Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-11-04
THE ROBBERS Roosr WOLVES
And Their Call on Lord Balshannon-

/ got to begin by unfolding the remark
that Holy Cross is the biggest house in
Arizona-which derives it's name from
being a sort of mongrel proposition, cross
betwixt a palace and a fortress. The
house was built by a Mexican, by name
lei Senior Don Luis Barrios. Afterward
he sold it to Lord ~Balshannon, a tender
foot and n British colonel but n dead
shot, and therefore respected on the stock
range.
Now, this B%alshannon person hired me
which my name is Chalkeye Davies-to
s~uperintend his cow works, educate him
in COWS, and teach him the natural his
tory of us cowboys, the same being I'M
expected and prlckly. My Patrone used
to trust me complete, being mostly en-
gagged himself in studying the local breeds
of whiskey at Tombstone City, and buck
ing up against faro bank, the poker game
and other crooked layouts. He sowed
liberal and the dealers reaped.
one day he came from Tombstone and
tracked me to my roundup camp at La
guna. where l had 20 Mexican vaqueros
branding and cutting the spring crop
of calves. The Patrone found us all at
supper, so while we ate he told me the
local gossip; how the Tombstone Strang-
lers had gathered in three bad men and
stretched their necks by way of encour-
aging virtue; how Low-Lived Joe had
shot up another Mexican, and how Mr..
Ryan, the richest man in Arizona, was
putting in big developments in the Jim
Crow mine. Then he passed me a big
rimfire cigar of the special breed l like,
which is pretty nearly strong enough to
buck.
'Er-Chalkeye," says 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 has hard as you can
to Holy Cross, and throw them into the
house"
'Indians?' says /.
NO, horse ~rustlers. They've heard Of
our half-breed 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 am
munition."
"Yessir."
"A friend OF mine has turned this
gang loose on my stock. There's been
rooke work"
Ryan work?"
'Haw-yes. What makes you think
Of Ryan,"
well, 1 dunno, boss; but seems to me
this Ryan has made bad medicine agin
you before. 1t was plumb kind and po-
lite Of him to send glandered horses to
drink at yo' water-holes, and hire Apache
Indians to murder you, not to mention
other little plays ! heard Of since. He's
SUI Wtdith tiiohbh " Siiat e hiio Ootis
of robbers; he's mean as snakes; he's
sworn to wipe you out. What's the mat
ter with me goin' to the Jim Crow mine
and shooting this yere Ryan by way OF
precaution?"
Indeed, ali! You'll do no such thing,
I-haw-fact is. / promised Lady Bal
shannon not to shoot Mr.. Ryan" He
reared up to leave and grabbed my paw.
We'll, Chalkeye," says he, II think
must be Off to see that my wife Is not
alarmed by this new game OF Ryan's
You'll find me at the house.
By noon next day / brought our herd OF
ponies to Holy Cross and watered them
at the dam, which held some two oil
three acres OF water just under the west.
ern wall OF the hacienda. A few old trees
sheltered the pool, one Of which ha6
lately been struck down by lightning. Sc
1t happened that turning the herd VI
from water my riders got a little mare
snarled In the fallen branches, in which
she broke her leg and had to be shot.
gave orders to have the body haulet
away at shutdown, then threw the hero
into the tai court, mounted a guarC
on the northwest bastion, sent a servan'
with my compliments to the Patrone
and went to my quarters mighty wistfu
to catch up lost sleeps.
la not slept an hour when the sen
try fired, and a man from the guard
house came running. / jumped into m!
boots, grabbed my gun. and bolted to lh,
gates. where Balshannon Joined me a
the spy hole.
who's coming?" he asked.
"A white man. Patrone, and a boy OIL
the dead run"
l swung the gates wide open, and W
stood watching the riders, a middle-age
stockman and II young cowboy. burning
the trail from the north. AS they cam
swinging up the approach l reckon thei
horses smelt a Whit of blood from tina
dead mare beside the water hole. Horse
go crazy at the smell of blood. an
though the man held straight on at
plunging run for the gates, the boy lack
ed strength to control his mare. Whe
she swerved he spurred, then she rear
ed and began to buck. The saddle cam
adrift, and the youngster went over wit
it, caught by the stirrup, unable to &c
clear. When the mare felt him dragging
more terrified than ever, she dashed OF
and would sure have kicked him to glor
but for B~elshannon. My boss was a quic
shooter and deadly accurate, so that HI
first bullet caught the mare full betwee
( the eyes and dropped her dead in he
tracks, ] raised the long yell for m
l men as we rushed to get the boy frol
under her body.
1t seemed to me at the time tina II
/. elder man never refined, but made a clef
g spring from his galloping horse to II
ground, reaching the mare with a sing
4 jump before she had time to drop. Oral
= bling her head, he swung his full weigh
and threw her falling body clear of Il
boy. When we reached the spot he W;
kneeling beside him in the sand.
Stunned" he said, that's all, Sir
. he looked up at the Patrone, and / sa
: that tears were starting from his eye
"Slr, you've saved my sons life wi
that shot, l reckon" his voice broke wi
a sob; you've made me yo' friend"
: Nothing broken, l hope?" said Ba
a shannon.
mo, sch. The stirrup seems to ha'
twisted this foot"
1 sent some men for a ground sheet
y which the boy could be carried witho
i" pain. Balshannon sent for brandy.
Still kneeling beside his son, t
stranger looked up into the Patron'
face.
= you are Lord B~alshannon?" he aske
= AT your service, my good fellow
l. well?"
V D any of yo' greasers speak our la
guage?"
o. Il fancy not"