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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1906)
0 SUNDAY MA V ., . . ' MUICNING ASTOuIAN. ASTORIA. OREGON. Q 51. JlBk MMMft MMMHH I aU.......! - Mlll-I. .4. . . . I . . , .... f JDiuy.-s Tender f o o t Jj' COPYRIGHT br I. I. M.CLURE CO. L 5 C-V-iW ll'HlNO one spring of the early seventies Hilly Knapp ran a species of road house or hotel ut the crossing of the Dead- wood ami Big Horn trail through Cus ter valley. Traveler changing from one rout to tli other frequently top ped there overnight. He sold accom modations for man and beast, compris ing plenty of whisky and plttuty of bay. That waa the (mat auy one could aay of It. The hotel waa of logs, two ato ned, with partitions of sheeting to In ure a certain privacy of eight If not of aound; hud three beds and number of hniika and boasted of a woman cook, aoe of the first lu the hills. Hilly did Hot run It long, lie waa too restless. .The personnel of the establishment cotulsted of Hilly and the woman al ready mentioned and an ancient Pistol ty tlMt name of Charley. The latter wore many firearms and had good deal to aay, but had never, aa Hilly ex ' presitf d It, "made good." This la the west could not hare been for luck of opportunity. Ills functions were those of generul factotum. One evening Hilly sat chair tilted against the logs of tin hotel, waiting for the stage, lly and by It drew lu. Charley hobbled out, carrying buckets of water for the horses. The driver flung the reins from him with the lord ly liwolemn of bis class, descended slowly mid swaggered to the barroom for bis drink. Hilly followed to servo It. "Luck!" said the driver and crooked his elltow. "Aiiythlug new!" queried Hilly. "Nope." "Held upr "Not." That exIiHUxted the sltuatton. The two men puffed silently for a moment t their pipes. In an Instant the driv er turned to go, "I gut you a tenderfoot," bo remark ed casually. "1 reckon he's outside.'' "(luess I ambles forth and sees what fer a tenderfoot it Is," replied Hilly, j hastening from behind the bar. The tenderfoot was seated on a small trunk Jmit outside the door. As be held j hla hut In Ma tin.t.U Ullto ,.n.il,l 1,1 top . in 11 I f v vi tt u p hi domelike naii! head, iteneatn ttie dome was a little pink end white fsce, and below that were narrow, sloping shoul ders, a flat client and bandy legs. He wore a light check suit and a flaunet ehlrt whose collar was much too large for him. Hilly took thin all In while paselng. As the driver climbed to the seat the hotel keeper commented. "8sy, Hen." said he. "would you stuff It or put It under s glims cnne?" "I'd servo It a liiy TimIoo" replied the driver briefly, mid he brotiKht his long IshIi ft Nhnped arros" the four star tled backs of hlx borne. Billy turned to n relnspectlon of bis guest nml met n deprecating smite. "Can I get a shakedown here for to night?" he Inquired In a high, piping voice. "You kin." replied Hilly shortly and begun to howl for Charley, That patriarch appeared around the corner, as did likewise the cook, a The tenderfoot. , black eyed, red checked creature, after ward counted by Billy aa one of his eight matrimonial ventures. "Snake this stranger's war bag Into th' shack," commanded Billy. "Aud, Nell, Jest nnt'rally rustle a few grub." The strunger picked up a small band atchel and followed Charley Into the ' balldlng. When, a little later, he reap peared for supper he carried the band bag with him and placed It under the bench which flanked the table. After ward bo deposited It next bis hand .while enjoying a pipe outside. Nat urally all this did not escape Billy. "Stranger," said he, "yo' seems mighty wedded to that thar satchel." "Yes, sir," piped the stranger. Billy snorted at the title. "I has some per sonal belongings which Is valuable to me." lie opened the bog and produced a cheap portrait of a rather cheap look ing woman. "My mother that was," said ho. Billy snorted again and went Inside. Ho bated sentiment of all kinds. The two men sat opposite each other and ate supper, which was served by the red checked girl. The stranger kept his By STEWART EDWARD WHITE eye on bis plate while ah waa In the room. He perched on the edge of the nencn witn bis feet tucked under him ana resting on their toes. When she approached, the muscles of hi shoul ders and upper arms grew rigid with embarrassment, causing strange, awk ward movements of the banda. He an swered lo monosyllables. ( Billy ate expansively and earnestly. Toward the close of the meal Charley lipped Into place beside him. Charley waa out of humor and found the meat cold, . " yore soul, Nell," he cried, this yere ain't fltten fer a hog to eat."' The girl did not mind, nor did Hilly, It waa the country' mode of speech. The stranger dropped bl knife. "I don't wonder yo don't Ilk It, thenr