Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1893 — HOW HE SETTLED WITH GRINGO. [ARTICLE]

HOW HE SETTLED WITH GRINGO.

BY BELLE HUNT.

“Back in the seventies,” said a Texas merchant who was “on East” buying goods, “when I was adjuster for a big mercantile house of Galveston, I was sent to investigate a creditor of theirs out in the southwestern part of the State, my instructions being to collect the claim or run an attachment on the concern. “At the end of a thirty hours’ run on the train, I found myseif in , the • nearest railroad station to P , the town of my delinquent customer, which, upon inquiry. 1 found to be seventeen miles west, on the Mexican border. “In my prowlings about ——, whom should I run across hut my old friend, Bill Scott, captain of the Texas Rangers, who asked me what I was doing out there. I frankly stated my business, aD(I asked if he knew the man I was going to settle with. “ ‘Know Gringo Perez?’ Scott repeated. -Well, I reckon I do that is "by reputation.” He's a regular tire-eater! Why, man sdive, Gringo Perez has tine-hairs like you on toast for breakfast. He is a Greaser, you know, whom his feilowcitirens nicknamed “Gringo"—their term of contempt for an American—because ! he gave up sheep-shearing and horsestealing and took to the slower but surer business of merchandise. He's a holy terror—adds a notch to his pistol-butt every six months and two duiing election! Pay? Why, he don't pav for anything, and as for your attachment, you'd as well try to serve attachment papers on the devil for back bills on brimstope!’

*' 'Say. Rice, I think I'd better ride over with you. We are making this headquarters while we make a roundup of this season's crop of horse thieves, road agents and fence-cutters iu this part of the country, and I can leave word for the boys to join me at P when they come in this evening. We might come in handy if you get into any trouble.’ “It is needless to say that I accepted Scott's offer with aviditv, though I gave him to understand that I had not undertaken to adjust that claim under the impression that I was going to a Sunday school picnic and would need to wear my biled shirt. “It was about noon when we set out for P , 1 riding one of Scott's ‘extras,’ a wiry, nimble-footed little broncho. I had taken the precautionary measure of getting out my attachment papers before we started—which I still hoped to use only as a last resort in bringing Mister Fire-Eater to terms. “It was close upon 4 o'clock in the afternoon when we rode into P , a typicalTexo-Mexicau border town. Most of the bouses were one-story adobes, straggling along either side of the main street, which was nothing more or less than the continuation of the wagon road from one settlement to another. There were bunches of chaparral here and there about the outskirts of the town, and a dense thicket of it lay about a mile away to the west. Five of the nine business houses had ‘saloon’ in big letters over the door, and calmly and peacefully confronted me, when we got off our horses, was the sign, ‘G. Perez, Dealer in Drygoods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Millinery, Boots, Shoes, potions, Groceries, Hide’s, Wool, Agricultural Implements, etc.,’ ■which covered the entire gable end of the unpainted, weather-boarded store. “Tied, to the racks on either side of the public well, were eight or ten ponies, their flanks weighed down by the big Mexican saddles, which varied their monotonous duration by biting and kicking at each other while’ their indifferent riders loafed on the steps and stoops of the stores, telling yarns, smoking cigarettes, playing poker and reading the county papers, which were handed out, regardless of address, by the obligingpostmaster. “We found Perez in. He scooped out, weighed and tied up a dollar’s worth of sugar for a slab-sided girl, while I introduced myself and stated my business. This professional duty finished and the lid put back carefully on the sugar barrel, he casually informed me that my house might go to , and that he’d pay when he got readv, and not before. “Naturally, this reception did not tend to increase my amiability, and I promptly turned on my heel and went out, intending to put my attachment papers i*i the hands of the deputysheriff aid instruct him to serve them at once.

“ftit the deputy turned pale at the mention of serving papers on Gringo Perez, kindly explaining to me that his present incumbency of office was the result of his ‘never, under no suckumstances, meddlin’ with other folkses' businesses.’ “Of course, I did not attempt to gainuay so obvious a statement, and was just taking a mental inventory of my ammunition, preliminary to a man-to-man settlement with Mister Gringo, when Scott overtook me at the door of the deputy’s office, and hearing the new turn given to my situation, said: “ *That’s all right. I’ll serve yow paper. The captain of the Rangers is virtually a sheriff anywhere in the State—at his own discretion, you knowl’ laughing and giving me the wink. “ George, old man!’ I exclaimed, grasping his hand,‘l am beginning to look upon you as a “providential intervention” in my favor bn this trip!’ and we on together over to Gringo’s

and before he knew what had happened, Scott was reading off the paper at the rate of sixty miles an hour. The man seemed stunned for a minute, then, suddenly collecting himself, lie whirled round, ran his hand in a drawer, and whipped out a revolver, but before he got a good grip on it, I knocked it out of his hand, straddled it on the floor,and covering him with my own said: ‘Come, come, Mister Fire-Eater, none of that! That isn’t what we want you to get out of that drawer. A little cash would make it easier for both of us.’ “Like all bullies, the fellow was a bluff and coward, lie saw we had him and he cooled down, standing sullenly by while Scott finished the paper, and then ransacked the miscellaneous stock on the counters and fouud some tacks and a hammer, with which he fastened the notice on the outside of the door. Then, rejoining me, Scott kicked the fallen pistol under one of the counters, and. getting behind Gringo, requested him to precede us out of the store. This done,he locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and we then bade our host a pleasant good evening, and then walked over to the racks to get our horses.

