The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-11-05

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
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 night and are
deserted in day along the line Of the
great road. Indeed, they followed the
track, and wherever track laying ended
temporarily there town was certain
to spring up almost as II 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 4
month old; so antique indeed that an
election for mayor and common coua-
ell was being agitated by the more en-
terprising members of the community.
Harvard bred, delicately nurfured, ac-
customed to all the refinements 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 a man of
good sense and pluck and possessing
splendid constitution. magnificent bi-
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
IL 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 a genuine
frontiersman when he
w ueu ue iuet Culqultd.
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 herder of
other mems sheep, really a gatherer of
other mems coins. Chiquita kept house
eov h;v,, tn n t,,r,J,lad fapofb bor Sbo Oh 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 for
more gold.
1t was of this Herries was thinking.
for he knew Cbiquita, and 1t 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 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 deep.
slow, plainsman's voice, addressing
him:
"Pardner. you are a good one for a
tenderfoot; leastways I've sorter tao
kled to you sence seen the way you
whipped that ere cowboy chump Ell
beited him with his own gun. Some
| tenderfoots ain't got no sand, but you
have, en- I'll not see you double teamed
on eff l kin help 1t. sho's I'm fun
| Texas, which I'm known as Black
Waxy jim"
| "Why, what's the matter?" broke il
Herries on Black Waxy's harangus
as he turned and regarded closely the
tall, athletic figure of the man beside
him.
The Texan jerked his thumb over hi:
shoulder in the direction of the bar
room. "In thar" he said in low tone
81 heern somethin-about-ab you
| en-en"-
"ChiQuita:",
That's it, pard. You've called tn
deal It's jest about that 'ere littl
greaser gal, en- you amt the fust, no
you won't be the larst, l reckon, that
got his hide bored long of her."
whats up, then?'
keep your eye skinned en- dom
go nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warn
cd you. So long. pard."
And Black Waxy lounged away int
the gathering gloom and mist.
Hold on cried Herries, rushin
after him. Tell me at least who m
enemy is"
Black Waxy turned and scanned th
young engineer closely in the twilight
"Pete-from Denverv he jerked ou
and strobe rapidly of.
Heriies was brave man, but hi
blooG chilled at the mention Of tina
name. 1t was the synonym Of all tha
was most fierce, bloodthirsty and wick
ed even i'm that wicked and bloodthirst
little community.
Denver Peter he mused. $50 he
going to do me up because I'm tryin
to win that poor child from her horr
BILE life and save her for something bet
ter. l fear me. Edward, you're in n
end Of bad scrape.
'I'll not be bullied," he added an
frowned and shut close his mouth an
clinched his hands.
Herries stalked back to the brillian
" lighted barroom. Among those pre-.