auld be with a funny little flare or anger. "Meanln wbatr shouted Charley threateningly. "Tou ahore mustn't epeak to a lady that way," replied the stranger firmly, In bis little piping voice. Hilly caught the point and exploded In a mighty guffaw. "Hully fer you!" be cried, alapplng bis knee. "Btruck pyrits"-be pro nounced It "pie rights" "fer shore that trip, Charley." The girl, too. laughed, but quietly. Rue was a little touched, though Just this winter she bad left Bismarck be cause Uie place would have no more of her. In the face of Hllly's approval the old man fell silent About midnight the four Inmates of the frontier hotel were awakened by a tremendous racket outside. The stran ger arose, fully clothed, from hla bunk and peered through the narrow open window, A dozen horses were stand ing grouped In charge of a slnglo mounted man, ludlstlngutehable In the dark. Out of the open door a broad band of light streamed from the saloon, whence came the noise of voice and of boots tramping about. "It Is IllHrk Hank," said Billy, at bis elbow, -Hln.k Hank and his outfit. He bltcbe to this yere snubbln post occasional Black Hank In the bills would have translated to Jese James farther outh, The stranger turned suddenly ener getic. "Don't you make no fight?" be nuked. "Fight T' sold Hilly, wondering. "Fight! Co'ne not. Hunk ain't plun derln' me none. He Jent ambles along and helps himself, und leaves the dust fer It every shot I Jest lay low bud lets lilm operate. I never has no deal In's with him, understand. He Jest nat'rally waltzes lu and plants his grub books on what he needs. I doesn't know HllVtlllllff nhnnf It I'm ,lna, asleep." I '" Ho lieatowed a shadowy wink upon ! "T,1Pro ou are-" 8,18 whtopertd, the stranger ! showing him tho open window. Below, the outlawa moved here and ! "Tlmnk J'ou" he 8tmBiered painful tl,ere j ly. "I assure you I wish" Billy!" shouted n commanding voice. Ti6 lrl ,auhcd UIlder her bath "Billy Kuapp'" "Tbut'a all right," she said heartily. Tho hotel keeper looked perplexed. "l owe ou for ?a,Un old whlsk "Now whafa he tollln' me fer?" he off his bronc," and she kissed him. asked of the man by his side. "Billy," shouted the voico again, i "come down here, you alwash. I want to palaver with you." "All right. Hank," replied Billy. Ho went to his "room" and buckled on a heavy belt, then descended the steep stain. Tho barroom waa lighted and filled . with men, Some of them were eating j and drinking; others were strapplug ' nrAvtfllnnll Infn tinHahl, fnl-til i rnL,ufr ! tho corner of the bar a tall figure of s. I man lea nod, smoking a man lithe, ac tive and muscular, with a keen, dark face and black eyebrows which met , over his nose. Billy walked directly 10 tins man. "What I It?" be Inquired ahortly. "Thla yere ain't In th' agreement." , "I know that," replied tho stranger. Then leave yore dust and vamoose." "My dust Is there," said Black Hank. placing his band on a buckskin bag at his side, "und you're paid, Billy Knapp. her Lnnds and Pacing her head be I want to ask you a question. Stand-1 tween her bnM ttrma- "Women In the Ing Rock has sent $00,000 to Buck Tall, i e8t. a ,east women like Nell, do not Tho messenger went through here to-1 day. Have you seen him?" "Narry messenger," replied Billy In relief. "Stage goes empty." Charley had crept down the stairs and Into the room. "What u blazes you doln' yere, you ranlkaboo IJIt?" asked Billy trucu lently. "That thar stage ain't what you calls empty," observed Charley, unmoved. A light broke on Billy's mind. He re membered the vallso which the strau ger had so carefully guarded, aud, though his common sense told him that bn Inoffensive noncombatant, such as his guest, would hardly be chosen as express messenger, still the bare possi bility remulned. "Yo're right," he assented carelessly; "thar Is one tenderfoot who knows as much of rldln' express as a pig does of war." "I notice he's almighty particular 'bout that thar carpetbag of hls'n," Insisted Charley. The man against tho counter had lost nothing of the scene. Billy's denial, hla hesitation, his half truth, all looked suspicious to him. With one swift round sweep of the arm he hud Billy covered. Billy' arm abot over bli bead without the necessity of t com mand. The men ceased their occupations nd gathered about. Scenes of thli sort were too common to elicit com ment or arouse excitement. They knew1 perfectly the lalseea-fair rela tlona which obtained between the two westerners, "Now," said Black Hank angrily In a low tone, "I want to know why you tried that monkey game." Illlly, wary and unafraid, replied that be bad tried no game, that be bad for gotten the tenderfoot for a moment and that be did not bellove the latter would prove to bo the sought for ex press messenger. One of the men, at a signal from bl