o l I don't think it would be a bad thing for our health to get out of here as soon as we can,’ Scott said. ‘The boys are mighty late getting in. They may be in a skirmish somewhere.’ “We watered our horses, mounted and rode down the main street. As we passed a little shanty close to the road Scott sniffled and said: ‘That smells like fried ham and eggs, don't it? Let’s stop and have a snack.’ “We alighted, hitched our horses behind the house in an angle made by a shed room which served as the kitchen, and, going inside, seated ourselves at one of the two oil-cloth covered tables, and gave our,order to an old man, who filled the joint and respective positions of proprietor, cook and waiter. “While w e were eating we were interrupted by the entrance of a girl, whom I recognized as the customer in at Gringo's when we first called on him. She had an old shawl over her head, between the close-held edges of which her small, intelligent, frightened face peered out strikingly. She could not have been more than 14 years old, yet her face had all of the shrewdness and strength of a woman’s. Darting past us she made a hasty survey of the kitchen, aud turning, asked: ‘Whar's Tobe?’

“ ‘Gone to the well,’ I said, thinking she meant our host, and, half rising and smiling, in spite of myself. I added, after the manner of the country town storekeeper, - Uan I do anything for you, miss?’ “She came close to the table, and, leaning on the back of Soott's chair, she said nervously: “ ‘You'ns better clar out, quick! Dad an’ the boys is on your trail. lie come home to supper aud raised cain. Me an’ maw's hide ’ll git it fur you'ns doin’s.’ “We understood in a Hash that she was warning us against Gringo. “‘Who are you, child'?’ Scott asked, turning and taking her hand, ‘why do you come to save us V “ ‘I ain’t kearin' so much about savin’ you'ns as gettin' him tuk up,’ she answered seriously. ‘ Still, I didn’t want him to git the drap on yer— that ain’t fair.’

“She watched the door furtively, and gathered up the ends of tlie sh’awl as though for night as she went on: ‘He’s my step-paw, an’ a meaner cuss never lived. Me and maw'd a lef’ him long ago, but he would kill us if he ever ketehed up with us. Tlie only way to do is to git him tuk up for some uv his deviltry, and put in the penitenshury, whar he can't git at us. But, honest, you fellers better vamoose. You ain’t got no time to fool. He’s gone arter tlie Cowles boys, and I heard him tell Dick Sims an’ them to jine 'em, back thar, back er the callyboose.’ She pointed to the rear of the house. -Some of ’em is goin’ to lay fur yer in front, and some uv ’em is goin’ to lay fur yer bellin’, an’ yer can’t git out ’n town no ways. You belter git amove on yer, honest!’ “She started to the door, then shrank back. ‘Thar's the Cowles boys, now!’ she exclaimed. 'Dad ain’t fur off. Es he secs me I'm a goner.’ “By this time Scott and I were on our feet, and the proprietor came in with his bucket of water. His manner led us to suppose—and hope—that there was nothing unusdal going on in the street. Setting the bucket on the shelf, he wiped liis hands on the tail of his coat, and taking a plug of tobacco out of his pants pocket, bit off a chew as he remarked, casually: ‘I reckon you fellers is been doin’ somethin’, an’ thar is goin’ to be some tighten’. I seen Gringo Perez and the Cowles boys an’ Dick Sims an’ er lot uv ’em, an’ they seemed to be surroundin’ the house. Fur us I .tin see, you’ns ain’t got no show. Y'ou mought jes’ as well thro’ up yer han’s an’ s’n-».der.’

