Smyrna times., 1901-10-30

NGu 41OAAAS VI, ttS MS cara Tedu, Eu- |
ward I. 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
a most lucrative and fiourishing 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 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,
a city of some 5000 inhabitants most /
ly males, and which was nearly a
month old; so antique indeed that an
election for mayor and common cOun-
Gil was being agtated by the more en-
terprising members of the community.
Harvard bred, delicately nurtured, ac-
cuStOmed to all the refinements of life
which wealth guided 0y correct taste
may give i'll an old and settled COM
munity, the rude surroundings of his
present life had at first disheartened
Herries but, being at bottom a 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 filled 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 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
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 ia
ther was an evil eyed old Mexican
named Ramon, Ostensibly a herder of
other mems sheep, really a gatherer of
other mems coins. Chiquita kept house
for him in a 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 un-
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 rich and rare event
Many a dollar had Chiquita's eyes
and lips brought to old Ramon's sheep
skin pouch. and still he was athirst fol
more gold.
1t was Of this Herres was thinking
for he knew Chiquita, and it was this
which thinking of it. drove him out OF
the warm and coZy barroom Ghe Onl!
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 a voice, a deeT
slow. plainsman's voice. addressing
him:
"Pardner, you are a good one for
tenderfoot; leastways I've sOrter ta(
kled to you sence seen the way 20
whipped that 'ere cowboy chump e
belted him with his own gun. Som
tenderfoots amt got no sand, but 70
have, en- I'll not see you double teame
on eff kin help it, sho's I'm fuI
Texas. which I'm known as Blac
Waxy Jim"
"Why, what's the matter" broke
Herries on Black Waxys harangu
as he turned and regarded closely IL
tall, athletic figure of the man besi(
him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over b
shoulder in the direction of the ba
room. in thar" he said in a low ton
81 heern somethin-about-abo you
en-en'-
"Chiquita?"
That's it, pard. You've called Il
deal It's jest about that ere lit
greaser gal, en- you amt the fust, n
you won't be the larst, reckon, thai
got his hide bored long of her."
"What's up, thenT
"Keep your eye skinned en- dol
go nigh old Ramon's shack I've wal
ed you. So long, pard."
And Black Waxy lounged away in
the gathering gloom and mist.
"dold ont" cried Herres, rushi
after him. "Tell me at least who l
enemy is"
Black Waxy turned and scanned
young engineer closely in tie twilig