The evening times., 1899-06-27
TIE EVENING TINES, WASRNSIpN TUESDAY JUNE 27. 1Ss9


the Indian. II alive and, armed. would ther
have us at his mercy. 20 just trembled
and prayed. Finally the train slackenet
its speed. and whdA elbut to stop we could
!! bear heavy breathing In the centre Of the
BY this time the cowboy and myself
were sitting side sby SIDE. he ever on the
alert. myself thinking how to escape,
pered. d
That might be bluff. You can't trust
a redskin.' softly replied my companion.
when the train stopped we heard gut
tural sounds and short breaths from where
the Indian was located.
| That's the half breeds death rattle.
He can't work his little game any more,
| said the cowboy. who struck match as we
| advanced. The Indian lay on his back.
his eyes were fixed and CLASSY, his hands
clutched at his breast, and the last vapored
breath was leaving his body.
THE car door was soon opened and the
cowboy got out. followed and had hardly
alighted when he placed brawny hand on
| my shoulder and sternly said:
Now, young feller, don't want no
| trouble with you; SO all you've got to do
| is to stick to me and lay low. I'll take
| no chances on you giving me away. I'll
treat you white, but if you make break
to get away you'll get bullet in your
back. -ta
His manner convinced me that he
meant business. / helped him close the
car door. and VIC proceeded to saloon
opposite the railway station. 1t was about
midnight, and the town seemed deserted,
the only noise being that OF the train
men 'coaling up the engine.
.'On reaching the saloon. where drinks
were ordered. had my first opportunity
to size up my friend the murderer. I
couldn't help but admire him as he calmly
poured out glassful of liquor. He smiled
at my attempt to manipulate the bottle.
was dreadfully unstrung and could bare
ly hold it, my hand trembling like the
fluttering Of a sparrow's wing against a
window pane. Previous to this he refused
to answer any OF my questions but after
accepting another drink 1 grew bolder
and prevailed on him to tell me the cause
OF the trouble. He then ordered a quart
of whisky, settled the bill with gold, led
me to the middle OF the street. and said:
"'You can never trust an Indian When
saw the half breed was generous enough to
give up a drink felt there was something
wrong. SO l grabbed the bottle from you.
struck a light and saw a tarantula, or
Texas spider, in the whisky. which made 1t
deadly poison. for tarantula discharges
all Of its venom as soon as it is placed in
ALCOHOL. NOW, uau we OTuuk IQdl SluH,
a few minutes later the Indian would have
robbed our dead bodies of their clothing.
as well as my money. It's an old Indian
trick. so when that half-breed tried it on
me something had to happen"
II now realized that my friend had saved
my life, but did not worry over this as
much as the desire to know our future
movements. My companion did not seem
at all alarmed. but kept close watch on
me-
THE brakemen were signaling the en-
gineer to start when the murderer sternly
commanded me to follow him. and as I
saw him attempt to open the door to the
car containing the dead Indian collapsed
but before l knew what had happened I
was again inside crying, praying, and
drinking whisky.
We rode thirty4hve miles in the car to
Neosho. Mo-, where the corpse was lef:
directed our footsteps TO saloon. where
the ranchman traded a pair of moccasins
a necklace made Of beads and rattlesnake
skin, and an odd chain made Of deer teeth
and turquoise for quart of whisky,
which convinced me that he had thor
oughly turned the tables on the Indian.
"A hotel was soon found and a room as
signed to us, where my determined COM
panion compelled me to go to bed and
sleep on the side next the wall. l took a
long draught from The bottle, watched the
cowboy place a revolver and the doorkey
under his pillow. then tried to sleep. l
moaned and tossed until the contents Of
the bottle were about consumed before
/ closed my eyes. 1t was noon when !
awoke to find my bedfellow gone. / COM
menced dressing. and when l approached
the bureau my eyes fell on a ten-dollar
gold piece. also scrap Of paper on which
was scraled:
'Goodby, young man. Never trust
redskin.'
Il was so nervous forgot to purchase
breakfast. but during the day bought $40
worth OF whiskey in small quantities. and
late that night was conveyed to hospital
where for three weeks / killed more In
dians than any Of Americas most famous
scouts