Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-17
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First Blood at caiabasaa

First Blood at c~aiabasaa
Nothing more than De SPANS IN
nouncement that he would sustain his
stage guards was necessary to arouse
q violent resentment 1t Calabasas and
among the Morgan following. The
grievance against Elpaso was made a
general n along the line. His stage
was singled out and ridden ut times
both BY Sandusky and Logan-the
really dangerous men of the Spanish
sinks-and by Gule Morgan and Sas.
soon to stir up trouble.
All Calabasas knew that EIpaso, il
he had to, would fight. and that the &C.
centric guard was not actually to be
cornered with impunity. Even Logan,
who. like Sandusky. was known to be
without fear and without mercy, felt
ut least a respect for Elpaso'S short
ened shotgun. and stopped this side
actual hostilities with him. Sassoon,
however. nourished n particular griev-
ance against the meditative guard. and
his was II not tempered either by
prudence or calculation. His chance
came n night when Elpaso had un-
wisely allowed himself to be drawn
into a card game at Calabasas inn. Ell
paso was VIGOROUSLY a stickler for Il
square deal at cards. 4 dispute found
him without Il friend in the room. Sas-
soon reached for him with a knife.
McAlpin was the first to get the
news ut the barn. He gave first aid to
the helpless guard, and. without dream
ing he could be got to Il surgeon alive,
rushed him in a light wagon to the
hospital Mt Sleepy Cat, where 1t was
said that he must have more lives than
4 wildcat. Sassoon. not caring to brave
he SPANS anger in town, went tenn
porarily into hiding. Elpaso. III the
end, justified his old reputation by
making Il Observation-Disclosures, 1t is
true, ana with peri!ous intervals of
sinking, but Il recovery.
1t was while he still lay in the hos
pital and hope was very low that De
Spain and Lefever rode, one hot morn.
Ing. into Calabasas and were told By
MnAlpin that SaSsoon had been seen
within five minutes at the inn. To Le-
fever the news was like a bubbling
spring to Il thirsty man. His face
beamed, he frightened his belt, shook
out his gun, and looked with benevo-
lent interest on De Spain, who stood
bordering. IF you will stay right here,
Henry" he averred conyincingly, Il
will go I'VE and get Sassoon.'
The chief stage-guard. Bob Scott,
the Indian, was in the barn. lie smiled
at Lefever's enthusiasm. "Sassoon,"
said he. SIS slippery"
you'd better let US 60 along and
see you do it," suggested De Spain.
who with the business in hand grew
thoughtful.
Gentlemen, thank you" protested
Lrfeyer. raising one hand in depreca.
ton, the other resting lightly on his
holster. "We still have some little
reputation to maintain along the sinks.
Don't let us make 1t a posse for Sns-
soon.' No n opposed him further,
and he rode away alone.
ut won't be any trouble for .Johu
to bring Sassoon H." murmured Scott.
who spoke with Il smile and in the low
tone and deliberate manner Of the In.
dian, IF he a find him."
Lefever rode down to the inn with.
out seeing a living thing anywhere
about II. When he dismounted in
front he thought he heard sounds with
In the barroom, but. pushing open the
door and looking clrcumspectly into
the room before entering, he was sur.
prised to find 1t empty. He noticed,
however. that the sash of the low win.
dow on his left, which looked into the
patio, was open, and two heelmarks In
the hard clay suggested that a man
might have jumped through. Running
out OF the front door. he sprang Into
his saddle and rode to where he could
signal De Spain and Scott to come up,
He told his story as they Joined
him, and the three returned to the Inn.
A better tracker than either Of his
companions, Scott after a minute con.
firmed their belief that Sassnon m,,ef