New-York tribune., 1904-09-08
a Matter Of Robbers.
a AaIzoNA sroRY nY RoeEE rocncK

got 10 begin by unfolding the remark tha,
Holy C~oss ls the biggest house in Arizona
"hieh y derives its name from being sort Of
mohsrei proposition. cross betwfxt 81 palace and
d ief'Fess- The house was built by a Mexican.
by name El Senior Don Luis Barrios After
Ward he sold il 10 Lord Balshannon. 4, tender
foot and a British colonel but a dead shot and
therefore respected on the stock ra0ra
Now. this Balshannou person hired 7,e-y-bieb
my name is Chalkeye DavieS-to sIperiutend his
COW works educate him in cows. ana teach him
the natural history of US covloys the same be-
ing unexpected and prickiy- 9fy Pstrono used
20 trust me complete being mestIy engaged ffr.-
self m studying tho local breeds of whfssey al
Tombstone city. AND bue1ine no against faro
hank the poker game and other crooked lay
outs He soTed liberal ana the deaier= reaped
one day ne came from Ternhstoue and tracked
U7e 70 my roundup camp s- faslra where had
twenty Mexican vauueros branding and cutting
the spring crop of calves THE Patrou.. found US
all p supper. so while we ate ne told me the
local gossip: how the Tombstone Strangers had
gathered N three bad men and stretched their
necks by way Of encouraging virtue. how Low
Lived Joe had shot mp another Mexican and
how Mr.. Ryan. the richest man in Arizona was
putting in big developments on The Jim Crow
Mine Then he passed me big riTnfire cigar Of
the special breed Ike, which is pretty nearly
strong enough 70 buck
Er-ChaIkeye' saws he give your men all
the sleep you can. AT midnight you'll pull out
for Wolf Gap. and at streak of dawn gather
the whole of our horses, Run them as hard as
you can 70 Holy Cross. and throw them into the
house"
'Indiansy" says L
mo. horse rustlers. They've heard OF our
half-bred ponies, and Sheriff Bryant warned me.
We mustn't let these poor robbers fall into er-
temptation. don't you know: so mount a guard
at the house and see that the men have plenty
OF ammunition"
''Yessir'
"A friend of mine has turned this gang loose
on my stock. There's been crooked work.
Ryan work?'
''Haw-yes. What makes you think Of Ryan
Wall I dunno boss; but seems 20 me this
Ryan has made bad medicine agtn you before
II was plumb kind and polite OF him 70 send
giandered horses 70 drink az yO water holes.
and hire Apache Indians 10 murder you. not 70
mention other little plays I heard OF since He's
got wealth enough 10 charter this outfit OF rob-
! bers; he's mean as snakes: he's sworn 70 wipe
the Jim Crow Mine and shooting this yere Ryan
by way OF precautlon2
Indeed an, You'u do no such thing. I-haw
fact is. promised Lady Balshannon not 70
shoot Mr. Ryan" He reared up 10 leave me
and grabbed my paw. Well ChaIkeye, says
he. Il think 7 must be of 10 see that my wife is
not alarmed by this new game OF Fyau's- You'll
hnd me at the house
I
70 Holy Cross and watercd them at the dam,
which held some TWO or three acres Of water
just under the western wall OF the hacienda A
few old trees sheltered the pool. one OF which
had lately been struck down by lightning So II
happened that turning the herd Up from water
my riders got a little mare snarled n the fallen
branches. IN which she broke her leg and had 70
be shot. gave orders TO have the body hauled
away at sundown. then threw the herd into the
stable court mounted a guard on the northwest
bastion. sent servant with my compliments 20
the Patrone. and went TO my quarters mighty
wishful to catch up lost sleeps
had not slept an hour when the sentry fred
and a man from the gusrdhouse came running
7 jumped into my boots. grabbed nv gun. and
bolted to the gates. where BalshannOn Joined me
at the spy hole
Who's coming2' he asked
"a white man. Patrone. and a boy on the
dead run.
I swung the gates wide open, and we stood
watching the riders a middle aged stOckTnan
and a young cowboy. burning the trail from the
north As they came swinging up the approach
that dead mare beside the water hole. Horses
90 crazy at the smell OF blood. and though the
nan held straight on al a plunS1ng run TOT the
gates. the boy lacked strength 10 control MS
mare When she swerved he spurred. then she
reared and began 10 buck The saddle came
adrift and the youngsJer went over with IL,
caught by the stirrup. unable 70 get clear When
the mare felt him dragging, more terrlned Jhan
ever she lashed out and would sure have kicked
him 70 glory but for BalshannOn- Ny boss was
a quick shooter and deadly accurate 50 that MS
first bullet caught the mare rull between JLe
raised the long yell for my men as we rushed 70
get the boy from under her body
It seemed 10 at the time that the elder
man never reined but made a clear spring from
his gaIloptng horse TO the ground. reaching ths
mare with single jump before she had time 20
drop Grabbing her head. he swung his full
weight and threw her falling body clear OF the
boy. When We reached the spot he vas knee4-
ing beside him in the sand
stunned" he said. that's all Sir. he looked
M AZ the PatrOne and I saw that tears were
starting from his eyes. sir, you've saved my
sons life with that shot, / reckon. his voice
broke with a sob, you've made me yO friend
Nothing broken. hope said Balshannon
No sch The stirrup seems TO have twisted
this foot.
sent some men for a ground sheet IN which