The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-12
A Thrilling Tragedy,

| Fields made plenty Of money trading
horses, and some people thought his 90
lection to Bates was that ne was a hos
drover instead of a jockey. But Tim also
made plenty of money, was young, very
good looking, and had a dashing, jockey
like air that was becoming enough,
| though he knew no more about horsef1esh
| than do about the man in the moon
Fields said what he had against him
was that he looked so much like jockey
and knowed so burned little. If Clara May
| could be convinced OF this, Tins cake
would be dough
We used 70 suggest that Tim knew OF
no becoming bearing peculiar TO his voca-
| ton, but Fields persisted that he was
/ a fool and nothing more. 1t has always
| been my opinion that Clara May being so
| fond of her father and he looking the
| horse trader from head to heel, Tim
| thought he couldn't do better than 10 imi-
tate him in his efforts TO share the daugh-
/ ter's heart All of US felt sorry for Tim
and sided with him when we didn't want
| a good trade out of Fields, but if we tried
70 intercede for him, or even spoke IA
| vorably of him before Fields, he would
! get too mad TO cheat. and that is saying
| a good deal.
One day several of US were at Fields
stable. trying horses and talking as usual.
when we saw Bates dashing toward Us
4 Oh d handsome DlaCh HOISS.
IF he comes in here" exclaimed Fields,
who got mad as soon as he saw him.
| I'm going to cheat him out Of that horse
as sure as he is trying to cheat me out
| of my Clara May. Not that l care for his
! horse, for l don't, but l know that II
can convince Clara May he is a fool,
| she'll kick him. She has often said that
| she couldn't respect man who could be
cheated in a horse trade, and now is my
1 -. Il rr1Tre
10 bring out that old spudge that 1 shall
have to shoot to get rid of, and swap
him to Tim. Then tomorrow or next day
I'll send Tins hourse round 10 him and
| tell him 1 was just fooling him. And I'll
bet my best buggy horse Clara May don't
go 10 church with him next time, wheth-
er I want her 10 or not, as she's been so
handy about doing lately"
We felt like resenting this, but consid-
ering that il was Fields and Bates affair,
we decided to let the fun go on.
Bates did come in looking, as he came,
toward the house. which was searated
from the stable lot by small yard
Fields sneered wickedly as he saw the di-
rection of Tins glances, but he was the
first to shake hands with him, and seem
ed in a better humor than common. This
made Bates feel very comfortable. In
moment Fields, remarking that he rode
d
wanted to swap
why, no." said Tim, Il believe not"
Then. seeing Fields evident displeasure
and not wishing to lose the ground he
thought he had gained, he added, I'm not
particular about a swap, but if you are,
let me see what you have"
NO" answered Fields, still affecting
displeasure, ''if you don't want to swap,
there's an end to it,
IF it's no trouble, let me see your
horse"
"Oh, it is never any trouble to show a
good horse" said Fields.
We knew that when Bates chose, or per-
haps it would be better to say when he
was not in love, he was as clear-headed
as could be desired but, as Fields had
said, no judge at all of horses. l would
have tried to give him a hint, but Fields
was back with his horse before / could
open my mouth. 1 felt sorry for Bates,
for everybody had remarked how willing
he seemed to take old Fields and every
thing he said on trust; in fact, everybody
had remarked that Tim was in love. We,
therefore were all uneasy as to the out
come, except Fields, who was confident
and Bates, who was deferential, and not
at all suspicious.
Being so uncomfortable, and noticing
everything in consequence 1 saw that
Fiends looked uneasily toward the vine
covered back porch as he brought out his
old roam. I think he would have had
more self-respect than to tell the mass of
lies he did had he not regarded this as
such a good cause.
Tim looked into the horses mouth. and
went through all the motions of know
ing jockey. bur failed to find his bIem-
ishes. Fields kept looking toward the
house. and after each glance he would
lower his tones. GIancing in the same
direction I saw the Madeira vine shake
slightly, then a grunt or groan reached
my ears. This moving of the vines and
groaning was what so disturbed Fields,
and his next falsehood was told with an
l-am-te lling-yOu-a-lie air that / had seen
only once before. and thst was one time
when he was trying to sell me sweeney
ed horse. swearing he was without a |
blemish, and Clara May came up to us !
He got quiet at once. and wouldn't talk |
OF trading even when 1 pretended TO be !
anxious. He afterward told me that he |
couldn't tell a bare-faced lie in her pres
ence.
And now he thought as did. that she |
was behind the vines listening and trying /
TO confuse him. But he, knowing that his /
reputation well as his favOrite daugh- /
ter was at stake. plunged in deeper and /
deeper, trying to talk in his usual tones /
and pretending not 10 hear the groans /
that were uttered every few seconds
All the time Bates was trying to listen 1
as to an oracle. though puzzled by Fields /
uneasiness. and looking toward the house 4
when Fields did. And what with Fields !
confusion and our amused looks they did /
not come to any terms at all. And Fields I
was obliged to put his sorry horse back
in his stall. while Tim. who had not shown /
himself a fool. rode of on his fine horse.
Fields took longer than was necessary
70 put up the animal In the hope. doubt /
less. that we would leave. Knowing that
good trades with him were out OF the
question for that day, we waited. deter
mined to have our laugh at his expense
But he looked so black when ne did come
out that we went no further than 70
smile gently, and ! didn't feel like doing
that. For / somehow associated his black
looks it'll blacker bruises for those no
angered him, and I trembled for Clara
May.
In view II his being IN such a bad tenn
per. We were preparing 10 mount when /
shaking Of the vine.
What in the d. does she mean" roar
ed Fields. with terrible emphasis and ne
walked hastily toward the house.
We followed. feeling that Clara Nav had
carried 81 TOO far lie had opened the
gate and stood with one foot inside the
yard. when, with 4 terrible oath, he
snatched a revolver from his pocket and
fired.
Just as he did 50 one Of his daughters
stepped from the hall 10 the porch ard.
mingled with her screams We heard a
Eroan stifed and aEonized- I feit with
certainty that Clara May had
oreathed her last
This brought US into action. ard We
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