leader, relieved Billy' belt of consid erable weight. Then the latter wa permitted to alt on cracker box. Tw more mounted the little atalr. In a moment they returned to report that tbo upper story contained no human Mings, strange or otherwise, except the girl, but that there remained a mall truuk. Under further orders they dragged the trunk down Into the bar room, It waa broken open and found to contain clothe of the plainsman's out, materlul and state of wear, a neat ly folded Mexican saddle showing use and a rawhide quirt. Tenderfoot!" aald Black Hank con temptuously. The outlaws had already scattered outside to look for the trail. In this they were unsuccessful, reporting In deed that not the faintest sign Indicat ed escape In any direction. Billy knew bla man, The tightening of Black Hank'a close knit brow meant but one thing. One does not gain chieftainship of any kind In the west without propping ascendency with acts of millions decision. Billy leaped from his cracker box with the sudden ness of the puma, seized Black Hank firmly about the waist, whirled him Into a sort of shield and began an ear nest struggle for the Inwtant possession of the outlaw's drawn revolver. It wa gallant attempt, but unsuccessful. In a moment Hilly was pinioned to the floor snd Ulack Hank was rubbing bis abraded forearm. After that the only question was whether It should be rope or bullet. Now, when Hilly bad gone down atalrs the strunger had wasted no more time at the window. He had In his possession $."iO,Ot)U lu greenbacks which be was to deliver as soou as possible to the Buck Tall agency In Wyoming, The necessary change of stage lines bad forced him to stay overnight at Billy Knnpp's hotel. The messenger seized bis bsg and softly ran along through the canvas partitioned rooms wherein Billy alept to a narrow window which be had al ready noticed gave out almost directly Into the pine woods. Tbo window was of oiled paper, and Its catch baffled btm. He knew It should slid back, but it refused to slide for him. He did not dare to break the paper be cause of the crackling noise. A voice at bis shoulder startled blm. "I'll show you," whispered the red cheek ed girl. She was wrapped loosely In a blan ket, her hnlr falling about her shonlder and her bare feet showing beneath her coverings. The little man suffered at once an agony of embarrassment In which the thought of hla errand wa lost. It was recalled to him by the j.uo messenger, iremouiig wiia sen consciousness, climbed hastily through tho window, ran the broad loop of the satchel up his arm and, Instead of dropping to the ground, as the girl bad expected, swung himself lightly Into the branches of a rather large scrub oak that grew near. Bhe listened to the rustle of the leaves for a moment a he nea red the trunk and then, un able longer to restrain her curiosity In regard to the dolnga below, turned to , , As she did so two men mounted. They examined the rooms of the upper story hastily, but carefully, paying scant attention to her, and departed aweurlng. In a few moment they re turned for tho stranger's trunk. Nell followed as far as the stairway. There she heard and saw things, and fled In bitter dismay to the back of the house, when Billy Kuapp waa overpowered. At the window she knelt, clasping wecP - But sne came near Suddenly she raised her head. A voice next ber 1 ear had addressed her. j She looked here and there and around, but could discover nothing, j "Here, outside," came the low, guard ! ed voice. "In the tree." I Then she saw that the little stranger bad not stirred from his first sighting place. ! "Beg your pardon, ma'am, for star j tling you or for addressing you at all, j which I shouldn't, but" I "Oh. never mind that!" cried tho girl ; Impatiently, shaking hack her hair. So ! deprecating and timid were the tones ! that, almost without an effort of the ' M - fu.l .1.- . ...II ..1.1. . .1... t,..,.. lmaginuuun, nuv couiu pieiure uie wi;c man's blushes and his half uliUlii'! method of delivery. At this nupi-en: moment his littleness and lad; ;f ! assertion jarred on her mn;d. "Wli you doln' there?. Thin:;M y-.ni'd vc moosed." "It was safest here," e;:ph!!i ;! t!:i stranger. "I left no trail." She nodded comprehension of t!: common sense of this. "But, ma'am, I took the liberty ot speakln' to you because you seems to be In trouble. Of course I ain't got no right to ask, an' If you don't car to tell me" Tliey'r goln' to kill Billy 1" brok Nell with a sob, "What Tor?" "I don't Jest rightly make out. They're after somo one, and they think Billy's caeheJu' blm. I reckon it's you. Billy ain't cacbelu' nothlu', but they thinks ho Is, "If me they' after all right enough, Now you know where I am, why don't you tell them on' save Billy?" Tho girl started, but her keen west eru mind saw the dliilculty at