Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-31

was most fierce. bloodthirsty and wick
ed even in that wicked and bloodthirsty
little community.
Denver Peter he mused. $50 he is
going 10 do me up because I'm trying
10 win that poor child from her horri-
BILE life and save her for something bet
ter. | fear me. Edward. you're in no
end Of bad scrape.
I'm not be bullied." he added and
frowned and shut close his mouth and
clinched his hands.
Herries stalked back to the brilliant
~ lighted barroom. Among those pres
ent was the gambler against whom
Herries had been warned-a handsome.
pale faced, tall, slender man. dressed
with great neatness in black and with
out single ornament visible-not even
the belt, which nearly every man wore.
He had small, keen, hungry looking.
gray eye. and as he looked at Herries
be met the latter's gloomy glance. smil-
ed and turned to his friends with the
remark:
The kid seems worried about some
thing l wonder if by any chance he
has overheard u.s.
Guess not; he jest come in min
ute ago"
Perhaps. perhaps" muttered Pete;
'but we will soon know"
Events moved quickly in frontier
towns. As Herries went out Pete arose
from his seat.
His friends also sprang up. but he
made a gesture of dissent.
NO, boys. Leave this to me. If
can't deal with one tenderfoot, l GER
tainly won't call in aid"
But he might get the drap on ye,"
persisted one.
Pete shrugged his shoulders and
deisned no reply. He opened the door
and was lost in the darkness of the
night.
About two hours later the inmates Of
the Rough Diamond were startled by
hearing shots. cries, oaths, the heavy
laundering of a horses hoofs on the
rocky soil of the mesa and then long,
loud "Hurra-a-hr'
Then all was silent.
As one man they sprang to their feet
and rushed for the door, but ere the
foremost man among them could reach
it it was burst violently open, and old
Ramon rushed in, followed by Pete
from Denver, who, swaying and stag
gering like a drunken man, called fer
brandy and then came to the floor with
a crash that shook the windows.
A babel Of voices prevented an ex-
PLANTATION for long time, and when
Pete had somewhat revived he told
them what had happened.
where's Chiquita?" some one asked.
A spasm of wrath convulsed the fea-
lures of the dying man.
Gone" he gasped; gone with that
cursed tenderfoot."
"Iow did it all happen, Pete?"
"IIe was there when | got there.
Chiquita was all dressed and ready to
go off with him-womanlike, curse her!
He saw me coming. His horse was
there. He waited for me. Oh, the fell
low was game enough. l said nothing,
but opened on him. The girl being
there must have made me nervous, for
l missed my man for the first time
And then?'
"Why, he pumped Inc full of lead
before | could pull trigger. Hit me
five times. Then he mounted and
swung the girl up in front of him. Old
Ramon came up and opened on him.
l got up and followed suit. He got
back at US once-his last cartridge
and caught Ramon. for l heard him
groan. Then the tenderfoot yelled and
rode off. Boys, give me big drink.
I'm done for"
And when they brought the drink
fast chilling corpse was all that was
left of Pete from Denver to drink it.
And Chiquita?
Chiquita went to a convent in st.
Louis, and left there four years later
a cultured and magnificent beautiful
woman.
She win be pleased to receive any of
Mr.. Herries' friends at her lovely
home. and if you succeed in pleasing
her she will tell you of that awful
night at Picture Canyon when a ten
derfoot showed how tenderfeet can
fight when sweetheart is at stake.
And old Ramon?
When they looked FOR him, he was
gone. Nor was he or EDWARD Herries