Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-31


ward T. Herries, C. 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
most lucrative and fourishing insti-
tuition in the little railroad town of
Picture Canyon, on the line of the Tn
ion Pacific.
1t was one of those places which at
that time sprang up in a 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 if by magic.
Herries was attached to the engineer
corps Of the road and had been for
some time stationed at Picture Canyon,
q city OF some 5000 inhabitants, most
IL males, ana which was nearly a
month old; SO antique indeed that an
election for mayor and common coun-
ell was being agitated by the more en-
terprising members of the community.
Harvard bred, delicately nurtured. ac-
customed to all the rednements 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 disheartened
Herries; but. being at bottom man of
good sense and pluck and possessing a
splendid constitution, magnificent BIZ
ceps, standing six feet and over in his
boots. the man who had been Yale's es-
pecial terror at right tackle and who
had filed the seat 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, maddened men and
brawls and bacon and muddy coffee
and bareback. 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 genuine
frontiersman 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 a woman withal. Her reputed fa-
Their was an evil eyed old Mexican
named Ramon, ostensbly a herder of
other mems sheep. really a gatherer of
other mems coins. Chiquita kept house
for him in tumbled together shack on
the outskirts of the town and here en-
tertained her fathers guests. She was
brilliantly pretty, with the rich rose
red flushing her olive cheeks. her white
teeth flashing between ripe, dewy, Grim
son lips, with glorious brown eyes IN
der heavy arching brows and shaded
by such long, curling lashes as would
make ones heart ache, especially the
heart of a frontiersman. in whose life
female beauty is a rich and rare event.
Many n dollar had Chiquta's eyes
and lips brought TO old Ramon's sheep
skin pouch, and still he was athirst for
more gold.
1t was of this Herries was thinking,
for he knew Chiquita, and it was this
which. thinking of it. drove him out of
the warm and coy barrOom (the only
place where be could possibly stay.
save in his cold and cherries 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 a voice. a deep,
slow. plainsman's voice, addressing
him:
"Pardner, you are good one for a
tenderfoot; leastways I've sorter tao
Killed. to you sence | seen the way you
whipped that ere cowboy chump en-
belted him with his own gun. Some
tenderfoots amt got no sand, but you
have, en- I'll not see you double teamed
on eff / kin help it. shO's I'm fun
Texas. which I'm known as Black
Waxy Jim
why. what's the matterY broke in
Herries on Black Waxy's harangue
as he turned and regarded closely the
tall. athletic figure of the man beside
him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the bar
room. In thar" he said in low tone,
Il leern somethin-about-ab you
en-en'-
"Chiquita?"
That's it. pard You've called the
deal. It's jest about that ere little
greaser gal. en- you amt the fust, nor
you won't be the larst. reckon. that's
got his hide bored long Of her"
What's up. them"
keep your eye skinned en- don't
90 nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warn
ed YOU So long. pard-"
And Black waxy lounged away into
the gathering gloom and mist.
Hold on cried Herries. rushing
after him. Tell me at least who my
Crony is"
BLACK Waxy turned and scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight.
"Pete-fr0m Denver" be jerked out
ana strobe rapidly off.
n H~o l.rr~ his