Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-05-15

Az kRAAnQ WIZ RAtNa WA8A0 NA0 .a0AnA
was easy the Bephcw's team-eight
mules-could follow the others ana got
along all right. Where IL was rough old
Jones halted them and after driving his
WI toain over came back for them.
Two months later the old man I'm
loaded his freight at n camp in the Gun
nison country. BE told the story Of his
nephew's death aud charged 1t to the
agent. The populace agreed with him 10
o man. Old Jones insisted that the
agent should likewise suffer death. Pub
lie sentiment rushed to the same CON
olusion. Every man in the Tin Cup dis
trict who heard of the matter at once
advised Jones to go back and kill tho
miserable agent or to hire some ono who
would. Never was public sentiment 80
Uniform in "a matter before. 1t was
beautiful.
Hire some one to go back and kill
the agent"
This struck old Jones, who had strong
commercial instincts, as n good thing.
he inquired for some one who would
undertake tho enterprise. Ho did not
think il should coat much.
at Is dead easy TO do" no said.
"Just ride calmly up to the AGENCY and
beef him and then ride away. That
oughtn't to cost no fortune" And he
was "willin to give a boss and outfit
and $500"
"In go you," said q bad looking
gentleman called Curly Bill
Curly Bill was certainly n very bad
man, as any II might see by examin-
ing his six shooter. He had filed away
the sight, as supertiuous to one SO sure
and keen, and had taken out the trigger.
trusting to explode his interesting
weapon by the simple process nf letting
the hammer fall from his thumb. These
changes in the ground plan Of a Colts
a. always speak u bad man the wide
west over, and such was Curly Bill,
the parsonage who wanted to hire out
to kill the agent.
Preliminaries were arranged, and the
horse and outfit were turned over, In
company with 5000 Of the $500. and
Curly Bill rode away on his long pull
for the Ute agency.
Six weeks and their happenings were
added to history, and 80 far nothing
floatcd back from Curly Bill. One aft
ernoon he rode again into camp in the
Gunnison country. Tho public and old
Jones crowded about for news. Curly
Bill entered a saloon. Tho public and
cid Jones followed in and ut his request
took a drink with him. At last old
Jones put the question;
ibid you get him, Curly?"
mo-" said Curly Bill
"Why not!"
"Well," said Curly Bill, with an
amiable drawl, "I'll toll you what's the
matter. You SEQ, the cuss offered me
1000 to come back and down you"
There was u profound silence. Old
Jones seemed thoughtful and cast down,
and tho public waited. At last old
Jones put another pertinent inquiry.
"Well, whatever do you allow you'll
do about itH"
"Whatever'll you do about it7'' said
Curly Bill. "Will you mise hjm2"
"S'pogo I don't raise hiln!" said old
Jones. "S'pose l don't aver call him?''
And an ugly glare began to shine in his
wntery, gray eyes, albeit his voice was
low and his lace calm.
"Woll," said Curly Bill, with vast
~nonchalance, lin that event l reckon
I'll have TO go him."
The public took q deep breath at this
announcement, and old Jones seemed
plunged in thought again. At last he
found his voice.
"In think this yere matter over,
Bill, and / reckon on fixing up some
thing 10 You won't complain none Of
me. You DO yere, and I'll come back in
an hour.
Then old Jones proceeded straight &c
his wagons. got his winchester, and oom
ing In tho back door Of the saloon
wherein Curly Bill was refreshing him
self after the campaign blow that cole
brated head off without a word.
Old Jones gave himself up to the citi,
zens' committee and demanded q trial
Il was had at once. Every man in cnmI
knew of the killing and it's entire his
tory. They all approved it loo It wa
esteemed, however, not a proper thinE
to allow the plot to kill the agent 20 %
abroad to the world. The account nigh
in unskilhul mouths become garblec
and hurt the camps reputation. *
when old Jones was acquitted, which
denouement was rapid In its coming
the verdict read thus:
Testified KILN on account Of Curly
Bill insultin Of old Jones' wife. "-SaT
Francisco Express.