Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1917 — Missouri Kid [ARTICLE]

Missouri Kid

A Mystery of a Prospector and His Partner

By ADA TRUAX

One morning a young man, wholook-—ed-to-be about eightoon yoara old. ap peared in Flynn canyon, where gold had recently been discovered and into which numbers of people were docking hunting for paying properties. He was an attractive looking young' fellow, with a pair of dark eyes, round cheeks—there was rather too much red in them for a man—and an excellent figure. The latter was shown to advantage by a pair of loose trousers tucked in his boots, a woolen shirt and a conical shaped felt hat. At bis neck a silk handkerchief, loosely tied, displayed a handsome throat Altogether the youth was attractive to look upon. He gave no name, but said be was from Missouri. Therefore he was bound to be called Missouri Bob or Missouri Pete or some such name. But in his case the custom was slightly changed by his receiving the appellation of Missouri Kid. This was because he was so young looking. Missouri Kid seemed to be rather hunting for a person than for gold. He was very guarded in his questions, asking in a general way if any one had seen a man named this or a man named that, so that uo oiie could tell •which of the individuals lie was interested in. While making his inquiries he worked his w T ay up to Castle Rock, where several holes in the ground bad turned out fortunes. Ong Jack Hughes had located a claim in this region and was digging away with the hope that a vein of rich ore thatj. had been discovered near by miglit extend through his property. Hughes was a powerful man, of whom everybody was afraid. Several persons who believed that he might by sufficient digging strike the vein he was looking for offered to grubstake him. But Hughes, though he was much down at the heel and had little or nothing to eat, gruffly declined their offers and finally, when troubled with a surfeit of them, swore he would shoot the next man who dared to make him an offer of assistance.

The next man came along the following day. Several persons were standing about Hughes’ hole, watching him throw out the dirt, when he heard a voice: “I say, yo’ down there, don’t yo r want a pard?” Hughes looked up angrily to see Missouri Kid gazing down on him as tranquilly as a May morning. The miner's knit brows relaxed, his firm set javrs Loosened, and fie stood with a hand on his shovel regarding the youngster with feelings that were evident, but the cause of which was unexplained. He made tH> reply, The Kid jumped down into the hole, took up a pick and asked; “Where y’ workin’?” “There,*’ said Hughes ,rhildly, pointing to a place where the earth was hard. The Kid went to work with the pick, and Hughes resumed his shoveling. The bystanders stood looking on for awhile, then went away shouting through the camp. “B’gosb, Jack Hughes has tuck in a pard!” “Who’s the man?” “Missouri Kid.” “By jimmy! What’d the Kid offer?” “Nuthin’. Jist asked Jack if he wanted a pard and jumped down and went to work.” The news spread, and before long a crowd surrounded Hughes’ hole, watching the big fellow and the beardless boy at work together, a sight that reminded them of a mastiff playing amicably with a puppy. Most of the men at Castle Rock went into the Alhambrla saloon that evening expecting to see Jack Hughes and receive an explanation. But Hughes avoided any interviews that might be in store for him by keeping away. The miners were obliged to content themselves by swapping theories as to why Jack had succumbed so readily to this youngster when he had sworn vengeance upon the next man who dared make him an offer. All were of the opinion that the two had met before, but under what circumstances no one could give a satisfactory explanation. One man suggested that the Kid had a secret which, if revealed, would send Jack Hughes to prison or to the gallows. Another believed that the Kid was a detective and had come out to put the officers ‘of the law on to Hughes, but Hughes had bribed him with an interest in his mine. The latter theory seemed more reasonable than the first because it accounted for the sleuth working in the mine. But all agreed on one point—that the boy was foolishly putting his head, to speak figuratively, ipto the lion’s mouth. AH feared that tfipy would wake up some morping and find the Kid dead. That, considering what they deemed the cause of Hughes’ submission, was hie only way to get rid of the sleuth anil keep his mine to himself. Hughes and the Kid worked on peacefully together, occupying the same cabin. No one dared to ask Hughes for an explanation, and, as to the Kid, be kept aloof from them. Now and again he would disappear, but never for long. He did not tell wher# he had bees, though be made no secret of the matter and was seen by various persons in different localities. Then one day Hughes took a turn at disappearing.

