Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-02-20
BOWMAN, SHERIFF.


'This here whisky drinkin," said tho
old cattleman as he sat and toyed with his
empty glass, sis mighty curious thing
know men as can tamper with their lit
tie old 40 drops frequent and reg lar. As
far as hurtin of 'em is concerned it don't
even come to THROWN water OH drowned
rat. Then ag'in I've crossed mems trails
as drinkin whisky was like playin u harp
with hammer. Well, we amt all up
holstered alike, that what's the matter.
We don't all show the same brands an
yearmarks, nohow. What's medicine for
pigs is pisen for dogs, an thar you be.
"Bein reg Ian, reliable drunkard comes
mighty near bein disease; that's what
ever. 1t amt no question of nerve neither
Some dead game men l knows-men that
obstinate they wouldn't move camp for
prairie fire--couldn't poster a little bit
with whisky.
"Thar was my friend Mace Bowman.
Mace was clean strain cl'ar through, an
yet / don't reckon he ever goes to a show
down with whisky once as he amt out
held. But for grim nerve as would go up
against the iron an never shiyer this yere
Bowman goes at par every time.
Bowman dies a victim to his ambition
He starts in once to drink all the whisky
in Wolfville. By his partic lar request
most of the white male people Of the camp
his play for to make Wolfyille dry camp
At the end of them two lurid weeks Mace
lasts good judges like Enright an Doc
Peets allows he's shorely made it scarce
some.
"But Wolfyille was too big for him.
Amy other man but Bowman would have
roped at smaller hamlet, but that
wouldn't have been Mace, nohow. II
thered been bigger camp than Wolfville
anywhere about, that's where he'd been
He was mighty high hearted an ambitious
Mace was, an it was kill bull or nuthin
when he trails out for buffalo
'But the thirteenth day he strikes in on
the big trail, where you never meets no
outfits comm back, an that settled it, The
boys, not havin no leader, with Mace pc
tered, of course gives up the game an the
big raid ON nose paint in Wolfville is only
hist'ry now.
"When knows Bowman first he's sher-
iff over in northeast New Mexico. A good
sheriff Mace was too. There amt nuthin
as shows the public brand gets run off
while he's sheriff, you bet When he thinks
anything's his dooty, he lays for it permits
Gus. He don't come foolin round after no
judges and sech
Zone time recalls a wagon train with
household of folks into it as camps two or
three days where Mace is sheriff. These
yere peoples headin for somc'ers down on
the Rio Grande for to settle some. Mebby
it's the third morning along of sunup they
strings out ON the trail, an we alls thinks
no more Of 'em. It's long bout third
drink time when back rides man, sorter
fretful and peevish like, an allows he's
done shy a boy.
when did you see this yere infant
last? says Bowman.
Why, says the man, 4 shorely had
him yis'tday, cause my old woman done
rounded Of 'em up and counted
What time was that s'tday?'
"'Bout first drink time, says the man.
How many of these yere offsprings,
corral count, have you got anyway asks
Bowman.
"'Id got my brand on to 'leven of EN-,
says the man beginnin to sob u whole lot
'Of course this yer young one gettin stam-
peded off this way leaves me short one. 1t
makes it a mighty rough crossin for me-
stranger, after bringin that boy so far
The old woman, she begged right down
when she knowed, an I don reckon she'i II
be the same helpmeet to me unless finds
him agin.'
'Oh wellP says Bowman, tryin for to
cheer the bereft critter up, we lose cards
in the shuttle as turns up all right in the
deal, an reckon we're goin to walk down
this yearlin OF yours agin too. What for
brands or year marks does ho show SO I'll
know himl'
"'Why!' said the man, a-wipin of his
eye, he was shy a couple of teeth, bein
milk teoth as he'd shed, an thar's mark
Oh his forard where his mother swlpes him
with a dipper, bringin Of him up proper.
That's all as remembers quick,
$50 Mace tells the man to take cinch
on his feelin's all stampcdes over to the
Mexican part of tho camp, which was
called Chilli, on a scout for the boy.
Whatever do you thinks become of his
SOM Pm blessed if a Mexican amt some-
how cut him out Of the herd an stole him.
Takes him In just as you would Maver-
ick calf. What in the name of hoss stealth
he ever wants Of that young one Is alters
too many for me, an sorter allows it's
one of those things as was foreordained, in
which case, of course, tho Mexican don't
get no say.
"When the abductor hears how Mace is
on his trail, which he does from other
Mexicans, he swings onto his broncho an
begins pintin out, takin boy an all But
Bowman got too far up on him an stops
him mighty handy with rifle. Mace
could work winchester like you'd whirl
a rope, an the way he gets bullet under
that black an tan's loft arm don't hurry
him little bit. The bullet tears a hole
through his lungs, an they being no further
good for him to breathe with he comes
tumblin like a sot pigeon, bringin the
mans offspring with him.
"Of course this is all mighty fiatterin
to Mace as shot, an 1t tiokles the boys
sire too. He allows he's lived in Arkan-
saw an knows good shootin, an this yere's 8
speshul good An then he gets the greasers s
skelp to take back with him.
It'll come handy to humor up the old
woman with, when gets back to camp
he says, SO he tucks the skelp into his war
bags an thanks Mace for the interest he
takes In his household affairs.
"'That's al right, says Bowman. mo