The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-12-14
THE UNDOING OF CHIEF WET DOG
Limpin8 Jimmy's Bad Medicine.
BY GILBERT C. TERRY.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
| der. The festive Shorty was no
longer visible, the cavalcade being
made up of Jimmy himself. on his
own cowpony; a strange female, who
rode with the aerial grace and ele-
gance of feather-bed; an ugly, eve
necked pinto pony; while behind
them trotted Shorty's pony, laden with
grub and many uspicious-looking
jugs and bottles. 1t would have an
peared that Limping Jimmy had dis
carded en- route his beloved bunky.
taking instead a wife unto himself
and queerly behaved wife, at that.
To be sure, her hair Cor as much
or 1t as could be seen under her huge
sunbonneD was particularly yellow
and curly, while her face was fresh
and not uncomeIy. Her hands were
big and rough, for Western women
are Woodworking creatures, but her
feet-these appendages were simply
enormous-were covered by an ex-
traordinarily long riding-skirt.
AS for Jimmy, that parsonage
looked passing unfamiliar in a glar-
ing new suit OF store clothes. with
boiled shirt and collar. A bristling
new red mustache adorned his upper
lip, and almost any would have nut
him down as a prospector, returning
from trip for the disposal Of his
stuff"
me trail was a monotonous one.
1t had been an unusually dry season,
and the bed of the -Gila River, when
they came to cross It, was ankie-deep
in dust. There was no water fit for
man to drink. and merely a hatfuI Of
muddy fluid in nearby hole. which
even the horses would not swallow.
Yet this river-bank was the custom
airy camping-place for people crossing
between New Mexico and Arizona
and here Limping Jimmy and his
companion dismounted and prepared
TO make camp. They had it all to
themselves, for. save an occasional
dartlng lizard, the wheeling Of bird
against the hot, brassy sky. and the
yapping of prairie-dogs from their
nearby burrows. there was no sign of
life.
Now. while these two canned ex-
pectantly by the dry river-bed. plav-
ing cards to pass away the time. and
steadily watching the trail, there an
preached them from the Seven-Mesa
direction, a small cavalcade of
Apaches. In front rode the chief
no less person than Wet Dog him
self-while behind him straggled n
motley collection of ponies. sauaws.
and dogs, in the midst of which was
lea beautiful Indian pony. Blue
Jay, the racer, and the apple of Wet
Dogs eye.
1t was with glee that the Apache
was travelling southwark. for Blue
Jay had won practically every run at
the snake-dance; there had been con-
gregated together many Indians
whom Wet Dog had feeced right and
lett at poker. The small gunny-sack
which his squaw. Lily-maid. carried
under her blanket, was full of Wolpi
wealth, there being three hundred
dollars silver therein, not to mention
other riches in the shape of rudely
cut turquoises and coral and silver
beads
Fearful as to his treasures. fl had
been Wet Dogs intention to cross the
Glla halt a mile higher up than the
regular ford; campers at the latter
place might be cowboys. therefore
dangerous. (For an Apache breads
a cowboy, even as an ordinary ten
derfoot breads an Apache.) But the
squaw who had sneaked ahead to as
certain the lay of the land. reported
that there were no vadueros only q
white man camped there. with his
WE; the man played cards and drank
hrewater, while three ponies were
hobbled near by. The ponies were
well laden with jugs. doubtless con-
tanning firewater.
Wet Dog hesitated-and was LOST
| His wiser instincts urged him IN
hurry on with HIS money. turquoises
and racer; his thirst for frewater and
his gambling instincts told him 10
| stop and fleece the lone white man
| VINO, II carefully enough piled with
! hreWater, would be easy game For
had not he, the Apache. heeced white
men before this? The gambler ruled
and Wet Dog, with his following
made direct for the camp OF the white
| couple
Here. after one glance satisfying
the Indian that nc had never before
/ seen the American. who was probably
q miner. Wet DOG ordered his gouawe
/ 70 hobble the ponies Meanwhile. he
and the stranger, having partakcn of
several drinks. proceeded to deal for
poker in spite OF the protests of the
white woman. who declared fin hoarse
tones that Jack was natural bawn