Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-02-08
FIDDLING JIMMY.

cphOht hN VIII StSA aAdd1thE A0fthnHSS
and then mature with SO much iehbera-
ton.
When he dropped from a train at
Dodge City, he Ind an old fashioned
carpetsack in one hand and under bis
other arm was fiddle III a faded brown
bag. He looked about him somewhat in
wonderment at the river and the roi.
ling, treeless country merging into tho
sky far away to the south and then
again at tho long. crowded street on
the other side He looked but for a mo-
ment, however. aud then proceeded
straight TO the Office of the Southwest
ern Stage company. His inquiry there
was short and to the point.
"Have ye got airy job Teller kin
do2p
This was years ago. when Dodge was
the end Of the Overland cattle drive and
fully entitled to its reputation II Mild
and wooily town. 10 the soath for
few miles was apsinkle of settlers and
beyoad that all was lonesome and In
hospitahle.
had vacancies. Along the many routes
were certain relay stations. some Of
which were sure TO be in need of keep
ers. There was one line in particular,
running down to Tascosa. on the South
Canadian, in Texas. stretch Of 25e
miles, and Just d little over half way
was station, No. 10. where a man
was needed at once. The pay was $40
month. The duties were simply to watch
half dozen mules and have a team
ready for the weekly blackboard that
performed all the transportation, the
freight being usually two Of Uncle
Sam s mail sacks. The company sup
piled gun and ammunition. flour, cot
Fee salt and groceries. Truly it seemed
bonanza to our knight Of the violin.
There was no haggling over terms,
and Jim Cusenberry. fiddle and carpet
bag were duly dispatched the very next
morning TO the field of his new lahors.
And jim was duly dubbed Fiddling
Jimmy by clerk. driver aud ali who
came III contact with him.
Jimmy had been duly informed that
be would find things sorter lonesome
out at No IS, but had responded that he
didn't "keer durn for being by him.
self. The fiddle was plenty OF company
so his grub came regular.
Now, there we're certain things about
No. IS that had been Giscreeily over
looked in the telling. 1t was So miles
from the stations on either side aud
consisted of square hole dug at the top
of steep bank overlooking water
hole in one OF those plains creeks where
such holes occur at long intervals, the
remainder being simply grass grown
depression. The hole was rooted with
cottonwood poles, upon which dirt had
been thrown--a dugout pure and sim
pie. There were rude fireplace aud q
hole for chimney. This was Jimmy's
residence. There was a stockade up on
the fat for the mules. and with this you
have the station complete.
No man who knew the country could
be induced to take No. ID for love or
money, so the company had to depend
upon the ignorant aud the transient.
The country was full Of rustlers and
COW thieves. Occasional gangs Of In
dams from the nation used TO slip along
there, bent on any deviltry that came
handy. When No % was occupied. il
was shining mark for such g.ntry.
The last occupant had been found, not
a fortnight before, lying out on the fat
with bullet IN the back Of bis head
The man before him had had a 80 mile
ride for life aud month in bed from
leg broken by winchester bullet On
each occasion No. ID had been Quilted
and the mules run of
But in blissful ignorance Jimmy
took possession Of his new home. The
blackboard ratified away. the driver
looking back, sympathetic but noncom-
initial.
For some weeks all was quiet and
peaceful. 1t was the pleasant season Of
the early autumn. Jimmy put line il
the water hole and had fish whenever
he wanted. Twice he shot antelope COM
ing down 10 drink and feseIed IN fresh
meat. He shot everything OF any size
that had wings and feathers, and being
eat cooked and tasted all Some he ate,
and some he threw away The buck
boards came by with prompt regularity
dumping of sack of -four or meal, and
the report came weekly to headquarters
that the Teller with the fiddle out On
Lost creek hadn't been pestersa Jet y
The Teller" put IN his days watching
his stock, fishing. hunting, cooking and
eating, and when the chill of tho even
ing came after supper he would throw a
little wood on his FIRE, draw up soap
box seat and play ON the fiddle until be
was sleepy enough to roll up IN his
blankets on the clay floor and sleep the
sleep of the man perfect 10 health and
conscience.
But one evening when the shadows
had fallen on all tho valleys and tho
upland. when there was but lighter
shade ever the west to show where the
sun had hidden its daily farewell, there
came sinking up Lost cresk Crawling
Wolf and seven a his dirty. III smelling
brethren, foul birds Of the night. ready
III AZ tktAsAt5F AASANt ksSty &<sAtN&%J VI ~
murder. provided the situation allowed
crime without danger TO the criminal
They had a herd Of stolen ponies cor
rallied some miles below and were com.
ing up to see what No. 8 might afford
Ia the way Of diversion Ia single file
they fitted along noiselessly az shadows.
now and then stopping, heads up. TO
listen, az is the won't Of beasts Of prey.
Suddenly Wolf stopped shorter and
more suddenly than usual. giving vent
to . startled grunt. All stopped, rigid
as statues ID listen. a faint wind rms
tied for 4 moment. died down, and then
from afar came an nnwonfsd sound in
the wilderness II was the sound q
Jimmy fiddle.
Cautiously the Indians crept closer
and closer, stopping nov ard then "a
listen, until they reached the foot q ths
bank At the water hole inst aI5ove them
shons the Light from tbs dn0ont Eli.
] trance. The nozse nf the tortured fadIs