The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-05-30
NAVAJO JOE.


of nice feats of craftsmanship, coupled
with an exhibition of pistol shooting il
which old tomato cam and passe beel
bottles performed as targets. has hither
to excited nc more baleful sentiment il
the Wolfville bosom than disgust.
But today it is different. Camps, Xix,
individuals, have moods. At this time
Wolfville is experiencing a wave of vir
tue. 1t may have been excited by the
presence of a pale party of eastern tour
lists, just now abiding at the o. K. no
tel; gentlemen which the rather san.
guine sentiment of Wolfville credits
with ~meditating an investment of treas
ure in her rocks and rills. But whatever
the reason, Wolfville virtue is certainly
aroused. which makes it a bad day fol
Navajo Joe.
The angry sun smites hotly in the
deserted causeway of Wolfville. The
public is within doors. The Red Light
saloon is thriving nightly. Navajo Joe,
rendering himself prisoner to Jacl
Moore, rescue OF nc rescue, has by order
of that sagacious body been conveyed
by his captors before the vigilance com
mittee and is about to be tried for his
life.
What was Navajo Joe's immediate
crime2 Certainly not a grave one. Ter
days before it would have hardly earned
a comment. He has killed a Chinaman.
Here is the story:
"Yere comes that prairie dog, Navajo
Joe, all spraddled out, Z" says Dave Tut.
s'It looks like this camp never can as
soome no airs" remarks Cherokee Hall
in a distempered way, ''but this yere
miser' bic Joe comes chargin up to queer
it."
As he speaks that offending person
age, unconscious of the great change in
Wolfville morals, sweeps up the street,
expressing gladstone and ecstatic
whoops and whirling his pistol on his
forefnger like a wheel of light.
One of the tourists stands in the door
Of the hotel smoking a pipe in short,
brief puffs of establishment and reviews
the amazing performance. Navajo Joe
at once and abruptly halts. Gazing for
a disgruntled moment on the man from
the east, he takes the pipe from its
owners Mortified mouth and places ii
in his own.
"Smokin of pipes" he vouchsafes in
condemnatory explanation, sis onele-
CANT an degradin, an don't you do it
no more in my presence. I'm mighty
sensitive that a way about pipes an /
don't aim to tolerate 'em none what
ever"
He sits putting and gazing at the tour
list, while the latter stands dumbly
staring, with a morsel of the ravished
meerschaum still between his lips.
A Chinaman, voluminously robed,
emerged from the New York store,
whittier he had been drawn by dint Of
soap.
Whatever is this Mongol doin in
camp I'd like for to known" inquiries
Navajo Joe disdainfully. 81 shore
leaves orders when I'm here last for the
immejit removal of all sech. l wouldn't
mind it, but with strangers visitin us
this away it plumb mortiies me to
death"
Then comes the short emphatic utter
ance of a six shooter. A puff of smoke
vanishes quickly in the hot air and the
next census will be short one Asiatic.
In a moment arrives a brief order
from Enright, the chief Of the vigilance
committee, to Jack Moore. That gentle
profforo q Wipoboe+ou o,1 4Lo
quest to surrender simultaneously,
Navajo Joe, realizing fate. at once ac-
cedes.
"Of course, gents" says Enright
apologetically, as he convenes the COM
mittee in the New York store, 81 don't
say this Joe is held for beefn the Chi
naman sole an alone. The fact is he's
been havin a mighty sight too gay a
time of late, an so / think it's a good,
safe play, bein as it's a hot day an we
has the time, to sorter call the commit
tee together an ask its views, whether
we better hang this yere Navajo Joe
yet or notS"
''Mr. President" responded Dave
Tut, eff I'm in order, l moves we take
this Navajo Joe an proceeds to stretch
his neck. l amt basin it on nothin in
partic' lar, but lettin her slide under
the general head of bein adapted to
public good"
"Do 1 hear any remarks '' asks En-
right. eff not, l takes Mr.. TUFTS very
excellent motion as the census of this
meetin, an it's hang she is"
"Not intendin of no interruption"
remarks Texas Thompson, ST wants to
say this: I'm a quiet man myself an
nacheral aims to keep Wolfville a quiet
place likewise. For which all 1 shorely
favors a-hangin of Joe. Like Tut, I
don't make no pint on the Chinaman.
We spares him too easy. But this Joe
is alters a-ridin an a-yellin an a-shoutin
up this camp till I'm plumb tired out
So / says lett hang him, an suggests as
a eligible nook tharfor the windmill
back of the dance hail."
"See yere, Mr.. President, interrupts
Navajo Joe in a tone of one i'll used,
"what for a deal is this, | rises to ask
anyhow"
"You can gamble this is a square
deal" replies Enright confidently.
sYou're entitled to your say when the
committee is done. jest figure out what
cards you needs, an we deals to you in
q minute"
Scents" says Doc Poets, who has
sat silently listening, ''I'm with you en-
this hangin. These eastern sharps is
here in our midst. It'll impress 'em
that Wolfville means business an is a
coed, safe, quiet place. They'll carry
reports east as will do US credit, an
thar you be. AS to the propriety OF
stringin Joe little need be said. If the
Chinaman amt enough, if assaultin Of
an innocent tenderfoot amt enough,
you can bet he's done plenty beside as
merits a lariat. He wouldn't deny ii
himself if you asks him."
"Why." urges Navajo Joe Disguised,
~, "these proceedings makes me sick.
shore objects to this hangin, an all fol
a measly Chinaman too. This yere
Wolfville outfit is gettin a mighty sight
too stylish for me. It's CROWN that
perdad hinged tic'ler it CAN'T
"Stop right thar" says Enright,
with dignity, rapping a shoe box with
his six shooter. Don't you cuss the
chair none, cause the chair won't have
it. It's parliamentary law if any one
cusses the chair he's out Of order. same
as it's law that all chips on the floor
goes to the house. When a mans out
of order once, that settles it. He CAM
talk no more that meetin. Seem we're
amin to hang you, we won't claim
nothin on You this time, but be careful
how you come trackin roun' ag Tin, ar
don't fret us. You sabef Don't go an