Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-05-15
A TIN CUP VERDICT

peaks when old Jones and his nephew
halted their teams for the night Old
Jones and his relative were freighters,
and the crack Of their long, shot filled
mule whips and the creak of their heavy
wagons had been heard in half Of the
camps Of Colorado.
The four wagons tonight were swung
into the segment OF n circle, and the
mules were cast loose from the straps in
which through the day they pulled. At
this relief these grateful slaves stood
about and attested their joy in the loud
cries peculiar to their kind, but which
are so unfortunate in their lack Of har-
mony. To stop this the nephew went
about giving them their vesper feed.
This no placed in morals or nosebags,
which no hung TO their hungry heads.
Old Jones built a little fire and began
the compilation Of an intricate but sa-
worry dish known to those happy ones who
have the recipe as "freigbter's stew"
Supper over, the two freighters sat
about in the lurking shadows made by
the fires blink and glimmer, smoking
their pipes. All at once there was =
commotion in the band Of mules. Those
patient folk, who had scrambled and
pulled all day over a rough mountain
trail with wagons loaded on the princi-
pie of /, 200 pounds to a mule, and who
now in tho proprieties Of mule lifo
should be at peace with the world, were
charging about and snorting in a very
alarming way.
"Injunsl" said old Jones, showing
back into the gloom. "lnjuns for
&l,O00l There ain't no animal on earth,
bar IDjuns, ever makes mules take on
that away"
The nephew thought so too. Old
Jones and the nephew did not fear at
tack. There were no Injuns about that
were not described as friendly.
What they did fear was that the
mules might be stampeded. Stamped
ing stock is a great aboriginal industry.
The Indian will sneak up, flap a blanket,
stampede your cattle or mules and then
claim 81 a head for finding them for
you. Thus do these wise SONS Of nature
fill their Golfers and exact a revenue
from those who Cross their lands.
Jones' nephew took a winchester from
a wagon and began to work his eau
tious, silent way toward tho mules.
These last were still snorting and shy
ing as IL prey to wild alarm. The
nephew disappeared in the darkness.
Old Jones placed his hand over his pipe
bowl so its fiery eye could not DO seen
and peered after him into the gloom.
"Bangl Bsngl Bangl" 1t was the
winchester speaking. 1t told the Indian
policy Of the border, and a very suf1-
cient policy it is too. Old Jones at the
sound heaved d sigh, but never moved.
After Il little the nephew came in to the
fire. He seemed alerts hopeful and unre-
lenting as to the winchester Indian pol
icy.
Ibid you stretch onef" said old Jones.
81 think most likely / did, " said the
nephew in a sanguine way. 1--WE car
tell in the morning, shore"
The mules were now quiet. Firearms
had no terror for them. They could
stand the odor Of gunpowder, but Of In
dians-bahi No mule Of taste could
stand it a second. After another hall
hour old Jones and his nephew kicked
Oub tho cAuUcEb VI tholE hto ANU WcnS "
sleep.
Old Jones and his nephew had visit
oTs in the morning. The whole Ute tribe
aud their agent came to the freighters'
camp. The members of the Jones family
at once seized their winchesters and
alacFiously prepared for war. The Utes
ran about, jumping and yelling and de-
manding vengeance. Old Jones and his
nephew stood silent and grim behind
their wagons and showed their iron
teeth The agent insisted N peace.
Would the Jones who had killed the
Ute the night before give himself upI
He would be guaranteed from harm, bu,
the Utes insisted on his arrest. They.
the Indians, would attack the wagons
II the criminal did not surrender. Sc
spoke the agent, q nervous little incom-
petent. as many an Indian agent is.
give mp nothing. " said old Jones
derisively. "You tell them Utes il
they want anything round yere TO waltz
in and get It,"
The Utes howled and danced still
harder and higher ut this, and the agent
talked more earnertly than ever. HI
threatened the Joneses with the power
Of the government. This was too much
They would fight the whole Ute tribe
but they were afraid Of Uncle Sam. Aft
or q brief parley the nephew stepped out
and gave himself up to the agent. HI
would have displayed mOre sense II III
had remained behind his wagon and
died in the smoke Of his winchester.
The agent, the nephew and the Ute'
did not 50 a mile toward tho agency DO
fore the Indians took tho nephew, and
tying him to = pine tree spent several
bIisEful hours in torturing him TO death.
The agent was powerless 20 interfere.
Jones. the elder. knew the truth tbs
evening Of the same day. He turned Q
little pale under tho 30 years Of tar
which Drowned his face, but said moth,
ing. Az we'll as he could be managed Il
bitch mp bis teams and went ahead,