Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-14
CHAPTER III.
Hoxie's Story.
What" cried Fleetwood, dumfound

YES, sir" repeated Hoxie, Il were
one of 'em! Bad luck often forces
man into strange company. 1 needn't
go into particulars; but I'm a sort OF
Jack of all trades. I've fought lnJuns'
I've drove cattle through the sage
brush, I've worked in the mines. once
| kept a billiard saloon at Pueblo, ana
at another time l had a gambling place
at Leadville-'twas at Leadville that
first met Dave.
81 needn't tell you how, sir, but ow-
ing to a little unpleasantness that hap
pened in my saloon. and the killing
of a few men. l was forced to leave
Leadville sudden like, and directly af-
ter that l found myself casting my
fortin' with Dave and his gang"
so" interrupted Fleetwood, you've
seen that man with his mask of, ehT'
That l have, sir, and he's no haif-
breed, as some folks say. His race Is
as white as yours-a good deal winter
than mine: but, by the internal pit, I'd
rather deal with the reddest Apache
that ever run than with him"
60 on" urged Fleetwood, tell me
something Of the true inwardness OF
the road-agents."
Plainly 1t was no agreeable subject.
Hoxie shook like a man with the pal
sy.
We'll, sir 1 kept the right side OF
Dave for a while-all his gang are
deadly afeared of him. He thinks no
more Of blowing out "a mans bralns
than Of pulling off his boots. Tiger
Chief, they call him, down New Mex
leo way, and the name suits him WELL
He war the boldest fellow in a tussel
that ever saw, and though his men
feared him more'n anything on the
earth, or under Ii, yet every one OF EN-
sir, stood ready to die for him. he
had such power over 'em as l never
seed equaled. Luck, too, seemed al
WAYS on his side. He robbed here'
there, and everywhere; he came and
he went at his own will, and the law
never could lay hold Of him, owing,
maybe, to the friends and the different
hiding places he had scattered about
the country. You see, Dave is mighty
generous with his money-spends 1t
free wherever he goes, and so makes
himself as. welcome. to some folks as
he is unwelcome to others. All things
put together, he carried matters with
a high hand"
Fleetwood, supporting himself on his
elbow, with his eyes fixed on this ex-
road-agent. said:
who is that man, Hoxie? What Is
his real name?"
I've never found out, sir. You feel
the same curiosity that possessed me
when 1 cast my fortin with him. l
hadn't been in the band many days
afore war just mad to larn something
of his history. He war no common
border ruffian, that war plain enough.
His looks nor his ways warn't of the
EVERYDAY kind. I asked myself over
and over what war his right name, ana
where did he come from, and what had
made him a road agent. Nobody in
the gang knew. The ones that had
been with him longest could tell the
least. He confided in no one, and he
had mighty mysterious ways. He
would leave his men and go OF FOR
days together, and nobody the wiser.
He wrote letters. and he got letters,
which was strange doings for a road
agent, as you'll allow, sir. This much
was told me by Texas Jim, his lieuten-
ant, who had taken to watching his
chief, too"
They're a womans letters sez
Jim, and they come from the east. I've
alters suspicioned that Dave was
Yankee. When he goes on Journeys
that nobody knows about, it's for them
air letters. He holds reglar cores
pondence with somebody. Now who!
I'm a-gwine to find out-Tm a-gwine
to follow him. Sich things are clean
agin his character as road-agent'
He's a playing some DANCED double
game that ought to be stopped, pard-
ner.'
I'D been long enough with the gang
to answer:
"If We meddle with Dave, twill cost
ye yer life
Pooh sez Jim; but 1 war right
Black Dave wasn't the man to allow
prying. and he war great on discipline
at all times.
well. it war down New Mexico
way, sir, Black Dave had been doing
some bold work, wrecking trains, and
robbing passengers, besides walking
through the full purses of some rich
Mexican rancheros, and he war lying
low a spell, till the hue and cry should
pass.
1T war the lonliest place under
heaven-an old, deserted, tumble
down ranch, in a dreary gulch-Red
Gulch twas called. The people that
had lived there years afore, had all
been killed by Apaches, and nobody
ever came a-nigh it now. Dave had
sort of fortified the old ruin as hid
ing place We kept a cache of pro-
visions there. and store of ammuni-
tion, and sich like.
I'VE hadn't fairly settled at the
gulch when Texas Jim began to make
signs that he wanted a word with me
in private. Now it war mighty curious
Dave seldom swore at his men-Tve
alters had it on my mind that he wal
we'll brought up-but not soul IT
the gang that didn't feel the chefs
eve constantly watching him, follow
ing about everywhere. So it war some
little time afore could slip away witt
Texas Jim.
We halted under a red clay bank
can see the cursed spot still. A fe"
sycamore trees were growing about
and over our heads circled a nasty
carrion bird, as, if on the look out fol
some dead man.
well, pard. began Texas Jim, TVt
got Dave now'
els that 500 says l.
Yes sez he, sure! He's man o.