Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-14
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
BY ETA w. PIERCE

i "
not one Of us can tell whether he ha!
a right to any other, better or worse
and that's what aggravates me. In
a-gwine to know what he goes of OF
Journeys for all by himself, and who
he sends his money to in the east
for he does send 1t there-and who
he's writing to-blast his eddication
and what far-away petticoat is at tht
bottom of sich underhand doings. for
mind ye, Black Dave never look:
twice at any woman round about hyar
Now, see these!' and Texas Jim show
ed me two letters-one that had beer
through the United States mail, ant
one that hadn't.
81 stole these from the pocket ol
his deerskin shirt last night while he
war sleeping sez Jim, but could SCI
that he war shaking at his own bold
ness. Here's one that war written tc
him, and another that he's been anC
writ to somebody suspicioned him
at it. in the ranch last night, and
knew he'd be ariding off somewhere
today to post it. So, sez I to myself
I'll hev look at that" Dawes like
other men when he sleeps, whatever
| he may be when he's awake. Hell
think he lost these things from his
pocket.
81 felt q queer chill go over me, ano
I amt a coward either, but I didn't
like what Jim had done. However,
answered up, quick enough, Have you
read 'em, Jim?' No. sez he; It's
for you to do that, pardner. 1 amt got
an eddication like Black Dave
"Jim didn't know a single letter OF
the alphabet, so /, being trifle better
off, took the two envelopes, my heart
going like a trip hammer all the while
and what do you think, sir? The one
that had come through the mail was
scratched as bare as my hand-Black
Dave meant to be prepared for acci-
dents. He had just wiped out the
name by which he war known to his
eastern correspondent.
BLAST his cunning!' sez Texas Jim
but there's a letter inside, and it looks
like a woman's scratching-read It!
$50 WILL sez 1: but first 1 had
to glance at the other letter-the one
Black Dave had writ the night before
at Red Gulch. His hand was as good
as a schoolmaster's, and he had put or
the envelope a woman's name-a
mighty queer one, too-and a town
where? Why, thousands of miles
away, in Maine-Maine. that's next
door to your own Canada, you know
sir. Well, naturally l couldn't make
much out Of that, so I passed it tc
Texas Jim. and sez /, Break the seal
while / read this tother one Thai
is, meaning the letter that had come to
Dave through the mail, and had the
name scratched out.
"Loud-read it loud sez Jim;
fair play, pardner.'
II put in my thumb and finger, and
whipped out a sheet Of paper, scented
like nosegay, and covered with wo-
manish writing-pretty marks laiC
close on the creamy page. This Is
what read right into Texas Jim's ear
and l tell you, sir, the words are fixed
in my memory, and warranted not tc
wash out:
Dear Papa: l write 10 thank you
for your birthday gift. 1 am glad you
remember my birthday, though l an
50 far away from you. The academy
girls are as jealous as cats. They
don't know which to envy most, my
good looks or my good Clothes
"I didn't get beyond that, sir; fol
just at that minute somebody slipped
down the red clay bank, and stooc
'twixt Jim and me-Black Dave him.
self, his mask off, his face white as
chalk and a dozen devils glaring ir
his eyes.
| Jim jumped back at sight OF the
chief dropped the letter l had giver
him to open, and gave a sort Of cry
it war the last sound he ever made
poor fellow! for before you could say
Jack Robinson, a Derringer cracked
and Jim fell at my feet. with bulle
in his brain.
| "Then Dave tore the other letter
lie girls letter-from me, and, hold
ing the muZzle of the still smoking pis'
tol to my ear, he said, in a voice II
never forget this side of the grave:
c1n
or Texas Jim?
II knew my doom was sealed, ant
that l hadn't a chance for my life
so said, doggedly:
81 reckon l war as much to blame
as he
There ought to be honor, ever
lamong thieves he answered, with al
evil smile. You were curious to fin(
out something of Black Dawes private
affairs, eh? A little knowledge, IN!
lad on some subjects, is a dangerou
thing
He gave Jim's carcass q kick.
Leave the rascal here to the gra!
wolves and coyotes he said, and d.
you come with me-
Il would have made a stand for m.
life, even against him, sir; but tn
whole gang war round us by this time
my pistols were snatched from m!
belt, and my arms pinioned to my side
They ali mounted their horses
Dave led the way, and the others fol
lowed him out Of the gulch, and into
sort of desert place, stony and barren
and only sprinkled here and there wit
patches of mesquite grass. Dave ha
a lariat over his arm-I knew wha
that meant, even afore we came 10
blasted tree-the only one in the ston
waste. All the men clapped thel
masks on, and made ready for the bus
mess in hand. i didn't waste breat
in asking for mercy-a short shrlf
and a long rope war Dawes motto
While they were. adjusting the moose
he stalks up to me, and sez he:
How much of that letter did yo
read?'
THE first few lines seZ I.