The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-16


4 of the prima donna, Mad
anne Allanni, was returning
east with his star from a i
- ~ somewhat Improbable tour
II on the Pacific slope. They
II gave concerts at various
places along the route but fortune re-
manned coy. AT last, at Sagetown, the 4
manager Matched scheme for raising
tne wind. the nature of which may be /,
suessed from the concluding passages
or conversation that occurred be-
tween MIN and dark-skinned. long
haired citizen in big sombrero and
wearing belt in which were stuck a
revolver and long knife. This
omlnously equipped individual was tall
OF stature, long-limbed, gaunt and
strong. His eyes were dark and sullen.
With dropping lids. His long mus
tache was also dark and dropping, and
MS voice was of a pitch so subterrane-
an that it seemedto come from at least
half mile under ground, and of such
a quality and tone that it's faintest
breathing would bring any stage team
TO a dead halt and elevate the hands
or all the passengers. Any one ia
mlllar with western mythology. would
understand at once that this brief de-
lscription can apply to but one person,
the noted Bill Deathburrow, the pro-
Y moter of cemeteries and patron saint
OF undertakers, popularity, known as
Corpus, and sometimes known as
Corpus Deficit" ~ :.
That's your layout, is it?" said
deficit, speaking in kind Of pianissi-
mo double bass; I'm to hold up the
stage this side Of Hogsnout. unload the
lady and take her over to the cross
troad by the Dogbranch; and you will
Fl come out there and recapture her? ?"
That's it," said Smithson.
n And the stuff?
E That's all right. TIL pay you the
\ money when I get the lady-s5O."
Fifty vent do; the ante will. have
"A hundred! "Why, we've been
talking flfty. The Job won't take over
half a day, and $50 for half a day is
good business"
Ordinarily, maybe; but there's to
be considered. There's my character.
I've got reputation, and it won't
sound well that Corpus Deficit surren-
dered to tenderfoot. Then there's
expenses. I'll have to hire a burro
F, for the lady, and my helper will have
to see coin. I'll take the Kiote with
me; he hasn't sand to shoot a hen, but
he can hold a gun on the driver while
L work the passengers. Here he
beckoned to a red-haired, weakened
. little fellow with handy legs, one
tshorter than the other, who came
see-sawing across the room and was
. introduced as the Lame KiOte, or
( Limpy, and who embraced with enthu
siasm the managers proposition to
! take a drink.
. That's the terms" said Corpus af-
ter the refreshments had been alb
! sorbed. I'VE couldn't do this job for
less, could we, Limpy?"
! NO" promptly answered the Kiote,
who knew nothing about either the
job or the proposed terms.
"All right" said Smithson, who
found himself outvoted. "a hundred
it Is, then. And now understand. 1t
Is the first stage that goes over the
road 'to-morrow--the iSagetown stage.
The one from Violet comes over and
passes thru SagetOwn, and goes on to
{. Hogsnout about two hours later; but
our stage Is the first one in the morn
ing" q
H# That's all clear" said Deficit; the
particulars are comprehended.'
! There may be a little delay" add
ed Smithson, I'm my getting to the
. rescue. The people at Hogsnout may
I'll lead the crowd off and dodge away
I from them.
n. Don't let that thought disturb your
40 mind answered Corpus. II know the
crowd over there; and When they
4 hear that Corpus Deficit is at the
other end of the trail, you won't be
4 incommoded by no volunteers.".
+# Bidding his confederates goodby
IL until the morrow, the manager sought
IL the hotel. to hold counsel with Nine.
4 Allanni. .
I'll IT say, Sally. I've got big scheme"
,a What do you mean asked the
lady in tone somewhat of contempt.
LII "Llsten!' replied Smithson eagerly
You take the stage in the morning
\ Somewhere between here and Hog
snout, Deficit, the man you saw me
talking with now, will hold up the
: whole business and take you out. He
will be accompanied by a citizen OF
Il this place, very fine man, and they
4 will escort you to q place we have
n agreed on. I will go to Hogsnout to-
q night, SO as to meet. the stage wher
1t reaches there with the news Of you1
E abduction. Then I'll rip and tear
E around like mad, borrow a revolver
e and dash out to rescue. In an houl
X CT two shall bring you back to Hog.
. snout In triumph, and We'll go righ
Z on to Golden Desire, where the story
X Wlll have preceded us. The whole
n population will turn out to get a sigh
H of you; the opera-house will be
damned. And that is only. the be
ginning. The story of the abduction
81 OF the great prima donna by the IA
"A nous desperado, Corpus Deficit, ant
III of her rescue single-handed, after
desperate battle with knives and re
81 volvers, by her manager, Herr Smith
son, will be telegraphed all over thu
world; and when we get east ther,
n will be no theaters large enough tt
n hold the crowds" -
al Madame Allanni saw the point. TIL,
X few details to be settled between then
"a were soon disposed of.
III. Everybody knows that the best-lait