The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-24
BY z. I. KEYEs. Z. s. A

prairie dog or gopher. we had no cats
around. Austin was horribly scared; and
he swallowed a larger drink of whisky
than usual Then we went back TO our
game Presently we heard the raps again.
this time louder. We got up again and
went over All was quiet Austin was
shaking and he said:
Damn if I'll take any stock in spirits
outside Of the Jug Then he took another
drink and banged out of the ranch. When
he came in he said: Wen have norther
tomorrow"
We didn't play any more cards. We sat
there talking abo5t whether we'd better
start Jose. cur cock out on the range TO
round up the boys for the planting. Pres
emily Austin says: Did Abe ever say
anything to you about being married."
NO. he didn't" says I. IF he's mar
ried. some one ought to get word to his
woman" Then we kept still spell. Final
" Austin says: WAS Abe married.
Il know nothing about him." says T.
After a little 1 says 10 Austin: Was
Abe maTried?'
Il know nothing about him." he says,
and then went off the box onto The floor
as # a bronco had kicked him. jumped
Up 10 help him. ard as 1 did so I saw Abe
Ghe corpse sitting up on that buffalo
skin looking powerful mad. His lip was
curled like he vas trying to hiss some
thing, and his arm was stretched out. and
one long. bOny finger was pointing at
Austin, who lay knocked ont on the floor
Il was so scared / couldn't smoke.
bent over and shook Austin, but he SEEM
ed like dead. As / went over for the Jug
TO get something to help him. saw Abe
was lying just as we had fixed him and the
blanket locked as if it had not been dis
turbed, | took about five fingers myself,
then poured some into Austin The first
thing he did wheE he came to was to look
al lis shooter: then he walked over to
the corpse ard 'peared to be examining
the blanket. Then he says: That's he
second of them damn strokes I've had; 7
guess the TeXt will fetch me-"
| didn't tell him what Ia seen, and I
didn't ask him what he'd seen. 1t don't al
ways pay to ask questions Austin drank
right along drink between drinks. AMI
an hour later he fell over on the floor. |
threw 4 robe over him.
Il didn't feel any too good sitting there
alone after what I'd seen. and I took
more than | should myself | don't re-
member much about going to bed. The
first thing ] knew was Austin SHAKING.
me and saying: Bill, where The devils
Abe got to-"
got up and looked around. There was
the oufalo skin but no Abe and his win
chester was nissns We called Jose: he'd
seen nothing out Of the way. We both
felt far from comfortable, and decided To
ride up to the next ranch and tell the
boys. When we caught our ponies. there
was Abes sorrel as big as life We dfin't
come back to the ranch for a week. Then
we were so played out and sick nothing
could have scared us; but both of us kent
wondering where Abe had gone.
TWO years afterWard Austin and | rode
into Cheyenne from the Crazy Woman's
Fork, where we were then living we
vent into TalbOts saloon; the barrOOm
was separated from the theater part bv a
plain board partition. We sat down at a
table and called for liquor There was a
lOng-haired, heavily hiSkered man who
looked Ike a bull-whaCker, stretched out
on bench; he looked a : if he Were sJePD-
ing. We'd taken several drinks. ana | got
10 thinking Of old times and somehow Of
Abe
DO you ever think Of Abe now?' saws.
Indeed l do, often" says Austin; Il II
never rest till l know what became Of
him
Just as ne said this, the bulI-whaeksr
rose up and saws: MT. Williams, or AUS
tin, II You prefer T.. you may rest from
this date; | am Abel'
Austin reached for his gun. but Abe
caught his arm and said quiet like: Hold
on minute; If you want any shooting
later, III give you a show. Then he
turned to ire and said: Years ago. bs ok
in the States. Williams here and 7 loved
the same girl Tier parents did not ap-
prove of either of us. She made me think
she loved me and she led austin TO be
lieve he was the favOTite. she finally con-
scented 10 q secret marriage with me and
We slipped away. saying nothing Some
how. the report got back 10 her home
that I had taken her of under promise
OF marriage. and had then deserted her
Austin never recognized ne up 10 the day
Of my supposed death. but / knew nina
the first time he showed up at our ranch
on the PecOs. After you went out that
afternoon TO salt the deer ] felt very sick
and really thought ] was dying, so :
turned 10 Austin and sad: Williams ! am
John Walker
Quick as a eat he was on me coaIdn' [
get my gun and he had ne by the throat
50 | couldn't speak. ne cnOked me. as he
supposed 10 death. The next thing | Ie-
member was nearing you two talking
about me az if / were dead. ! really felt
not far from il. When Austin in answer
10 your question. said he knew nothing
about me- II made ne mad. and | rose up
TO tell him he lied. The sight OF ne knock
ed him spnseless. | knew then | was sup
posed 20 be corpse. When you both had
turned in drunk. / craWled 70 the jug and
took enough 70 strengthen ne, then /
Slipped out. mounted the first COW pony
| found. and rode away. | did not feel
ike fghting AUstin-in fact, he would not
have touched me had he waited 10 hear
re-and / thought my disappearance
would worry him some.
Again Austin reached for his revolver
Wait" said Abe. until ! finish. l mar
ried the girl and treated her as white as
a woman was ever treated, but Eve
drummer | hear the music tuning ap.
Con inside. ! have something TO show
Austin there"
Abe purchased the tickets and we enter
I'd the parity filled room which Was doing
duty as a theater A rude stage was con-
strt4cted at the end OF the room aud a few
men seated on boxes before Il were GRIND
Ing our OF their cracked and discordsar
Instruments an air tEat recalled Rise Up.
William Riley" Presently The large can
vas wagon sheet that served as d drop
curtain was raised and a gaudi!y ami
scauffIy dressed and roughly painted wo-
man marched 10 the center OF the stage
and burst forth In a song that would not
have been tolerated east OF the Platte.
Auztin's ewes were Tiveted upon her At
first surprise vas seen on his face. then
nausea. and taking a locket from his
neck in which was painted thu face Of A
Young and innocent girl. he ground Il 10
storys under his heel. Abe was watching
him Presently the latter saS. If you
envy me now, Mr.. Williams, | will 90
outside and you may shoot me"
tcopyT,Eh, 1890. Daily Story Paeiishias cenpasyJ