Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-01-04

| ""J Oh AAC1SAI tAoluS. when 6J6Cl6(
from box car in towns along tn,
route visited the various saloons, anC
by singing and dancing would pick W
enough change to purchase my meals
In few days l found myself slowly
making my way through the Indian ma.
ton. On arriving at Muscogee, l. T.
| scrubbed the hotel Office for my
breakfast, then proceeded to watch fol
a freight train. l watched all day, but
was not successful till about s p. m
1t was cold night, and while proving
about, hunting Tor an open car,
finally evaded the train hands and
crawled in the end door of big lumber
car, and Immediately stepped on the
face of man who was lying down.
| The few oaths he muttered as he
sprang to his feet did not alarm me.
The accident was soon accounted for,
and later he asked if | had a bottle OF
liquor. After informing him to the
contrary a conversation ensued, dur
ing which l learned my new acquaint-
ance was cowboy, who had just re-
ceived his wages after cattle round
up in northern Texas, and was on the
way to st. Louis, Mo-, to spend his
money in a general good time. He
considered rallroads legitimate prey
and would not pay fare, but attired like
a tramp would rather steal his way,
and with a revolver to protect his
money, which he carried in belt be-
meath his clothing. | also found him
a rough, but agreeable, chap, end
gained a great deal of information
from him as to my route. The dark
ness was intense, and we huddled to-
gether to keep warm. He loaned me
his pipe, in the glow of which l could
occasionally see his face. Later l fell
asleep in his arms, and nothing dis
turbed our slumber until the train
stopped for water, and the car door was
stealthily opened, when the form of a
man could be seen, who uttered pc
culiar grunt as he climbed in,
That's an Indian whispered the
cowboy.
The engine whistle blew it's two
short blasts and we were once more
rumbling over the bleak, desolate
prairie. In the Cherokee language the
cowboy addressed the newcomer, who
approached and informed us that he
was halfbreed Indian, going only to
the next stopping place. l never liked
IND tot xyh
were standing together, and let the cat
tleman do the talking. The indian
spoke English, but his answers to ques-
tons seemed to be grunts, which is
characteristic of the race.
=" Have you bottle?' asked my
friend, and the halfbreed grunted af-
Tentatively. l Immediately commenced
to grope for the liquor. So did the
cowboy. However, it reached me first,
and l was just in the act of removing
the cork with the intention of inviting
him to drink when the bottle was
wrested from my hand. | grew angry
at this discourtesy and was about to
express my opinion, when match was
lighted by the cowboy, who held it be-
hind the flask and gazed for a second
at it's contents. 1t was the first good
chance had to see his face, which was
as pale as death. His lips quivered,
saw a countenance over which crept
the sarcastic smile of desperate man,
who calmly fixed his eyes on me. |
was dumbfounded. The roar OF the
train and the extreme darkness added
to my amazement, and before l couIu
speak there rang out three wicked
banks from a huge revolver. | saw the
three sudden flashes across my breast
in the direction of the Indian. | could
not move. | thought of every sin of
my life, of mothers lullabies and grass
grown graves, then sank to the floor,
feeling that my end was near. Real
| iZing there were two remaining car
tridges in the revolver and thinking a
lunatic was to be dealt with, | gather
ed my remaining strength and CROPPED
for the cowboy on my hands and knees.
! Discovering he had not moved, | at
tempted to reach his hand, crying out
For Gods sake, don't shoot
wanted to persuade him to give me the
gun. which | believed was soon to send
my soul to eternity. When | laid my
hands on his shoulder, pleading, pray
ing and crying, he grasped me by the
nape of the neck and gruffly told me
to Lay low.
I'm the few seconds all this hap
pened | lived century. and, being al
most paralyzed with fear, could
scarcely move, but finally found my
way to the end of the car and attempted
to open the door, hoping to escape.
had scarcely moved it an inch when
was hurled to the floor by the cowboy
who lay on my chest, and placing his
mouth to my ear warned me if valued
my life to keep quiet.
Don't kill mel / cried.
81 don't intend to- whispered he
but the Indian will if he amt dead;
and he couldn't have a better target