Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-05-09
NAVAJO JOE.

4AN%E %1O " y Viz
Navajo Joe is out of luck Ordinarily
his vagaries are not regarded in Wolf
vile. His frequent appearance in its
single street in voluntary exhibition
of nice feats of horsemanship, coupled
with an exhibition of pistol shooting in
which old tomato cans and passe beer
bottles performed as targets, has hither-
to excited no more baleful serAiment in
the Wolfville bosom than disgust.
But today it is different. Camps, like
individuals, have moods At this time
Wolfville is experiencing 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. ho-
tel; gentlemen which the rather SAN
guine sentiment of WolfvilIe 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 for
Navajo Joe.
The angry sun smites kotly in the
deserted causeway of WolfviIle The
public is within doors. The Red Light
saloon is thriving nightly. Navajo joe
rendering himself prisoner to Jack
Moore, rescue or no 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 Ten
dow hufp yyrpr7l1 have l,o1 ilT,o o1
comment. He has killed a Chinaman
Here is the story:
''Yere comes that prairie dog Navajo
Joe, all spraddled out" says Dave Tutt.
''It looks like this camp never can as
soome no airs, remarks Cherokee Hall
in distempered way ''but this yere
miser' bic Joe comes chargin mp 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 ccstatic
whoops and whirling his pistol on his
forefnger like wheel of light.
One of the tourists stands in the door
Of the hotel smoking pipe in short,
brief puffs of astonishment and reviews
the amazing performance. Navajo Joe
at once and abruptly halts. Gazing for
disgruntled moment on the man from
the east, he takes the pipe from its
owners hurrifed mouth and places it
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 way about pipes an L
don't aim to tolerate 'em none what
ever.
He sits putting and gazing at the tour
ist, while the latter stands dumbly
staring, with 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 cf
soap.
"Whatever is this Mongol doin in
camp I'd like for to know 2'' inquiries
Navajo Joe disdainfully. 81 shore
leaves orders when I'm here last for the
immejit removal of all sech. wouldn't
mind it, but with strangers visitin us
this away it plumb mortifies 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 moment arrives brief order
from Enright, the chief of the vigilance
committee. to Jack Moore. That gentle
man proffers Winchester and the re-
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
time of late, an so think it's a good,
safe play, bein as it's 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 not?"
''Mr. President, responded Dave
Tut. ''if I'm in order, moves we take
this Navajo Joe an proceeds to stretch
his neck. I 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 remarks1" asks En-
right eff not, takes Mr.. TUFTS very
excellent molten as the census of this
meetln, an it's hang she is. -
'Not intendin of no interruption, !"
remarks Texas Thompson, 81 wants to
say this: I'm a quiet man myself an
nacheral aims to keep Wolfvine a quiet
place likewise. For which all shorely
favors a-hangin of Joe. Like Tut, 1
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-shoutint
up this camp till I'm plumb tired out.
So says let's hang him. an suggests as