Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-03

stopped at the tavern at b., town III
New Mexico, a melancholy looking
man alighted. with no baggage but
gripsack in his hand, and. being re
ceived by the landlord. the two went
inside together.
Landlord said the stranger. 81
have come out here from the east to
settle and try to make living. i
have been recommended to this town.
among others, as one likely to grow.
and I've concluded to put in my stake
here, but / haven't cent. It's better
to tell you this in the beginning than
to stay with you awhile and then nave
you turn me out for nonpayment OF
board I'm an educated physician and
| hope to gather a practice. If you'll
board me while I'm getting patients
I'll pay as 1 get in fees"
That's Just the kind of man we
want out here" replied the landlord.
81 like the frank way you put the
case. 1t shall not be said that Jim
Henderson refused to help any man
coming into New Mexico to try to
make a living. Most of our people
| who have come here from the east
have come strapped. II they hadn't
been strapped they wouldn't have
come. But 1 don't remember any Of
| them that have been as frank about it
! as you have. Enter your name on the
register; supper is ready, and after
| you've filed up I'll show you to a
ROOM
| The newcomer thanked the landlord
for his kindness and entered his name
as "Dr. George Atwater, City"
"I see you don't give the point you
hail FROM" said the landlord.
whats the use? I'm a citizen of
this town."
$50 you are-so you are. Nobody
here cares where anybody comes from
or what he's done elsewhere so long
as he behaves himself after he gets
here"
DR.. Atwater was recommended by
Henderson, the landlord, and occasion
ally got a case in some one of the
guests of the tavern. He became popu-
lar in the town and would have sue
ceeded had there been more people or
a greater proportion of invalids there
But B. did not grow as fast as had
been expected and was very health
full place. Atwater managed to pay his
board by turning over a fee when he
got one, but after he had been at the
tavern about a year there came an In
terval when not a person in the town
was i'll, and there being no fees, there
was no money to pay board.
In new countries where there is no
law the punishment for crime is usual
ly assumed by a vigilance committee.
There may be conditions of society
where a vigilance committee is better |
than no law or even poorly admins |
tered law, but after all Judge Lynch is |
but a return to barbarous methods. |
There were at this time more or less
shooting going on among the citizens
of New Mexico and considerable horse |
stealing. There was no objection to
the shooting so long as each man had
fair chance, but the horse stealing
was bitterly condemned. A vigilance :,
committee was organized to punish
murderers and especially horse thieves.
Since shooting them was not con-
sidered murder the principal business
of the committee was catching and
Furnishing horse thieves.
One day Bill Evans, one of the COM
mittee, entered the barroom and Of
fee combined of the tavern. Hender-
son was sitting by the stove with his
back to the door. while DR.. Atwater
was leaning against the bar. Evans
came in just in time to hear Hender-
son say to the doctor:
You haven't paid any board in four
That was all the conversation Evans
heard, for Henderson, hearing a step. |
and the doctor left the room.
The remark made no further impress
,inn EC0nS than int Inn,
with the fact that Atwater was in debt
'or his board.
One day DR.. Atwater received a let
er that seemed to produce marked
effect upon him. After reading it he
nut it back in its envelope without re-
mark, but Henderson. who was with
linn at the time, noticed that he had
eceived some unwelcome news. The
andlord. however, was not a man to
Try into other peoples affairs and made
10 mention of the matter to the doctor
1t was not long after this that a
luminous came in the middle of the
light for DR.. Atwater to attend an in
aid. He went on his errand and did
OF return. When a week elapsed and
othing was seen or heard of him
eople began to talk about the case.
was the chief incentive to
ebate the matter. and all speculated
pom a reason for the mysterious dis
ppearance. No possible clew to the
ause of his going away was sug- !
ested until Bill Evans told of the re- :
lark he had overheard when he had
lddenly entered the tavern and
ound Henderson and Atwater to- =
ether. He told it simply as it has
cen told here. but when it was re- :
Gated it was given as follows: a
"Bill Evans come ION 'em all OF a =
lddint an hearn Henderson abusin q
ne doctor cause he wouldn't pay no q
oard." !
The next version was that Evans s
nd reported quarrel between the
no men. in which Henderson was
busing the doctor about an unpaid
M ri hill