once, "They thinks Billy pcrtats you Jcsl the same." - "Do you love him?" axled the stran ger, "(Jod knows I'm purty toush," con fessed Nell, sobbing, "but I Jent d" that!" Ami she dropped ber head Knln. The luvlxlble stranger lu the gloom full silent, considering. "I'm a purty rank proitosltiou my self," snld he (it last us If to himself, "and 1 got u Job on hand which snitie I oughta put through without givln' at tention on anything elite. As usual play, folks don't care for me, mid I don't care much for folks, women es pecial. They drives me plumb tired reckon 1 don't stack up very high on the blue chips when It comes to cash In' lu with that sex auyhow, but In general they gives me as much notice aa they lavishes ou a doodle bug. I ain't carln', you understand, nary bit, but onct In a dog's age I kind of bankers for a decent look from one of them. I ain't never hod no women folk of my own never. Sometime I think It would be some scrumptious to know a little gal's wait In' for me omewheres. They ain't none. They never will be. I ain't built that way. You treated me white tonight. You're the first woman that ever kissed me of her own accord." The girl beard a faint scramble, then the soft put of some one landing on bi feet. Peering from the window, she made out a faint shadowy form stealing around the corner of the ho tel. She put her hand to ber heart and listened. Her understanding of the stranger's motives was vague, but she had caught bis confession that ber kiss bad meant much to blm and even In ber anxiety she felt an Inclination to laugh. She bad bestowed that caress as she would have kissed the cold end of a dog's nose. The nieu below stairs, after some discussion, had decided on bullet This wa out of consideration for Billy's tandlng as a frontiersman. Besides, be bad stolen no horses. In order not to delay matters the execution was fixed for tho present time and place. Billy stood with his back to the logs of bis own botel, bla bands and feet bound, but bis eyes uncovered. Ho had never lost bl nerve. In the short res pite which preparation demanded he told bl opponents what be thought of them. "Proud?" be concluded a long solilo quy as If to the reflector of the lamp. "Proud?" ho repeated meditatively. "This yere Hank' Jest that proud be' all awelled up like a poisoned pup. Ain't every one kin corral a man and git loO.OOO without turnin' a hair." Black Hank distributed three men to do the business. There were no hero ics. The execution of this man was necessary to blm, not because be was particularly angry over the escape of the messenger he expected to capture that Individual in due time but in or der to preserve his authority over his men. He was In the act of moving back to give the shooters room wheu he heard tho door open and shut He turned. Before the door stood a small, consumptive looking man in light check suit The tenderfoot car ried two short barreled Colt' revolv ers, one of which he presented direct ly at Black Hank. " 'Nds up!" he commanded sharply. Hank was directly covered, so be obeyed. The newcomer's eye had i strangely restless quality. Of the otb er dozen Inmate of the room eleven were firmly convinced that the weapon and eye not directed at their leader were personally concerned with them selves. The twelfth thought be saw bis chance. To the bewildered onlook er mere seemed to be a flash and a bang instantaneous. Then things were as before. One of the stranger'a weap ons still pointed at Black Hank's breast; the second at each one of the others. Only the twelfth man, he who bad seen his chance, had collapsed for ward to the floor. No one could assure himself positively that he had dis cerned the slightest motion on the part of the stranger. "Now," said the latter sharply, "one at a time, gentlemen. Drop your gun!" This last to Black Hank. "Muzzle down. Drop It! Correct" Oue of the men in the back of tho room stirred slightly on the ball of his foot "Steady there!" said the stranger. The man stiffened. "Next gent" went on the little man, subtly Indicating another. The latter obeyed without hesitation. "Next! Now you. Now you In the corner." One after another the pistols clashed to the floor. Not for an Instant could a single inmate of the apartment, armed or unarmed, flatter himself that bis slightest motion was overlooked. They were like tigers on the crouch, ready to spring the moment the man's guard lowered. It did not lower. The bud died figure on the floor reminded them of what might happen. They obeyed. "Step back!" commanded the stran ger next. In a moment he had them standing In a row against the wall, rigid, upright, their bands over their heads. Then for the first time the stranger moved from his position by the door. "Call her," be said to Bllly-'the girl." Billy raised bis voice. "Nell! Oh, Nell!" i la