But ibis was followed by an important event. An officer of the law came looking for a man whose description tallied exactly with Hughes. Hefoond his way to the mine where Missouri Kid was at work. The Kid looked op, and the officer looked down, somewhat surprised. “We've met before,” said Missouri “Yes, we have. I’m looking for a than named Hughes.” “He was called away suddenly last night.” > \

“Where has he gone?” > “Don't know.” - The officer turned away, disgusted He told several persons that he had met Missouri Kid in the canyon below the day before, and by his inquiries the Kid bad discovered his mission and doubtless warned Hughes, “What do you want him for?” the officer vras asked. “That's my business,” be replied. The Kid was invited to give information on the same subject; but he was not communicative.

This made more of a mystery of the matter than before, and the miners of Castle Rock found endless occupation when not at work wondering what sort of crime Hughes had committed and what part in it Missouri Kid had taken. But for a time there were no further developments, and gradually the excitement gave place to otheV incidents of mining camp life, such as the expulsion of the gamblers, the shooting of a man who had struck paying dirt and other various happenings. But Hughes did not return, and Missouri Kid stopped working in the mine. What kept him there no one knew. Months passed and there was no chauge in the situation. Missouri Kid seemed to he waiting for something. He kept a sharp guard over the mine, aud, if any one showed a disposition to pry. the boy ordered him off, at the same time putting his hand on the revolver at his hip. This was quite enough, though it began to be whispered about the camp that paying di» t had been struck in the Hughes hole. But what the Kid was doing there alone while his partner was dodging the police no one could surmise. And the Kid did not enlighten them. He simply stayed around the mine or in his cabin, reading when he could get anything to read and amusing himself as best he could. ;

One day Hughes suddenly returned. He seemed to have experienced a change. He was well dressed and brought two trunks with him A companion accompanied him. a gentleman with a professional look about him. What he had come for was not divulged, but it was evident that it was something connected with the mine. He spent a gbod deal of time down under the surface and was continually bringing up specimens of the ore. It was said that he had assay materials, but he was not observed using them. Although Jack Hughes did not bear himself as a criminal, an officer of the law had been hunting him. and he was considered a criminal—not that this changed very much his status in the community, for quite a number of the miners bad been in jail, and no one knew how many of them if they had been in a cirilized community would have beeii tried for homicide. Indeed, if the officer should return a number of persons would, give Hughes warning. But Hughes did not appear to have any fear of his returning. One evening a light was observed burning brightly in Jack Hughes' cabin, and as the weather was warm and the door was wide open Hughes, Missouri Kid and the stranger were seen busy over papers. A notary public had been eaifed in, and he was seen working his seal stamp. Hughes and Missouri Kid were seen to sign papers, besides taking off their hats and holding up their right bands in an Atitude of taking sin oath. When it was all finished the stranger stuffed the papers in his gripsack, and that was the last seen of him at Castle Rock.

But the great surprise came the next morning. A woman was seen in Jack Hughes’ hut. More than that, one who had got close enough for a good view of her reported that she was Missouri Kid in woman's clothes. This started the curious toward Hughes’ hut to see for themselves. Hughes saw them coming and. taking the woman by the band, led her forward to meet them. “It's Missouri Kid, shore!" cried one. “Mebbe it s his sister.” cried another • “I alius thought the Kid was more of a gal than a man,” cried a third. When the. couple reached the party Hughes, turning to the lady, said: “Fellow citizens, this is my wife.” After cries, shouts and all manner of expression of satisfaction Hughes resumed:

“I owe you an explanation. Some time ago I became involved financially, and my creditors proceeded against me criminally. Bankrupt, prison staring me in the face, I fled hoping to find a fortune here. One day, as you know. Missouri Kid, or my wife, joined me. She worked with me, but was principally useful in warning me of the approach of officers of the law. When one of them came she had warned me, but by that time we had struck a bonanza. I went east, arranged with my creditors to give them an interest in the mine in lieu of my debt, and they sent a mining engineer with me to "report. His report is satisfactory, and I am not only out of the toils of the law, but rich. • Had it not been for the services of my dear wife I should instead be now in jail.” The mine that was developed was named the Missouri Kid. It turned out to be a bonanza and made its owners rich. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were enabled by their wealth to do a great deal for the community where their property was located, and under their munificence and patronage the camp became a very different piece from what it bad been before.