“Well, ’as fur as I qould see, this was the statement of an unflattering fact. ‘Don’t bolt, Rice,’ Scott said quietly, his words accompanied by the rapidly revolving six clicks of bis pistol, ‘the boys will be in any minute—we’re all right!’" “ ‘Let’s get to our horses,’ I said, ‘and make a dash for the thicket.’ “ ‘Stay where you are!’ he answered, and his voice had the ring of the born commander. “ ‘Whet arc you going to do?’ I asked, nettled. “ ‘Whip the whole town!’ he replied, beginning to barricade the back door with barrels of sugar and flour. “Meanwhile the child stood there, the shawl dropped back from her head and shoulders, her little white face a study of disinterested curiosity and approbation. Her heavy-lidded black eyes glowed with excitement, and her thinarched nostrils contracted and distended like a restive pony’s. “‘I reckon you’ns is gwinc to ketch him?’she said complacently. Just here my attention was diverted lo Tobc, whose sir name of Hnrtsfield we had not yet learned. Going to a rack over the door between the two rooms, he took down an old army musket, and a raw hide belt containing powder and shot horns. Whipping out the ramrod he swiped it twice up and down the barrel, blowing down it afterward. Then, whirling around facing us, he slammed the gun down on the table and said: ‘Gentlemen, thar’s my weapons, and here’s me, at yer service. I don’t know what yer been up to, but I’m with yer! I’m glad uv an excuse to shake this settlement, ennybow. Thar ain’t enough excitement gwine on here fur me. I want to move fuder west whar folks is got some spunk! and I’d jest as lief declar’ my principles on you’nsez side as ennybody else’s!’ “Our formal acceptance of the arms of eur unexpected ally was prevented by the whiz of a ball past the window, and Scott’s springing to the door and calling out:

“ ‘Throw down your arms and surrender in the name of the law?’ “ ‘ Han’ us over that fine-hair, an’ we will,’ came Gringo’s voice. “ 4 What have you against him?’ asked Scott “ ‘He’s too blamed smart, an’ wean a

slakc-an’-ridered shirt!’ answered a voice from the rear of the mob, follow**! by a roar of laughter, which was suddenly changed to one of fury when it was discovered who Scott was. “‘That’s Bill Scott, the bell wether uv the Rangers !’ howled one, 4 le's capture him ! ’ “ ‘Yes, he’s strayed off too fur from the fold this time ! ’ yelled another; • le’s shear him I ” “ ‘ Him, an’ the fine-hair'll look purty riden’ uv the same rail, won’t they V joked another, and so the fun might have gone on until they forgot their blood-thirst, had not Gringo himself pushed to the front swinging his pistol around his head and yelling, ‘ stop yer foolin’, boys ! I’m here fur business. I’ve been insulted an' my rights as er citizen uv this State an’ county interfered with. All that is in favor uv pussonai rights, an’ hones’ deals, come on an’ help me whoop the stuffin’ out’n these smart Ellecks ! ’ “His harangue was welcomed by a murderous yell, and a click of what sounded like a hundred pistols and Winchesters.

“‘Stand your ground!’said Scott to me and Tobe. “ ‘All right, Cap!’ answered Tobe, as he rammed a wad of tobacco into his mouth and hitched his powder and shot horns around handy. The old man fairly danced from side to side of the half open door, as eager as a boy who has lighted the fqse of his first Fourth of July rocket. “ ‘Gimme lief, Cap; gimme lief!’ he chuckled, bracing his shoulder aguinst the gun. “ ‘Wait a minute; wait a minute!’ Scqtt said, putting one hand oh the old man’s shouldar aud cooping the other around his ear, leaning toward the north and listening intently. “ ‘That's the boys!'he said. ‘I hear tlieir horses’ feet.’ Then flinging the door wide open he called out ouce more: ‘Throw down your arms! I command you in the name of the State of Texas!” ‘Their answer was a volley of bullets which Scott returned by thrusting out his pistol ami aud emptying the six charnlers into their faces. This gave the signal to me and the old man, who kept the stream hot from the other side for the next eight minutes, till the Rangers came. But, I tell you, they were the longest eight minutes I ever counted. The old man was iu his glory. The way he jioured powder, wads, bullets and caps into Miss Betsey and fired them out, was equaled only by the way he ejected one quid of tobacco, aud bit off another. He took it as a matter of official interference that the Rangers should come up and take the tight out of our hands. He sent his last load at random through the air, aud, going to the bucket, stood leaning on Miss Betsy while he gulped down two successive dippers of water.

“ ‘Some fools is allers meddlin’,’ he said. ‘Them Rangers better be tendin’ to their business an’ let us ten’ to ourn! It ud a been the makin’ uv P to hcv Gringo Perez an’ his gaug laid out by three men an’ a gal!’ “This called our attention to the child, whom we had utterly forgotten. Looking around I found her sitting on one of the barrels against the back door, swinging her feet and calmly awaiting results. “ 1 Do you want to go home, sissie?’ I asked, standing beside her perch. She set her little teeth and shook her head. “‘No, I dasn't! Dad ud kill me for shore! He seen me in here an’ knows I giv him erway!’ “ ‘That’s all right, Chec!’ the old man said. Wou kin come an’ go out West with me, au’ be my gal!’ * “ ‘No, I can’t!’ answered she. ‘Thar ain’t no schools out thar, an’ I ought ter be edicated!’ “Our further family discussion was interrupted by the return of Scott, who informed us that Gringo and his ringleaders were lodged in the calaboose, and the rag-tag and bob-tail of the gang had taken to the brush. “Scott, and the group of citizens who accompanied him, concurred in support of Chec’s proposition, that she ought to be edicated, and a purse was made up then and there, providing for the child and her mother .out of reach of Griugo, when he should again be at large.”—* [New York Recorder.