The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-17

while behind trotted Jimmy's po1y
laden with grub and many suspicious
looking jugs and bottles. 1t would
have appeared that Limr;ng Jimmy
had discarded en- route his beloved
bunky. taking instead a wife unto
himself-and a queerly behaved wife,
at that.
To be sur her hair Cor as much as
could be seen under her huge sun-
bonnet) was particularly yellow and
curly, while her face was fresh and
not uncomely. Her hands were big
and rough, for western women are
Woodworking creatures, but her feet
these ~appendages were simply
enormous-were covered by an ex-
t~raordinary long riding-skirt.
As for Jimmy, that parsonage
looked passing unfamiliar in a glar-
ing new suit of store clothes, with
boiled shirt and collar. A bristling
new red mustache adorned his upper
lip, and almost any one would have
put him down as a prospector re-
turning from a trip for the disposal
Of his ~"stuff."
The trail was a monotonous one; il
had been an unusually dry season,
and the bed of the Gila river, when
they came to cross it, was ankle
deep in dust. There was no water
fit for man to drink, and merely a
hatful of muddy fluid in a nearby
hole, which even the horses would
not swallow. Yet this river-bank
was the customary camping place for
people crossing between New Mexico
and Arizona, and here Limping jim
my and his companion dismounted
and prepared to make camp. They
had it all to themselves, for, save
an occasional darting lizard, the
wheeling of a bird against the hot,
brassy sky, and the yapping of the
prairie dogs from their nearby bur-
rows, there was no sign of life.
Now, while these two camped ex-
pectantly by the dry river bed, play
ing cards to pass away the time,
and steadily watching the trail, there
approached them from the Seven
Mesa direction, a small cavalcade of
Apaches. In front rode the chief
no less a person than Wet Dog him
self-while behind him struggled a
motley collection of ponies, squaws
and dogs, in the midst of which was
led a beautiful Indian pony, Blue Jay,
the racer, and the apple of Wet Dogs
eye.
1t was with glee that the Apache
was travelling southwark, for Blue
Jay had won practically every run at
the snake dance; there had been con-
gregated together many Indians,
whom Wet Dog had f1eeced right and
left at poker. The small gunny sack,
which his squaw Lily-Maid carried
under the blanket, was full of Wolpi
wealth, there being $500 silver there
in, not to mention other riches in
the shape of rudely cut turquoises
and coral and silver beads.
Fearful as to his treasures, it had
been Wet Dogs intention to cross
the ella half a mile further up than
the regular ford; campers at that
place might be cowboys, therefore
dangerous. (For an Apache breads
a cowboy even as an ordinary ten
derfoot breads an A~pache.) But the
squaw who had sneaked ahead to
ascertain the lay of the land, report
ed that there were no vaqueros,
only a white man camped there,
with his wife; the mar played cards
and drank firewater, while three
ponies we're hobbled neal by. The
ponies were well-laden with jugs,
doubtless containing firewater.
Wei Dog hesitated-and was lost!
His wiser instincts urged him to
hurry on with his money, turquoises
and racer; his thirst for firewater
and his gambling instincts told him
to stop and fleece the lone white
man, who, if carefully enough piled
with %firewater, would be easy game.
For had not he, the Apache, ieeced
white men before this? The gam.
bier ruled, and Wet Dog, with his
following, made direct for the camp
of the white couple.
Here, after one glance satisfying
the Indian that he had never before
seen the American, who was prob
ably a miner, Wet Dog ordered his
squaws to hobble the ponies. Mean.
while, he and the stranger, having
partaken of several drinks, proceed.
ed to deal for poker in spite of the
protests of the white woman, who
declared in hoarse tones that Jack
was a natural Dawn fool to play
pokah-he didn't know nawthin'
about guards"
At the time this statement was
made, Wet Dog greatly rejoiced; two
hours later he had reason to believe
that it was merely what the white
men call q bluff. For, while the In.
dian was good at fixing the cards
and could glibly deal out four kings
to his opponent, thoughtfully retain
ing four aces for his own personal
use, he seemed somehow unable tc
buck up against this apparently tipsv
miner. Apache luck seemed decided,
ly on the wane. He lost one hand
after the other, until, finally, the
American had beside him all of Wet
Dogs portable property. The CHIEF
had lost all his loose money; then
his good government rifle drawn
from the United States ration de.
partment), and then his Colt army
and navy revolver; next, the silver
watch bearing the legend "To My
Dear Christian Brother" which had
been sent him by a friend of the last
missionary who had converted him
A final jackpot swept away Blue