The San Francisco call., 1901-12-29

through, them Yanks turns an opens on
EN-. The voices Of them Spencer ssv1I-
shooters sounds like the long roll Of
drum. Hoss an man goes down, dead an
wounded; never a gent OF EN- all rides
back through that awful Yankee line.
Pore Edison shorely had his wish; at least
we cuts the trail Of folks who's cap'ble
of aimin low an shootin' half way troo.
These yere sperited moves I've been
reelin' off don't take no time in the doin'.
This harebrain play Of Captain Edison
sort O forces our hands. The Old Man
orders a charge all along our line. We
pushes them Yanks back onto their
hosses an rescoOs what's left OF Edison
an his lancers- After skirmishin' awhile
the Yanks draws plumb OF an leaves US
alone on the field. They shore earns them
encomiums of my sergeant though before
ever they decides to vamos.
'Edson's been shot hard an frequent;
thar's no chance for him left. He looks
up at me, when we're bringin' him or,
an says:
"'"Joe," an he smiles an squeezes my
hand, while his tones is plenty feeble,
Joe, you notes. don't you, that I amt
goin' back to Texas, an I don't have to
desert"
That night we beds down that boy
captain in a solitary Mexican dolby. Hes
Iayin on a pile Of blankets, cIost to the
door, while the moon shines down an
makes things light as monday. He's been
talkin' to me an givin' me messages for
his mother an the rest Of his outfit at
Waco, an I promises to carry EN- safe
an deliver EN- when 1 trails in on good
old Texas later. At last he wants his
mare brought up where he can pat her
nose an say ''Adios'' to her.
For Joe," he says, I'm doc to 90
at once now, an my days is down to
minutes"
'' 'gThe medicine man. Ed says,
tells me that at the worst you-au has
hours to live"
'' '"But, Joe,'' he replies, 1T knows. An
I'm a mighty good prophet, you recalls,
about my not goin' back none, an you
can gamble I'm not maxim any mistakes
now. It's down to minutes, I tells you,
an wants to see my mare
Which the mare is brought up an
stands thar with her velvet muzzle In his
face. Her names Ruth. after Edson's
sweetheart back by Waco that away.
The mare is as splendid as a picture;
pure blood she is, an her speed an bot
tom is the wonder of the army. Usual
boss is Iocoed by the smell of blood, but
it don't stampede this Ruth; leastwise
pore Edsons blood, an she stays thar
with him as still an tender as a woman,
an most likely with all the sorrow in her
heart of folks. AS Edison rubs her nose
with his weak hand an pets her whole
lot, he asks me to take this Ruth back to
his sweetheart with all his love:
g Which, of course" he whispers,
now I'm goin' no ones ever to mention
that eepisode of the Rio Pecos an the lit
tie Mexican girl Of the Plaza Chico"
g Edison lays plumb still awhile; an
then after sayin' Good by he lets on hs
desires me to leave him alone with the
mare.
TN give Ruth yere a kiss an a ex-
ira message for my sweetheart he says,
"an then I reckons I'll sleep some"
'' I camps down Jest outside the dolby
an looks up at the moon an begins to
let my thoughts go grain Off toward
Texas like a gent alters does when any
sorrow prounces on him. It's perhaps a
minute when thar's the sharp crack! Of
six-shooter, an the mare Ruth r'ars up
an back ard until she's almost down. But
she RECEIVERS hers'f an stands sweatin'
an shiverin an her eyes burnin' like she
sees a ghost. Shore, it's all over. Pore
Edison can't wait; he gets to his guns an
puts a bullet through his head"