Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-08-01
An AYensins Rescue,

Apache was yet lord of the Mexican
Sierra Madre, was commssary clerk
In a grading outfit that was engaged In
building railroad in the State Of Chi
huahua. While this place was one that
gave me constant opportunity for the
study Of mulishness, there having bsen
three hundred mules In the outfit, it
was not one calculated to make me fa-
miliar with feminine nature, graders
,amp being no place for woman; NV
ertheless, 1t was while SO employed
that my personal observation brought
me to the conclusion that there is no
creature more whimsical than wom-
an, unless 1t be mule.
chihuahua was a wild bit of coun-
try In those days, an uninhablted des-
srt. Of bare mountains and hills, and
waterless valleys and plains for the
greater part; as for that matter, 1t Is
still so, but the Apaches are not there
now, and Apaches are-well, there is
nothing with which to compare an
Apache, unless to the devil, Of whose
characteristics | have only a hearsay
knowledge.
The mules Of the outfit were plain,
everyday mules. sometimes sensible
and tractable, at other times foolish
and stubborn. but energetic kickers al
ways. Their leader was not one Of
.heir own number as one would natur-
ally expect, but an old gray mare with
vicious temper-who hated them with
all her heart, and who was continually
lighting them, ever keeping them we'll
beyond the reach Of her heels and teeth
-and they reverenced her, II mules can
be said to reverence anything, never
offering to return her kicks and bites,
and they would have followed her into
The very jaws Of death. And because
,f this leadership the old gray was u.s.
signed as mount to the man who took
The herd out overy night to pasture,
Tor with her under control Of an ex-
perienced man there was little danger
of the mules being stampeded and run
off by the Apaches.
With few exceptions, the men Of
The outfit were In keeping with their
surroundings. Wild, rough fellows,
whose only law was the dictate Of the
,ix-shooter held persuasively at the
lrop," and the few orders issued by
he boss" of the outfit. OF these, none
was wilder or rougher than one who
was named "Bill' Smith. Physically
ne was a giant, and he was an ideal
aborer, but morally he was a weak.
ing, and his great strength in connec.
ion with extraordinary quickness In
irawing his gun, giving him unlimited
confidence in himself, at the same time
inspiring his comrades with fear ol
aim he became the bully of the camp
though he was not the coward tha
most bullics are. Among the few wht
we're net Of Bills class was a younl
Mexican, whose name appeared on thu
ocoks as "Kid Cook" this nickname
having come of his position rs cook
iss.s.an. and his smooth, bearlles
lace. He was a quiet fellow CT abou
1ine;e(n years, given to blushins whel
rude,y spoken to, and was as shy ant
imd as a girl; naturally he associate,
very little with the other men, and
. iisliking him because Of this, they bul
, led him continually.
, Part of Kids duty was to help serv
, II table, and one day, while Allin
, Bilrs cup with coffee, some one slrn'l
: his arm, and some Of the hot fluid fel
, IN the bully's hand. With below o
.agp. Bill sprang to his feet, and, wit
sweeping blow, sent Kid staggenn
iown into u corner Of the tent, wher
= lie stood ov,r him with drawn revolver
,hrea ening to kill him in doz dli
,erent ways il he should so much .
bat his eye. Nobody offered to intei
: rene, for all knew that II left alon'
!. Bill would do the boy no further harm
out n interfered with might shoot hi
in a spirit of savage wilfulness, an
e hat, as he used his gun promiscuousl
: when once started, somebody Ell;
s would get hurt. Kid wisely made n
r protest, but lay still and quiet, cove
d Ing his flaming face with his hand
md, after a while, Bill put up his gu
ind went back to the table.
Anybody but bully would have \
= hat end the incident. but Bill seem
n Inable to forget his scalded hand AZ
a never tired Of badeering the timl
q ,ook. Kid avoided him as much
r ,ossible but could not escape him
tz neal times. when would pour fro
70 aim a perfect torrent Of abuse. Watc
VIA ~ thess tImes | would see th