The times., 1899-06-25
! GR0GAN'S MAMMOTH CREDIT HOUSE, (
: 8I7=8o=S2I=823 Seventh Street N W.
; II andI reefs.
L>NNN~-~rr0%~~n0CNN~ N~0NNN~NOo\~>O~NNl

tural sounds and short breaths from where
the Indian was located.
That's the half-breed's death rattle
He can't work his little game any more
said the cowboy, who struck a 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 l don't want no
trouble with you; so all you've got to do
is 10 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 a break
to get away you'll get bullet in your
back
His manner convinced me that he
meant business. 1 helped him close the
car door, and We proceeded to a saloon
opposite the railway station. II 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 a glassful of liquor. He smiled
at my attempt to manipulate the bottle.
was dreadfully unstrung and could bare
Iy hold it, my hand trembling like the
fiuttering 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 l 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 drink felt there was something
wrong, so | grabbed the bottle from you.
struck a light and saw a tarantula, or
Texas spider. in the whisky. which made it
deadly poison. for a tarantula discharges
all of its venom as soon as il is placed in
alcohol. Now, had we drunk that stun.
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 happsnr
Il now realized that my friend had sayel
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 a close watch on
me.
THE brakemeu We're signaling the en-
gineer to start when the murderer sternly
commanded me to follow him and as 1
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
I'VE rode thirty-fve miles in the car to
Neosho, Mo. where the corpse was lef:
to its fate, also an empty quart bottle and
directed our footsteps to saloon, where
the ranchman traded pair of moccasils.
a necklace made of beads and rattlesnake
skin, and an odd chain made of deer teeth
and turquoise for a quart of whisky.
which convinced me that he had thor
oughly turned the tables on the Indian
~ hotel was soon found and a room as
signed TO us, where my determined COM
panion compelled me 10 go to bed and
sleep on the side next the wall. I took
long draught from the bottle. watched the
cowboy place a revolver and the doorkey
undeN his pillow, then tried ;o--sleep
moaned and tossed until the contents OF
the bottle we're about consumed before
| closed my eyes. II was noon when |
awoke to find my bediellow gone. COM
nlenced dressing. and when ! approached
the bureau my eyes fell on ten-dollar
gold piece. also scrap of paper on which
was seraled:
"'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 couyeyed to hospital
where for three weeks l killed more In
dians than any OF Americas most famous
scouts"