don
| aldson said he saw him leave this morn
ing early
''Ha, ha, thought I, it's you they're
looking for. Quicker'n wink sprang
to my feet buttoned up my shirt, which
concealed my belt in which I had sewed
my money and dust, and cooked my re-
volver, Knowing that they would soon
find me out
One Of the men meanwhile spied the
trail left by the pack mules in the long
grass, and following it up soon found me
and cried out, oh, Jack, here's your
mani
"A hundred thoughts flashed through
my mind, and drew my pistol, intend
ing to knock him, but decided to wait
and see it out.
osborne, followed by Dick Halbert
and two others, among them the
man who found me, came forward. and
with sarcastic smile said to me: You
didn't think I'd get the drop on YOU
did you? oh. / havnt forgotten how
you prevented me from getting square
with that redskin. Well, to come to the
point, 1 hear you won a barrel of gold
right before last, and we want it, Fork
over and we'll let you alone!'
You will. will you,' / answered de-
family, well I'll see you in hell first
You won't get thing from me as long
as | can defend myself and taking aim
at him | cried. If you don't move on
and mind your business, I'll pull and as
he started to raise his own weapon I
blazed away There was a sharn crack
flash of light and Jack Osborne bonn
ded into the air and fell dead. His
comrades hadn't expected this move on
my part but they acted oI,ickIv pefora