Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-12-24

VI IL Was hOSlth MCMuAicuS auu ouo
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 a fea-bitten sorrel-two
wooers. One was Madison Lane and
the other was the Frio Kid. But at
that time they did not call him the
Trio 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 at
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 Jocks of
Dan McMullen. But of all the cava-
Tiers Madison Lane and Johnny Nc
Roy galloped far ahead, wherefore
they are to be chronicled.
Madison Lane, a 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 sheepInen, laying aside their
hereditary hatred, joined forces to
celebrate the occasion.
But while the wedding feast was at
its liveliest there descended upon it
Johnny Mercy, bitten by jealousy,
like one possessed.
"I'll give you a Christmas present"
he yelled, shrilly, at the door, with his
AS In his hand. Even then he had
some reputation as an offhand shot
His first bullet cut a 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, a sheepInan, pos
sessed a mind with triggers some
what well oiled and in repair The
guns Of the wedding party had been
hung, in their belts, upon nails in the
wall when they sat at table, as a con-
cession to good taste. But Carson,
with great promptness, hurled his
plate of roast venfson and frijoles at
Mercy, spelling his aim. The second
bullet, then, only shattered the white
petals of Spanish dagger flower sus-
pended two feet above Rosita's head.
The guests spurned their chairs
and jumped for their weapons. 1t
was considered an improper act to
shoot the bride and groom at we'd
ding. In about six seconds there were
twenty or so bullets due to be whiz-
zing in the direction of Mr.. McRoy.
'I'll shoot better next time" yelled
Johnny; 'and there'Il be next time"
He backed rapidly out the door.
The cattlemen swept out upon him,
calling for vengeance.
y But the sortie failed In its ven
geance. Mercy was on his horse and
away, shouting back curses and
threats as he galloped into the con-
cealing chaparral.
That night was the birthnight of
the Frio Kid. He became the bad
man" of that portion of the state The
rejection of his suit by Miss McMul-
When officers went after him for the
shooting of Carson. he killed two Of
them, and entered upon the life of an
outlaw. When he was. at last shot
and killed by little one-armed Mex
lean who was nearly dead himself
from fright, the Frio Kid had the
deaths of IS men on his head.
Many tales are told along the bor-
der of his inpudent com sge and
daring. But he was not one of the
breed of desperadoes who have sea-
sons of generosity and even of soft
ness. They say he never had mercy
on the object of his anger. Yet at
this and every Christmastide it Is
well to give each one credit, II 1t can
be done, for whatever speck of good
he may have possessed. IL the Frio
Kid. ever did @ kindly act or felt a
throb of generosity in his heart it was
once at such a. time and season, and
this is the way 1t happened:
One December In the Frio country
rode the Frio Kid and his Satellite
and co-mur6erer, Mexican Frank The
Kid refined in his mustang, and sat in
his saddle, thoughtful and grim, with
dangerously narrowing eyes.
Il don't know what been thinking
about, Mex" he remarked In his usual
mild drawl. TO have forgot all about q
Christmas present got TO give. I'm
going to ride over tomorrow night and
shoot Madison Lane in his own house.
He got my girl-Rosita would have
had me IL he hadn't cut into the game.
/ wonder wing i happened to overlook
1t up to now"
"Ah, shucks, Kid" said Mexican,
don't talk foolishness. You know you
can't get within mile of Mad Lanes
house tomorrow night l see old man
Allen day before yesterday. and he
says Mad is going to have Christmas
doings at his house. You remember
how you shot up the festivities when
Mad was married, and about the
threats you made! Don't you sup
pose Mad Lane'l kind Of keep his eye
open for q certain Mr.. Kid? You
plumb rake mo tired. Kid. with such
remarks
I'm going" repeated the Frio Kid.
without heat, 80 go to Madison Lanes
Christmas doings. and kill him.
ought TO have done 1t long time
ago"
There's other ways of committing
suicide" advised Mexican why don't
you go and surrender TO the sheriff.
-ru get him. said the Kid.
Christmas eve fell as balmy as
April Perhaps there was q hint Of