moment she appeared In th 4oorway at the foot of the stain with out hesitation or fear. She bad slipped on a dress. When she perceived th state of affairs, she brightened almost mischievously, "Would you Just a soon, ma'am, If It ain't troublln' you too much, Jost sort of naturally mi tie Billy?" request ed th stranger. ; She did so. The botel keeper stretch ed his arms. "Now pick up tbern guns, please." The two set about It "Where' that Infernal old repro bate?" bowled Billy suddenly, looking bout for Charley, The patriarch bad quietly slipped way. "You m drop tbem arms," advised the stranger, lowering the muzzles of bis weapon. The leader started to ay something. "You shut up!" said Billy, selecting bis own revolvers from the heap. The stranger suddenly picked up one of the Colt's single action revolvers which lay on the floor and, holding the trigger back against the guard, ex ploded the six charges by hitting the hammer smartly wltb the palm of hi hand. In the thrusting motion of this discbarge be evidently bad design, for the first six wineglasses on Billy's bst were shivered. It was wonderful work, rattling Are, quicker than a self cock or even. He selected another weapon. From a pile of tomato can be took one vv-- J " 'A'di up!" he commanded tharply. and tossed it Into the air. Before It bad fallen be had perforated It twice, and as It rolled along tho floor be help- ed Its progression by four more bullet whlrh left streams of tomato .1nle ALL DONE WITH MULETEflM Lace Curtains, Table Linen, Marble Mantels, Mir rors, Shelves, Statuary, Lamps and Chimneys, Picture Frames and Glasses, Enameled Bath Tubs and Tile Work, Oil-cloth, Floors in fact Everything in the House hold can be made thoroughly and hygienically Clean. For sale by all druggists and grocers. Ask for and insist on 20-Mule-Tesm Borax. If your dealer hasn't it don't buy bulk borax, which is often adulterated. Write to us, tell us his name, enclosing 5c, and we will mail yon package and include our illustrated booklet, Address, Pacific Coast Borax Co., San Francisco. CaL Present Address Pacific Coast Borax C o., Bacon Bldg., Oakland, Calif. J-Q. A. BOWLBY, President. PETERSON, Vice-President. 0. I. Astoria Savings Bank Capital Paid In $100,000. Surplus and Transact a General Banking Business, 168 Tenth Street, First National Bank of Astoria, Ore, ESTABLISHED 18S6. Capital where Chey Isd bit "Tho room vu fall of amok. Tbo group watched, fascinated. Then the men against tho wall grew rigid. Out of th film of smoke long, vivid streams flashed toward tbem, right and left Ilk the alternating team of a locomotive's pistons. Smash, smash, smash, smash, bit tho ballet wltb regular thud. With tbo twelfth discharge th din ceased. Midway be tween tho beads of each pair of men gainst th wall wa a round hole. No a wa touched. A Hence fell. The smok lightened and blew slowly through tho window and open door. Th horses, long dnco deserted by their guardian In favor of tbo excitement within, wblnnled. The stranger dropped the smoking Colts and qnletly reproduced bis own short bar reled arms from bis side pockets. Billy broke the spell at last. "That's shootlnT' be observed, with sigh. "The fifty thousand Is outside," said the stranger. "Do yon want 'vmV There wa no reply. "I aim to pull out on one of these here bronc of your," said be. "Billy, he's all right He doesn't know nothln' about me." Ho collected tho six shooters from the floor. '1 Just takes these with mo for a pell," be remarked. "Yon finds them. If you looks bard enough, along on th trail likewise your bronc." He backed toward the door. "I'm layln' for th man that stick bl bead outen that door," bo warned. "Stranger," called Black Hank as ho seared the door. The little man paused. "Might I ask your name?" "Mr name is Alfred." resiled tho I laff Black Hank looked chagrined. "I've beard tell of you," be remarked. The stranger's eye ran over tho room . and encountered that of th gu-L Ho shrank into himself and blushed. "Good night" be said hastily and lis- ' appeared. A moment later the beat of boofs became audible aa be led th bunch of horses away. For an Instant no on spoke. Then Billy exclaimed, "Hank, I means to stand pat with you, but yon let that . kid alone or I plugs you!" Billy was the only man armed. "Kid, huh!" grunted Hank. "Alfred a kid! I've beard tell of him." ' i "What have you beard?" inquired tho girl. "He's the plumb best scoot on the i southern trail and tho best pistol shot In the west" replied Black Hank, j Tbo year following Billy Knapp, AI- "ed and another man named Jim Buckley took across the hills tho only wagon tram that dared set out that summer. YOUR .w7Sf-iwfra' ...... - (HANK PATTON, Cashier. J. W. GARNER, Assistant Cashier. Undivided Profit 155,000. Interest Paid on Time Deposits ASTORIA, OREQJN. $100,000 i