The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-01-22
FIDDLING JIMMY.

Il ILL A11NO ~ uA 4lk L.
He was long, lank and lean, light
haired, with pale blue eyes, the product
of the Missouri bottoms, where things
sprout up with such amazing quickness
and then mature with SO much delibera-
ton.
When he dropped from a train at
Dodge City, he had an old fashioned
carpetsack in one hand and under his
other arm was fiddle in faded brown
bag. He looked about him somewhat In
wonderment at the river and the roll
ling, treeless country merging into the
sky far away to the south and then
again at the long, crowded street on
the other side. He looked but for mo-
ment, however, and 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
dor"
This was years ago, when Dodge was
the end of the overland cattle drive and
fully entitled to its reputation of a wild
and woolly town. To the south for
few miles was sprinkle of settlers and
beyond that all was lonesome and in
hospitable.
The Southwestern company always
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, a stretch of $50
miles. and just little over half way
was station, No. 10, where a man
was needed at once The pay was $40
month. The duties We're simply to watch
half a dozen mules and have team
ready for the weekly blackboard that
performed all the transportation. the
freight being usually two of Uncle
Sam mail sacks. The company sup
piled gun and ammunition, flour, cof
fee, salt and groceries. Truly it seemed
a bonanza to our knight of the violin.
There was no haggling over terms,
and Jim Cusenberry, fiddle and carpet
bag were Only dispatS led the very next
morning TO the field Of his new labors.
And Jim was duly dubbed Fiddling
Jimmy by clerk, driver and oil who
came in contact with him.
Jimmy had been duly informed that
he would find things "sorter" lonesome
out at No 10, but had responded that he
didn't "keer a durn" for being by HIM
self. The fiddle was plenty of company
SO his grub came regular.
Now, there were certain things about
No. 13 that had been discreetly over
looked in the telling. 1t was S5 miles
from the stations ON either side and
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 dugont pure and sim
pie. There were rude fireplace and a
hole for chimney. This was Jimmy's
residence. There was stockade up on |
the fiat 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 and 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 deyiltry that came
handy. When No. 13 was occupied, it
was shining mark for such gentry.
The last occupant had been found, not
a fortnight before, lying out on the fiat
with bullet in the back of his head.
The man before him had had 30 mile
ride for life and a month in bed from a |
leg broken by a winchester bullet. On
each occasion No. 10 had been Quilted |
and the mules run off.
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 in |
the water hole and had fish whenever |
he wanted Twice he shot antelope COM
ing down to drink and reyeled in fresh |
meat. He shot everything Of any size
that had wings and feathers, and being |
IMMERSED as to what was good or bad to
eat cooked and tasted all. Some he ate, |
and some he threw away. The buck |
boards came by with prompt regularity, |
dumping off sack Of -four or meal, and |
the report came weekly to headquarters |
that the "feller with the fiddle ont on |
Lost creek hadn't been pestered yet. F"
The "feller" put in his days watching |
his stock, fishing, hunting, cooking and |
eating, and when the chill Of the even
ing came after supper he would throw a |
little wood on his fire, draw mp soap
box seat and play on the fiddle until he |
was sleepy enough to roll up in his |
blankets on the clay floor and sleep the
sleep Of the man perfect in health and |
conscience.
But one evening when the shadows |
had fallen ON all the valleys and the
upland, when there was but a lighter |
shade over the west to show where the
sun had hidden its daily farewell, there
came Sinking up Lost creek Crawling |
Wolf and seven of his dirty, i'll smelling
brethren, foul birds of the night, ready
for anything, from petty larceny up to |
murder, provided the situation allowed |
crime without danger to the criminal.
They had herd of stolen ponies COR
rallied some miles below and were COM
ing up to see what No. 3 might afford
in the way Of diversion. In single file
they fitted along noiselessly as shadows,
now and then stopping, heads up, to
listen, as is tho won't Of beasts of prey. |