The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

Mde swift and complete by the agency Of
q specter.
But il the ghost brought retribution on
the guilty. ii brought also sorrow to the
hearts of the innocent. and that is why the
story of the awful crime is still told IN
whispers around a hundred fresides when
the snow is deep on the Oregon prairies and
the north wind rumbles in the chinneys.
When John Hartman went TO Eastern
Oregon shortly after the Modoc war. he
was probably 81 or 40 years old, tall and
athletic. and fashionably dressed. His hair
was black. as were his eyes. and a black
heard. thick and full. all but concealed his
features.
No one could say whence John Hartman
had come, ard he made no effort 10 en-
tighten any one. A half dozen stories of
his past life were told in Tiyhe Ridge set
Element. but these accounts failed 10 fuly
satisfy the curious ranchmen.
II was said that Hartman had been a
civil engineer on the new railway: some
few held that he was a retired army oficer.
and others were sure he was only a Sah-
fornia millionaire lying in wait for a good
mine. for which he was ready 10 pay a
fortune.
4 Harriman's smart dress and his big,
ysquare house, which soon became known as
4 Barriman's corral" standing a hundred
4 yards hack from the Canyon City tran.
S.lSSu tIt Sbois w MS $780,
past Importance 10 find ready credence
among most OF the simple plainsmen, and
some time afterwards. when old Hank
Tucker. who drove the Canyon City stage.
brought Hartman an envelope. bearing the
postmark of San Francisco. and a box
which, Hank" insisted. contained store
Clothes nearly everybody was content to
believe that Hartman was simply a mil
honaire in disguise.
But interest in Harriman's identity did
not increase his popularity. He set about to
rear sheep. and when his plans became
manifest. the settlement was full Of wrath.
In those days in Eastern Oregon the
presence of sheep on the ranges meant
death to the buffalo grass on which the
cattle fed. ard the destruction of that grass
was. in the ranchmep's minds. an onense
next IN gravity to murder itself.
II mattered not to the settlers that Har-
riman's sheep grazed on his own land; they
still resented the disregard Of the countrys
customs, and in their Indignation. and with
sigular inaptitude. considering the kind OF
animal at fault. they thereafter called him
"Hog" Hartman.
Hartman continued to live in his big
house. without a hint of concern for the
opinion in which the plainsmen held him,
\ and indeed gave daily new ofense to the
\ksettlement by his innovations
He built a barn. and had plows and har-
TONS ana rSaperS DfouSul pitttlucdi osttS
the long road from The Dalles to cultivate
his land.
A number of others who had come after
Hartman followed his example. and finally
as a result OF the sheep and fences and
ether evidences Of civilization. the ranch
men were Obliged to drive their herds fur-
fher southeast.
One day nearly ten years after John Har-
riman came TO Tghe Ridge. there appeared
at the big. square house. a handsome. dark
-Iz Aal car,a Inu-n from the nalloS
with Hank Tucker in the old. cumber-
some wagon which the settlers along the
Canyon City trail. out of regard for Its
owner. called a stage
Hank promptly reported the arrival OF
the stranger to the loungers. who met
nightly council at "Zeb" Little's Forty
Mile House."
These worthless, including Missouri"
Hawkins, whose d~exterity with a six
shooter made him an authority on most SUD-
jects under discussion at the "Forty-Mile
House." were clearly at a loss TO account
for the presence Of a visitor at Hog Har-
riman's 'carraL"
But Tighe Ridges expectancy was not
kept on tiptoe for long. Only three days
after his coming. Harriman's guest was a
.visitor at the "Forty-Mile House." and
never before were such quantities OF oad
whisky and worse cigars consumed IN Ilghe
Ridge as on that day.
The stranger rode madly down the dusty
road to the 'Forty-Mile House" a part OF
which was dignifed by the name OF post
office. To this room went the guest OF
Hog Hartman. and called for any maii
that might be awaiting Carlos Hartman.
The ears Of his eager listeners caught the
name, and then all of them moved toward
the wicket.
Men who had never sent or received a let
ter in the history of Tighe Ridge asked iof
their mail.
'Mf.souri" Hawkins. who could neither
read nor write. and who. besides. had al
ways posed as a deadly foe Of 'learnin'.
actually called for Ibis paper In the voice
of a man to whom the receipt OF q PERI
odical was quite a matter Of course.
The sudden demand for mail caused "Zeb"
Little to leave the bar in charge OF his
wife. while he supported the dignity OF
Postmaster.
Taking from a starch box a packet OF four
or five yellow envelopes. he laboriously
spelled out their superscriptions, and to
each Of his inquirers answers nothing To-
day as II he was not aware that no one
in Tishe Ridge had got a letter since the
preacher left the settlement In disgust two
years before.
The stranger stepped to the bar and was
again followed by the dozen loafers.
Carlos Hartman was q man big OF frame
and square Of shoulder. and probably 70 or
IS years old. His hair and eyes were black.
\ his pale face was full and clean shaven- A
\Rvide chin. square Jaws and q thin. aqui-
he nose were his most striking features
After drinking q glass Of whisky he
stalked from the room and mounted one
Of Hog" Harriman's finest horses. Put
ting spurs to the animal. he was soon away
and only a cloL' of alLan dust marked his
swift career aleu-. tie road to the car
raj"
Carlos Hartman soon became q frequent
visitor and patron at the "Forty-Mls
House." Indeed. the loungers became %
accustomed to his appearance there that
.Zeb" Little's packet Of envelopes and mol
some gars were no longer in request. and
there was only . normal consumption Of his
whisky.
The long. hot summer passed without an
incident more noteworthy than q quarrel
between Missouri Hawkins and Carlos
Hartman. The two mel from their hrst
meeting had given evidence Of mutual dis
like. A sarcastic remark from missouri"
had brought a quick retort from Hartman.
and then the lie was passed. In q moment
.Missouri's' hand was at his belt. Before
he could draw his heavy Colts from fs
holster the barrel of Harriman's weapon
was cleaning uncomfortabiy close to Mis-
eorri.s' head.