Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine — page 113: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TEXAS ly the soap was sufficiently cooled, and the old man raised the bowl to his lips and took a great gulp. He choked, attempted frantically to ex- pel the soap from his mouth, but some of it had slipped down his throat. He gagged, and the stalwart youth looked on anxiously, ready to render any assistance that might be necessary. : He was quivering with fear and excite- ment. The old man was a pitiable object for a few moments, but Steve Rogers did not restrain his laughter; and, although Mary Ann succeeded in keeping her face straight, Polly guffawed loudly. The old Indian clung to the bowl throughout all his troubles, but when he was quiet he raised it above his head and then viciously dashed it to the ground, where it smashed into little bits. The old fellow turned and darted a venomous look at the laughing white man, then stalked proudly away, and in his trail glided the youth. \Mary Ann did not learn until some time afterward that the old man had died the next day of some intestinal trouble that had been troubling him for some time; and the youth, believing that his father had been poisoned by the witch-broth of the whites, swore vengeance upon Steve. After making the soap, Mary Ann went home, and took Polly with her; but they forgot and left one of their pots at Steve’s house. They intended to return and get it the next day, but were prevented by some trivial hindrance, and it was not until the second day after that Mary Ann, accompa- nied by the black woman, rode over to get the missing pot. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers forgot all about the old Indian and the soap incident. On the same day, indeed at about the same time that Mary Ann started toward his house, Steve decided to take a swim in the big pool that was directly behind his cabin. He wanted to make Ed come with him, but Ed was busy dressing himself to go to see the Carringtons. : He seemed to be attempting very hard to cut out his brother in the affections of Me- lissa. The matter was quite a joke with the little community, and Melissa seemed to enjoy the rivalry that she had aroused, FEVER. 455 although part of the fun was spoiled be- cause everybody knew that she was engaged to Steve and that soon they were to be married. “ Better come on in for a swim,” Steve called as he left the little log-house which consisted of a single big room. “No,” Ed laughed back. “ I’m going to see our girl.” Steve departed alone, taking his gun with him, and Ed continued with his toilet. At_ the end of about twenty minutes Ed heard his brother calling for help; and, a moment afterward, the air was rent by the whoop of a savage. Ed snatched up his gun and dashed in the direction of the pool, which was less than a hundred yards away. As he ran he saw three redskins scampering up the bank on-the far side of the pool. Although they were were too far away, he fired at them as they disappeared in the woods that hugged the far bank. As he ran Ed called frantically to his brother, but there came no response. When he reached the pool, there lay Steve naked and bloody. Ed rushed up to him, and a most awiul sight met his eyes. Steve had not only been murdered, but he had been scalped! Three knives had been plunged into his heart. He was dead, but his limbs still jerked and twitched. The miserable man had evident- ly been scalped while he still lived. Ed Rogers went blind with fury, and, forgetting everything, dashed for his horse; he left his brother’s body by the side of the pool, sprang into his saddle, and started in pursuit of the murderers. Within ten minutes after he had leit, Mary Ann and Polly arrived, and were surprised to find both the brothers away and the house open. She decided that both men were bathing in the pool, and she left ' Polly to fetch the pot from inside the house while she mischievously crept down to sur- prise the brothers at their bath. She came upon the murdered body and screamed. Polly came running, and be- tween them they got the corpse up to the house. They could not imagine what had hap- pened, and both were fearful lest this be ConmicooolkxS.COmnn >