Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-11-09


ward T. Uerries, G. E. stood in the
doorway of the Rough Diamond and
looked gloomily forth at the rain as it
fell aslant the cactus growth and chap
paral on the red soil Of the mesa.
From the saloon within came the rat
tie of dice, the chink Of glass, the rattle
of coin and the murmur Of deep. hoarse
male voices. The Rough Diamond was
n most lucrative and fOurishing insti
tuition in the little railroad town of
Picture Canyon, on the line Of the I'm
ion Pacific.
1t was one of those places which Mt
that time sprang up in night and are
deserted in a day along the line of the
great road. Indeed. they followed the
track, and wherever track laying ended
temporarily there a town was certain
to spring up almost as il by magic.
IIcrrics was attached to the engineer
corps of the road and had been for
some time stationed at Picture Canyon.
a city of some 5000 inhabitants. most
ly males, and which was nearly n
month old; so antique indeed that an
election for mayor and common cOun-
Gil was being agitatcd by the more en-
terpriSing members of the community.
Harvard bred, dclicately nurtured. ac-
cuStOmcd to all the rcfinemcnts Of life
which wealth guided by correct taste
may give in an old and settled COM
munity, the rude surroundings OF his
present life had at first disheartcned
Hcrrics; but being AT bottom man Of
good sense and pluck and possessing n
splendid constitution, magnificent hi
ccpS, standing six feet and over in his
boots, the man who had been Ialc's cS-
pccial terror at right tackle and who
had filled the scat in the varsity eight
would hardly finch at hardships which
other men bore without complaint. even
if at times his soul grew weary of
Oaths and liquor maddencd men and
brawls and bacon and muddy coffee
and hardtack. Indeed. he grew at last
to like the wild freedom of his life, as
all men will do in time and he was fast
taking ON the exterior of a genuine
fronticrSman when he
When he met Chiquita!
Chiquita was a sprite. She was the
true daughter of rocky canyon and des-
ert mesa-a genuine child OF the Sierras
and woman withal. Her reputcd IA
ther was an evil eyed old Mexican
named Ramon, ostensibly n herder OF
other mems sheep. really gatherer OF
other mems coins. Chiquita kept house
| for him i'll a tumbled together shack on
| the outskirts Of the town and here en-
tertaincd her fathers guests. She was
| brilliantly pretty, with the rich rose
red flushing her olive cheeks, her white
teeth flashing between ripe, dewy, erin.
son lips, with glorious brown eyes un-
der heavy arching brows and shaded
by such long, curling lashes as would
make ones heart ache, especially the
! heart of frOnticrSman, in whose life
female beauty is a rich and rare event
Many a dollar had ChiQuitas eyes
and lips brought 10 old Ramop's sheep
skin pouch, and still he was athirst fol
more gold.
1t was of this Herries was thinking
for he knew Chiquita, and 1t was this
which, thinking of it, drove him out OF
the warm and coZy barroOm (the only
place where he could possibly stay
save in his cold and cheerless tent
and forced him to cool his heated brow
in the cool. wet wind which blew from
the mouth of Picture canyon.
He was reused by voice, deep
slow, plainsman's voice. addressing
him;
"Pardner you are good one for g
tendcrfoot; leastways I've sorter tao
klcd TO you sence ! seen the way yor
whipped that ere cowboy chump eI
belted him with his own gun. Some
tenderfoots amt got no sand, but yol
have. en- I'll not see you double teamed
on ef | kin help 1t, shos I'm fun
Texas. which I'm known as Blacl
WaXy jim"
"Why, what's the mattef" broke IL
Herries on Black WaXy's harangu,
As he turned and regarded closely tn,
tall, athletic figure of the man besid
him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over hi
shoulder In the direction OF the bar
room. "In thar" he said In a low tone
~ heern somethin-about-ab you
en-en"-
"ChiQuita?"
"That's it, pard. You've called t.
deal. It's jest about that ere littl
greaser gal, en- you amt the fust, no
you won't be the larst, reckon, that
got his hide bored long Of her"
"What's up, thenT
"Keep your eye skinned en- don
go nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warn
ed you. So long, pard."
And Black Waxy lounged away int
the gathering gloom and mist.
Hold on" cried Herries. rushin
after him. Tell me at least who N
enemy is"
Black WaXy turned and scanned tn
young engineer closely in the twiligh
"Pete-from Denver" he Jerked OF
and strobe rapidly off.
Herries was a brave man, but b
blood chilled at the mention of tbs