The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-26
DRAWN TO HIS DOOM.

There was unusual excitement at
Fort Clark. Cattlemen, cowboys, horse
ranchers, teamsters, soldiers, all moved
around in in uneasy, excited way, and
threats of violence against some un-
known person came fast and furious.
Fort Clark is frontier post in South
western Texas. 1t was not of so much
Importance as town in so as it is
now; but, civilization not having crept
so close over iron rails, it was of more
Importance as frontier post. Word
had come in that Willie Pray, a sheep
herder on Turkey Greek, had been
found in his cabin with gaping knife
wound in his breast, and Mexican
woman, whom he had recently en-
gagged to 60 out to take charge of the
domestic arrangements at his ranch,
was also discovered with her throat
cut.
Whatever was the cause of the dou-
BILE murder was only a matter of sur
mise, but surmise is generally enough
for Judge Lynch. He doesn't waste
much time upon bubbles. The matter
Anybody seen any Indians about?"
came from young soldier who stood
in group near Bill Chunks store.
Tain't no Injuns," came from
long-haired hunter, who was seated on
a stump mending the cinch of his sad
die with buckskin thongs.
"Why, Uncle Bill?" came from sew
eral voices,
"Injuns don't knife unless it's for
hair. Sides that, eff they'd bin around,
reckon that thar jaeal I'D bin a
biazin'. How did this yer news come
anyhow
Nc one seemed to know. The report
jest appeared to spring up without
there being any responsible author for
1t. 1t started as a rumor, and the story
gradually developed until the whole
post knew Of it and was consequently
excited.
Here comes Jake Breen," said one of
the group, "he seems 70 ianow as much
about it as anybody"
When Jake came up he said he did
not know any more than the rest.
Someone had brought in the report and
he had just heard folks talking about
1t. He agreed with Uncle Bill that it
was not Indians, and, with many oaths,
he explained his theory.
''You see, Pray took greaser wom-
an out there to look after his ranch.
Most Mexican women have lovers of
their own color. Everybody knows
Mexicans are jealous and revengeful.
They mostly use knife, while white
man uses shooting iron. The report
says that both were killed with knife.
which shows that it was done by a
Mexican who was jealous of Pray, and
the only Mexican we know of about
the place is the herder he had looking
after his sheep. 1t looks as if he was
the guilty party"
That's so," said several, ''the Mex
lean must have done it,
Then what's the use waiting around
here? The greaser amt going to come
here and ask us to hang him. He may
be around the ranch yet, If he amt
skipped to Mexico. We've got to hang
a greaser mighty quick, If We wants to
do justice in this matter" said Jake,
and the most of those there assembled
appeared to agree with him.
Jake was a desperate Of the first
water, and was necessarily an atlthori-
ty in these matters. -
"Whar's the coyote ez brought the
news?" said Uncle Bill.
Again there was no answer.
Il reckon we'd better go and see eff
they're dead, afore we hang anybody.
Wed best go to the ranch and take a
look at the late lamented afore we un-
dertake to do anything else. We can
take judge along for convenience. in
case we need him. I'm going to the
ranch" and Uncle Bill picked up sad
die that lay on the ground near him and
started for pony staked out on the
prairie hundred yards off.
This move of Uncle Bills appeared
to meet with favor in the crowd, and by
the time he was on his pony and start
ed toward Turkey Greek he had a party
of twenty-five at his back, among
whom was Jake Breen.
1t was not a long ride to Pray's
ranch, and the ponies went on a trot.
The way led principally over a rolling
prairie, with an occasional motte of
live oak or a chapparal thicket to re-
neve the monotony.
When they had come within mile of
the ranch some one in the cavalcade
called out that there was a herd of
sheep off to the northward. The COM
pany halted and looked in the direction,
and, sure enough, on the other side of
a slight depression in the prairie was a
herd of sheep quietly grazing, but evil
IDENTIFY making their way slowly in the
direction of Pray's ranch, as man was
apparently urging them on, while dog
was keeping them from struggling.
'"That's Pray's greaser now," said
Breen. 81 know him by his having that
dog with him. We'd better get him
while we have chance" and he turned
his pony's head in that direction.
''Say, Squire" said Uncle Bill, turn
ing to bright, intelligent-looking
young man riding near him, who got
his title by being lawyer, "'pears like
you'd best go along an see that the
Mex don't escape from the hands O.
justice" and a sly twinkle came into
his eye, as he added: Seems like
mighty desprit feller, the way he drives
them sheep, an Jake an the other fell
lers maybe couldn't handle right alone.
I'll take keer O. this cavyard."
So the young lawyer and Eve others
followed Jake Breen in dash over the