The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-10-25
CHIQUITA

| ward T. Herries, g. b., stoou III the
doorway of the Rough Diamond and
looked gloomiIy 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, hoarsO
male voices. The Rough Diamond was
| a most lucrative and nourishing insti-
tuition in the little railroad town OF
Picture Canyon, on the line Of the IN
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 II by magic.
Herrles 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
" males, and which was nearly
month old; so antique indeed that nm
election for mayor and common coun-
Gil was being agitated by the more en-
terprIslng members OF the community.
Harvard bred, dclicately nurtured, ac-
customed to all the refnemcnts OF life
which wealth guided by correct taste
NAV give in an old and settled com
munity, the rude surroundings OF his
present life had Mt first disheartcned
Hcrries; but, being at bottom man OF
| good sense and pluck and possessing
/ splendid constitution, magnificent b.
ceps. standing six feet and over In his
boots. the man who had been Yale's es-
peciaI terror ut right tackle and who
| Lad filled the seat in the varsity eight
would hardly finch At hardshlps which
other men bore without complaint, even
IL ut 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 viii do I'm time and he was fast
taking on the exterior Of a genuine
frontIersman when he
When he met Chlquita!
Chiquita was n 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
Their was an evil eyed old Mexican
named Ramon, ostensibly herder OF
other mems sheep, really Gatherer of
other mems coins. ChIqulta 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 I'M
der heavy arching brows and shaded
by such long, curling lashes as would
make ones heart ache. especially the
heart of frontiersman. In whose life
female beauty is a rich and rare event.
Many q dollar had Chiquita'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 cozy barroom the only
place where he 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 a good one for
tenderfoot; leastways I've sorter tac-
HE'D to you sence seen the way you
whipped that ere cowboy chump en-
beIted him with his own gun. Some
tenderfoots amt got no sand. but you
have, en- I'll not see you double teamed
on ef 1 kin help 1t. sho's I'm FUN
Texas. which I'm known as Black
Waxy Jim"
Nwhy, what's the matter?' broke in
HerrIes on Black Ways 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 heern somethin-about-abo you
en-en"-
"ChIquitar
That's II, pard. You've called the
deal. It's Jest about that ERE little
ueaser gal, en- you amt the fust, nor
you won't be the Iarst. reckon, that's
i got hts hide bored long OF her"
whats hp. theHf'
keep your eye skinned en- don't
70 nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warn
ed you. So long. pard."
And Black waxy lounged away into
the gathering gloom and mist.
"HoId onr' cried Herries, rushing
after him. ''Tell me at least who my
enemy Is"
Black waxy turned and scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight
"Pete-fTon DenyerT' he jerked out
and strobe rapidly OF.
Herries was brave man. but bis
blood chilled at the mention Of that
name. Il was tha synonym Of all that