Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-15
CHAPTER XII.
The CITY Boiling Over.

The City Boiling Over.
Once I remember. seeing an old bear
roped in the desert by cowboys, and
dragged by the scruff of his neck into the
fierce electric glare of a western city.
Some female tourists said he looked dread
full rough, school ma am squealed out he
was dangerous, a preacher allowed he was
savage, but nobody made excuses for that
old bear. Now I reckon that I'm just like
Mr.. Bear, dragged sudden off the range in
to the indecent light of civilization. No
body is going to make allowances for me
If look dreadful rough, and savage, and
dangerous. 1 own up I've no excuse. Bear
and were raised outside the prickly fences
of your laws. beyond the shelter of your
respectable customs, exposed to all the heat
and cold. the light and darkness, the good
and the bad Of life. Bear, he has teeth
and claws, as l have horse and gun; but
both of US fight or go dead. for that is our
business If you're shocked, quit reading;
but II you want more, read on.
When knew that Balshannon was due to
be shot set a trap. and all the des-
peradoes at Grave City walked right
into it. I had the men picked out who
would make a good loss, sent out the in
vitations to them in Ryan's name, and had
handbell changed to call them In for the
ceremonies: If Ryan only played fair there
would be no killing but If he acted foul
there was going to be a sure enough mas
sacre. Why, 1t was only right that on the
death of a great chief like Balshannon
servants should go with him to the other
world. That was all known to my three
masked men in ambush, and when Ryan
acted foul he was sent with Louisiana,
Beef Jones and four others, all desperadoes,
to wait upon Balshannon-beyond the
flames and smoke of his funeral honors.
For naturally cautious and timid man
took fool risks in exposing Curly to that
darger; but honest range-raised fighters
are more than a match for the drunken
town swabs who had to be dispersed. Be
SIDES, my youngsters were not the kind to
stay put in place Of safety. After the
fight, II there was one, knew that the
hre-beil would call up the whole Of the
citizens and the news would spread swifter
than flames. of masked robbers attacking
a saloon right in the middle of their peace
full town. They would be displeased and
rather apt to send in their little account
to me. which made me blush to think of,
because I lay myself out to be a modest
man.
When got through with shooting out all
the lights my men quit firing to haul me
through the window. Now all four of us
we're in the alleyway, between the saloon
and the post office, barred off from the
main street by high gate while our line
OF escape was open to the rear. Being shy
of recognition, tied on a mask and re-
loaded my gun, planning the next move
rapid in my head. Then I called OFF my
men to the tail end Of the house. posting
one to kill anybody who tried to get out
by my window. / was scheming raid into
the house to rescue Curly and Jim, but just
fo, a moment my riders hung back scared.
Come along, you tigers!' says I. There
was no need to risk our lives, for through
the black silence of the house came sud
den blaze of guns and rush of men. Curly
and Jim had broken cover at last, so we
had only to let them come, rolling out
head over heels in no end of a hurry. AS
soon as they were clear we handed in lead
to the crowd stampeded them and sprink-
lad tai w r.
aged.
The next thing was to mount our horses
and reload guns while we rode off slow. Jim
was shaking all over. Curly was sobbing
because bullet had burned his cheek, Ute
breathing like a gone horse and Custer
making little yelps of joy-all Of us scary
as cats with our nerves on the jump, the
We pulled out by the south end of the city.
Now" said J. YOU Curly, and you Jim,
light out ahead and keep a-fying for old
Mexico"
Curly howled, 1--WE amt goin' to leave
YOU"
1 had to make my meaning quick and
plain before he knew I was earnest. AS to
Jim, cut his words dead Shorthand so
they quit me streaking off to the south.
Now, you-al!" turned to my tigers.
Custer let out his yelp and Ute grinned
ugly, and both of them thought all the
world of me for getting them into trouble.
Monte says I "go home and fix that
wound"
He circled off
"WelI," says I, eff you other two play
any more tiger tonight I'll rip your lives
out. You got to be plumb good citizens
cause them people in the Sepulchre have
seen about ten masked robbers, which
they'll surely hunt. So off with them masks
quick" and L threw mine in the road.
Now" says l. ''well see If the general
public is going to help us to get them rob-
bers and kill them"
So We three trotted grave and innocent
I'D Main street, where scores of citizens
We're saddling, mounting and gathering, the
swift men calling the laggards. In the lead
rode Deputy Marshal Petersen. coming on
rapid.
Hello" he called, "you, Chalkeye"
I swung in beside him. Whats the de-
lay?" says 1.
How many robberS|'
'Ten masked men, come on! They're Nc
CalmontS gang.
Custer and Ute were calling the rest to
hustle ''Ten masked robbers" they shout
ed heading down for Naco!"
Thought you was in the 'Sepulchre! :"
says Peterson.
II was till I'd shot out the lights" says
I; them crazy idiots there were handing
out LEAD at me-.
where did you see them robbers?"
"In the back street. They wounded my
boy Monte so l had to send him home.
Say look at that!'
Ahead on the white road, plain in the
moonlight, lay something black, so / swung
down my arm In passing and took a grab.
what dye make of this, eh, Pedersen?"
"A silk mask" says he. Thanks, Chalk
eye-you've got Us on the right trail, any
ways"
but watch these tracks, say L; look
&here-they're quitting the main road-swing
OUT"
Curly and Jim had struck straight south
down the road, SO I pointed the whole pur-
suit well off to the right southwest for
Naco, and made believe I saw another
mask among the stones. If dangerous rob-
bers were hard to see through the
moonsh that was no fault of
mine If the citizens wanted to go
riding out by moonlight, I surely gave them
heaps good exercise.
Meanwhile that Curly was herding Jim
down toward tho Mexican boundary but
| both the lads were ratified and their nerves
had gone all to smash Jim had dumb
warnings to go back and eat UP citizens,
Curly was trying 10 cry with one lip while
he laughed with tile other Then Jim told