The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-12-02

a III GJ0S 6uQ - 1608h
w that rippled across
WU the prairie like
the sound of a hidden brook. The name
of 1t was Rosita McMullen; and she
was the daughter of old man McMul-
len of the Shutdown sheep ranch.
There came riding on red roam
steeds-or, to be more explicit. on .
paint and fiealbitten sorrel-two
wooers. One was Madison Lane and
the other was the Frio Kid. But at
that time they did not call him the
Frio Kid, for he had not earned the
honors Of special nomenclature. His
name was simply Johnny McRoy.
1t must not be supposed that these
two were the sum Of the agreeable
Rosita's admirers. The bronchos OF .
dozen others champed their bits ct
the long hitching rack Of the Sun
down ranch. Many were the Sleeps
eyes that were cast in those savannas
that did not belong to the hocks Of
Dan McMullen. But of all the csvar
Tiers Madison Lane and Johnny No
Roy galloped far ahead. wherefore
they are to be chronicled.
Madison Lane. q young cattleman
from the Nueces country, won the
race. He and Rosita were married one
Christmas day. Armed, hilarious, vo-
ciferous, magnanimous, the cowmen
and the sheepmen. laying aside their
hereditary hatred, Joined forces to
celebrate the occasion.
But while the wedding feast was 1t
its liveliest there descended upon II
Johnny McRoy, bitten by Jealousy.
like one possessed.
It'll give you q Christmas present
he yelled. shrilly. at the door. with HID
AS In his hand. Even then he had
some reputation as an offhand shot.
His first bullet cut q neat underbit
In Madison Lanes right ear. The bar
rel Of his gun moved an inch. The
next shot would have been the BRIDES
had not Carson. sheepman. pos
sessed mind with triggers some
what we'll oiled and In repair. Thu
guns of the wedding party had beer
hung. In their belts. upon nails In ths
wall when they sat at table. - . con
cession to good taste. But Carson
with great promptness, hurled hil
plate Of roast venison and frijoles q
McRoy, spelling his aim. The secon<
bullet, then, only shattered the Whit
petals Of a Spanish dagger flower sus
pended two feet above Rosita's head
The guests spurned their chair
and Jumped for their weapons. I
was considered an improper act b
shoot the bride and groom at wed
ding. In about six seconds there wer'
twenty or so bullets due to be whiz
zing In the direction Of Mr.. McRoy.
'Y'll shoot better next time" yelle'
Johnny; "and theren be q next time.
He backed rapidly out the door.
The cattlemen swept out upon hin
calling for vengeance.
But the sortie failed In its ven
geance. McRoy was on his horse an
away, shouting back curses an
threats as he gaIloped into the cor
cealing chaparral.
That night was the birthnight q
the Frio Kid. He became the pa
man" of that portion of the state. Tn
rejection of his suit by Miss McMu
len turned him to dangerous maj
When oficers went after him for th
shooting of Carson. he killed two q
them, and entered upon the life Of q
outlaw. When he was. at last she
and killed by little one-armed Me,
lean who was nearly dead himse
from fright, the Frio Kid had tt
deaths Of Is men on his head.
Many tales are told along the DO
der of his impudent courage an
daring. But he was not one Of Ii
breed of desperadoes who have Sc
sons of generosity and even Of sof
ness. They say he never had merc
on the object Of his anger. Yet
this and every Christmastide 1t
well to give each one credit, II 1t ca
be done, for whatever speck of goc
he may have possessed. II the FIR
Kid ever did q kindly act or felt
throb Of generosity in his heart It WI
once at such a time and season. ar
this Is the way 1t happened:
One December In the Frio COUNT
rode the Frio Kid and his Satelli
and co-murderer. Mexican Frank. II
Kid refined In his mustang. and sat
his saddle. thoughtful and grim. Wi
dangerously narrowing eyes.
II don't know what been thinkil
about, Mex" he remarked In his usu
mild drawl. ito have forgot all about