Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-07-04

war-and | certainly talked with him
He told me enough to partially confirm
your story. He said he had started
tor Santa Fe light, because be couldn't
get enough men to run a caravan
AFRAID OF Indians, you know. So. he
determined to take money-buy Next
can goods-and risk himself. Old
lighting cock wouldn't turn back for
all the Indians on the plains once he
got an idea in his head-he was that
hnd-Lord, you ought to seen the
fight he put up at Spottsylvania! He
got to Carson City with two wagons.
a driver and cook-had eight thou
sand dollars with him. too, the damn
fool. Cook got into row, gambling. cut
a man, and was jagged. Old Waite
wouldn't leave even niger in that
sort OF Unnatural fighter-likes any
Kind OF row. So. he hung on there at
Carson, but had sense enough-Lord
knows where he got ito put all
but few hundred dollars in Ben
Levy's safe. Then, he went out one
night to play poker with his driver
and friend-had a drink or two
doped. probably, and never woke I'D
Tor forty-eight hours-lost clothes.
money. papers, and whole outfit-was
just naturally cleaned out-couldn't
get a trace worth following after.
You ought to have heard him cuss
when he told met seemed to be the
papers that bothered him most-them.
and the mules"
You say there was no tracer"
tn -
eight hOurs-a posse started out next
morning. soon as they found him
when they got back they reported hav-
ing run the fellows as far as Cim-
maron Crossing-there they got across
and escaped"
who led the posse?"
"A man called Black. think" he
said.
BLACK Bart?"
Yes, that's the name so. reckon
you didn't bury Wills Waite this time.
Captain. You wouldn't have thought
he was dead one II you had heard
him swear while he was telling the
story-it did him proud; never heard
him do better since tho second day al
Gettysburg had his ear shot or
then, and had TO fix him up-Lord.
but he called me a few things"
Keith sat silent, fully convinced
now that the doctor was telling the
truth. yet more puzzled than ever
over the peculiar situation in which
he found himself involved.
what brought the General up
here?' he questioned, finally.
Il haven't much idea was the
reply. I don't think l asked him di-
rectly. l wasn't much interested.
There was hint dropped, however
now you speak about it. He's keen after
those papers, and doesn't feel salts
fed regarding the report of the posse.
It's my opinion he's trailing after
Black Bart"
The dining-room was thinning cut
and they were about the only ones left
1T the tables. Keith stretched him
self, looking around
We'll, Doctor, ! am very glad to
have met you again, and to learn
Waite is actually alive. This Is a
rather queer affair, but will have to
work itself out. Anyway, / am too
dead tired tonight to hunt after clues
in midst Of this babel Tvo been IA
the saddle most Of tho time for
week, and have got to find a bed"
! reckon you won't discover such
a thing here" dryly. Got seven in a
room upstairs, and others corded
along the hall. Better share my cell
only thing to do"
THAT would be asking too much
/ can turn in at the corral with Neb;
I'He slept in worse places"
Couldn't think of 1t, Keith" and
the doctor got up. Besides, you
sleep at night, don't you?"
Usually, yes" the other admitted
Then you won't bother me any
no doctor sleeps at night in Sheridan;
that's our harvest time. Come on,
and I'll show you the way. When
morning comes I'll rout you out and
take my turn"
Keith had enjoyed considerable ex-
perience in frontier hotels, but moth
ing before had ever quite equalled this,
the pride OF Sheridan, The product
OF mushroom town, which merely eX-
listed by grace of the temporary rail-
W. az IcA AA4huSs IL Itlu UGtu nsiSlily anu
fiimsily constructed, so it could be
transported elsewhere at a moments
notice. Every creak Of p bed echoed
from wall to wall. The thin parti-
tons often failed TO reach the ceiling !
by foot or two, and the slightest
noise aroused the entire floor. And
there was noise of every conceivable !
kind, in plenty, from the blare of a
band at the Pioneer Dance Hall Oppo- J
site. to the energetic cursing Of the
cook in the rear. A discordant din
of voices surged up from the street |
below-laughter shouts. the shriehs Of
women, a rattle OF dice. an occasional !
pistol shot, and the continuous yell !
ing of Industrious "barkers." There |
was no safety anywhere An exploding |
revolver in No. AZ was quite likely to
disturb the peaceful slumbers of the |
innocent occupant Of No. IS, and every
sound OF quarrel in the thronged bar |
room below caused the ledger 10 curl |
up in momentary expectation OF a |