Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-10-09

looking jugs and bottlen. 1t would
have appeared that Limping Jimmy
had discarded eli route his beloved
bunky, taking instead a wife unto
himself-and a queerly behaved wife,
at that.
To be sure, her hair Tor as much as
could be seen under her huge sun
bonnet) was particularly yellow aad
curly, while her face was fresh and
not uncomely. Her hands we're big
and rough, for western women are
Woodworking creatures, but her feet
these appendages were simply
enormous-were covered by an ext
~traordinary 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"
h trail was a monotonous one; il
had been an unusually dry season,
and the bed of the ella 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 feeced 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 Apache.) 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 man played cards
and drank frewater, while three
ponies were hobbled near by. The
ponies were well-ladep with jugs
doubtless containing firewater.
Wet Dog hesitated-and was lost!
His wiser instincts urged him ia
hurry on with his money, tu%rquoises
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, feecet
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 "Jacl
was a natural bawn fool to play
pokah-he didn't know nawthin
about cyards."
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 a 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 persona
use, he seemed somehow unable tt
buck up against this apparently tipsy
miner. Apache luck seemed decided
ly on the wane. He lost one hant
after the other, until, finally, the
American had beside him all of We
Dogs portable property. The CHIEF
had lost all his loose money; Their
his good government rifle (drawr
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 hat
been sent him by a friend of the last
missionary who had converted him
A final jackpot swept away Blue
jays saddle and bride, and then Wet
Dog laid down his cards, glarine
wickedly at the seemingly tipsy white
man, and at the sun-bonneted white
squaw SO unconcernedly Tightening
the cinches of her saddle. If We
Dog had been able to get at his lost
l ~ --.-I-- l. --.-.1I Ia 49,