Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-18
COON'S DAUGHTER.

could tell the difference between a mining
camp and a camp meeting. There hadn't
been over three men killed there all win,
ter, and this had not been from "a lack OF
material or absence of provocation. The
boys were sitting around the stove IN the
Pay Dirt saloon one evening IL early
spring, discussing this lamentaLle condi,
ton Of affairs, wheL Jim, the barkeeper,
Nlaconically Observed:
Fire ovcl at Tin Cup last night"
whereabouts inquired a sta!wart
miner whose checked shirt had given him
the name of Joliet.
"The schoolmaster's shanty,' replied
the barkecper.
What became of the schoolmaster's
daughter, inquired one of the boys in thG
back part of the room.
Daughter did you sayt" interrogated
Joliet, while the other listeners began to
exhibit signs of interest in the narrative.
Eyes, his little girl. What became OF
herr"
81 didn't know he had a girl How old
is she?".
There you get me-. amt a good judge
OF girls ages. Seems to me she was about
90"
"Pretty?"
"Well, now you're talking. AS pretty
as a rose. That S what they called her over
at the camp-'The Rose of Tin Cup.
Didn't you ever hear of her? That S funny
She's the girl that brought Dick Stubs
through his fever. Lett her home and
went right over to his shack and staid
there, boys! Staid there night and day,
going on to four weeks, Amusing that
great big, good for nothing fellow"
as that so?" inquired Joliet. "Well,
III be blowed! l didn't know there was d
oma within 100 miles of here. And
you say she was pretty9'
"That's what | said,' replied the other
sententiously, "and when l say q thing l
mean it,"
"What did you hear of the girl?' in.
4uired Joliet of the barkeeper.
Burned to DEATH" replied that indi-
vidual tersely.
And the schoolmaster?:"
Dead too. The story | heard was that
the fife broke out in the middle of the
night. The girl tried to put it out without
waking the old man. Her clothes caugbt
afire. He woke up, put it out, but she
died. and so did he. He never got out of
the building; roasted right there. HI
could "a got away all right if he hadn't
stopped to look after tho girl. That's the
story l heard. Now you know all 1 know"
"Well," observed Joliet after a moment
of impressive silence, she was a brick if
he was a schoolmaster. Pity the girl died,
though"
The silence which followed this obserya-
tion was soon rudely broken BIZ a scufle
outside of the barroom door, which soon
gave way, and a stranger entered the room
stamping tho snow off his boots and shak.
ing it from his coat and wide brimmel
Iat.
Bad night" he Unmarked as he stalked
up to the bar and called for a half pint of
the best in the house.
While he vas draining the glass the
miners had nm opportunity to size him up.
He was tall and squarely built, roughly
dressed and unshaven, characteristic
which are shared alike by all miners. His
face was his only striking popularity. 1t
was ugly in spite of it's veil of hair, and
nis eyes were paleish green, like those of a
snake. At first glance he was the oppo-
site of prepossessing, but this made little
difference with the company present.
Manly beauty was not to be expected in a
mining camp, and luckily for the new
conner jug Tavern was not an exception
TO the rule. After room had been made
for him in the circle around the stove the
boys waited in silence for him to speak.
"Has any one seen Bill Coons around
here?" he inquired at length.
No one replied.
I'D like to see him, that's all, " he con
] tipv,at coxoroIv UNbov bo ,o,,,,l &c.. 49,
answer. AS none was vouchsafed, he re-
sumed:
"Bill Coons is the man I've been after
Tor the past two years, and all l want Is
to get at him."
"What've got against Bill Coons?" in
CURED tho barkecper.
Its non of your business" answered
the stranger, "but l don't mind saying
that it's on account Of his daughter"
"1iis daughter" repeated the barkeeper.
What could his daughter have to do with
you?"
Whats that to your" replied the stran-
ger rs he laid his hand on the butt of a
large pistol, while the crowd edged away
to avoid any stray bullets that might
chance to miss their mark.
drop your gun and throw I'D you1
hands!" quietly remarked the barkeepsr
as he leveled q huge navy revolver at the
stranger. Hold up your hands, or I'll
make a lepd mine of you!"
Without wasting any words in expIana.
ton or e%Spostulation, the stranger hasten
cd to obLy.
"Now," continued the barkceper, with.
out lowering his weapon, "tell me what
you know about Bill Coons' daughter"
81 know" stammered the stranger,
THAT she is n good for nothing young
The sentence was never finished.
After those boys who had remained In
tho room had laid tho dead man out they
turned their attention to the barkeeper,
who was rubbing his glasses behind the
counter as if killing Il man was an every
| day amusement.
"Wbat did you kill him for, JIM" in
quired Joliet besitatingly, for the barkeep.
er had demonstrated before that he was
not the man to ask impertinent questions
of.
"He made a remark about Bill Coons'
daughter"
"Who is Bill Coons?"
"He was the schoolmaster of Tin Cup"
"Well, what was his daughter to your"
"To mel repeated the barkeeper quiet.
". Nothing very much. She was only
my sister. New York News.