The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-23
A Chaparral
Christmas
Gift

IVlft
Copyright. 1870. Nv The wheeler
Syndicate. Incl
The original cause of the trouble
was about twenty years In growing
Had YOU lived anywhere within
fifty miles OF shutdown Ranch you
would have heard OF H. II possessed
quantity Of jet-black hair. pair
OF extremely frank. deep brown eyes
and a laugh that rippled across tho
prairie like the sound OF "A hidden
brook. The name OF II was Roaita
MeAiuilen. and she was tho daughter
Of old man McMullcn. Of the sun
down sheep Ranch.
There came riding on red roam
stceds--or TO be morc explicit. on "a
paint and flea.bitten aorrcl--two
wooeru one was Madison Lane. and
the other was tho FRO Kid. hut at
that time they did not cali him the
t'rio KID. for he had not earned the
honoru of special nomenclature. lila
name was simply Johnny MeRoy.
II mast not be supposed that these
two were the sum OF tho agreeable
Rositas admirers. The bronchos OF
dozen others champcd their bits AT
the long hltching rack OF tho sun.
down Ranch. Many WIRE the
shecra' eyes that were east In those
savannas that did not belong 10 the
fiocks Of Dan McMullcn. But OF all
the cavaliers. Madison Ian. and
Johnny McRoy gaiiepcd far ahead.
wherefore they are 10 be chroniclod.
Madison I.ano. young catfleman
from tho Nucccs country. won the
race. lie and Rosita were married
one Christmas day. Armed. hllar'
ious. vociferour. plaxnanimous. thu
cowm-n and tho Shncpmen. laying
aside their hereditary hatred. Joined
forces TO celebrate the occasion.
SHUTDOWN Ranch was sonorous with
the cracking OF Jokes and six
shooters. tho shine OF buckles and
bright eyes. the outspokcn eongrat'
ulatlons OF the herdcrs Of kline.
But whiic the wedding fcast was
at It's iivcllcst there d~.ccndcd upon
il Johnny McRoy. bitten by jealousy.
like one po@a-ssed.
I'm give you Christmas prrnent."
he yelled. shrilly. ut tho door. with
his As In hla hand. Even then he
had some reputation AZ an osfhAnd
shot
Ills first bullet cut = neat under
bit In Madison Lanes right ear. The
barrel Of his sun moved an inch.
Tho next shot would have been tho
brides had not Carson. shcepfnan.
posscssed a mind with triggers some.
wha, well oiled and In repair. The
guns OF the wedding party had been
hung, In their belts. upon nails IN
tho wall when they sat at table, AZ
a concession 10 good taste. But Car.
son. with great pronptncrs. hurried
his plate Of roast vcnison and frijolcu
At Mcisoy. spelling his aim The SOC
ond bullet then. only shattered the
Whit petals Of . Spanish dagger
flower ss1spcodsd twe Tea Abovc
Rosita's head
The guosfs spurncd sheer chAiyr
and Jumped for their weapons II
was considered an improper an 20
shoot tho bride and groom at . wed.
ding In about six seconds there
were twenty or 70 bullets duo to be
whtxzing In tho direction Of Mr.. Nc
Roy.
I'm shoot better next TINA yelled
Johnny: and thcrc1i be . next
time He backed rapidly out the
door.
CAryon. tho rhcepman. spurr~d on
to attempt further exploits by tho
success Of his pinte-throwing. WAS
first to reach the door. McRoy's bul
let from the darkness laid him low.
The cattiemen then swept out upon
him. calling for vengeance. for. while
the slaughter Of q shscpman has not
always lacked oondonement. It war a
decided misdcmeanor In this In.
stance. Carson was Innocent: he
was no accompllce at the matri.
monisl proceedings: nor had any one
heard him quote the line Christmas
comes but once year" to the quests.
But the sortie failed In its ven.
geancc. Mercy was on his horse
and away. shouting back curses and
threats as he gzlioped into the con.
cealing chaparrai.
That night was the blrthnight OF
tho FRO KID. He became the Dad
man Of that portion Of the state.
Tho rejection Of his suit by Miss Nc
Mullen turned him to a dangerous
man. When officers went after him
for the shooting OF Carson. he killed
f.xf NJ thar. arA x,s.~.a ,..~<r Al.
iifOof an outlaw. He became a mar.
veious shot with either hand Hs
would turn up in towns and settle.
ments. raise a quarrel at the slight
est opportunity. pick OFF hts man and
laugh at the officers OF the law. He
was no cool. 20 deadly, 40 rapid. 30
inhumanly bioodthirsty that none but
faint attempts were ever made 10
capture him. When he was az last
shot and killed by a little one.armcd
Mexican who was nearly dead him. |
the deaths OF Is men on his head. |
About half Of these were killed In |
fair duels depending upon the quick.
ness OF the draw. The other half |
were men whom he assasxsi mated |
from absolute wanto ness and |
cruelty.
Many tales arc told along the Dor |
der OF his impudcnt courage and dar.
ing. But he was not one OF the breed
of dcspcradoes who have seasons Of
generosity and even Of softneas. They |
say he never had mercy on the object |
of his anger. Yet at this and every
Christmastide II is well 10 give each |
one credit. N II can be done, for
whatever speck OF good be may have
possessed. II the FRO Kid ever did
a kindly act or felt n tbrob OF gen.
erosity In his heart IL was once at
such time and season, and this II |