Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-03-07
MARIA OF THE MAVERICK.

MARIA OF THE MAVERICK.
Pecos Bill lay on the floor cursing
broken arm. Downstairs in the dance
hall musicians were twanging their fid-
dies. The sound came through tie
boards to the boy. He was a tail, sun
Drowned young fellow. His blue shirt
'vas stained. and his boots were dusty.
On the floor by him was his coat, rolled
mp for pillow.
The door opened and Maria came in,
She was a small girl Her eyes were
as dark as her hair and her skin was
OF rich olive color. She lighted can
die
I've been trying to put up to sec You
all day, Bill, but l couldn't. Where
were YOU shot!"
in the arm" growled Pecos Bill, and
it's stiff as thunder"
It's your right one, too said Maria.
NO matter my let's Just as good.
But I've got to get it fixed somehow, ana
then I've got - - away W1tn that
Sheutf'S convention iinds out I'm here
the crowdll tear the Town down to get
me"
Maria barred the boys broken arm, dis
closing round, purple wound. cut a
bandage from her petticoat and bound it.
Il don't see how little thing like that
| qucered me So" said Bill 1T made me
sick all over" I
Now, fix my gun" said Pecos Bill. He
passed it to her. II suppose the crowds
all here by this time he added, while
ne watched her fill The chambers of the
six shooter with cartridges. Curse 'em.
why couldn't they 60 some place else?"
he Growled 1T wasn't my fault, any
way. Graham was cheating, and he'd
killed me sure if | hadn't got the drop
on him first"
Maria clicked the gun playfully.
You'd been all right eef you hadn't got
shot" she said.
Guess ] amt any good any more
Whned the boy. "Confound those sher-
iils, wish they'd held their convention
in Jericho"
Maria left the candle on the floor. and
opened the door. The crowd in the dance
hall below was singing. There were loud
laughs, and the noise of booted men lin
ing up at the bar. She crcpt down the
stairs
The dance hall was crowded. Dark
| skinned MeXcans and gayly dressed
Mexican girls from across the river. cow
| boys and gamblers, danced and chattcd.
| or patronized the games OF chance. Three
grave-looking fddlers played ON plat
/ form. Across one side OF the long room
| was the bar.
Bob CoWan, who ran the FL Paso Daiiv
| Maverick, and was reputed to he the best
| Judge OF stock and liquor in West Texas,
and who was pointed out to strangers as
'Ei PaSo's next mayor" bought Maria a
/ bottle OF St Louis beer. imported at
| great expense, and later danced with her,
to the admiration of all. Maria. whirling
over the slippery floor, frequently glanced
at the ragged ratters cobwebbed over
! head
know that fellow" asked Cowan.
| pointing to a tall, loose iointed man.
Most prominent man in Texas today,
bar none, sheriff, empire builder, he is.
Bill Sopes of San Antoine, president of
| the sheriiFs convention"
Maria danced. and sang, and enjoyed
| herself with the others, until the sun
| came Up. She danced often with Bill
Sopes. her eyes shining, her loosened
back hair falling around her face. and
her white teeth glistening between her
parted hips
Who's the girl?" asked Sopes, loung-
! ing up TO Cowan.
Cowan glanced down the long room.
Maria stood binding up her hair.
On, SAID CoWan, that's Maria: Mex
lean girl She's q typesetter on our
Taper. Amt she jim Dandy :"
"She is, said Sopes.
At o'clock Maria climbed upOn the
stool at her case in the dingy Office Of
the Maverick, and began to set type
busllN. She could not read English, but
she knew the alphabet
NJ noon Cowan wrote the story of the
sheriff : convention, then in session in Eel
Paso and dealt the takes to Maria and
the other girls. Maria clicked the type
menily. until suddenly She saw the only
two printed words she knew-Pecos Bill.
She found the big capital 2 with haze
before her eyes. Then she found the
small letters, and the big capital b with
the other small letters. and set them up
mechanically, faint with fear
Tho two words We're near the end OF
the take. She finished it. thrusting the
remaining bits of type suvagely into thei.
places, and clinging by the heels of her
slippers to the rung of the stool. Lunch
time arrived, The girls filed out. fol.
lowed by Bob Cowan, putting at a black
cigar.
Tommy remained. Tommy was fore
man. He set heads, read proof, helped