Tales of Calabazas

(Editor's Note: The following is the sixth of a series of stories of Calabazas, the Old West, re-written by Elizabeth Toohey. former State Historian from the Reminiscences of Cabell Brown. The seventh will appear in an early issue.) CALABAZAS decided to have a justice of the peace and a constable. Not that any of the town's inhabitants had the least intention of conforming to law and order, but then most towns had courts and then there was always the matter of fines to be considered.

Drinkwater hailed from a prohibition state, but never let that interfere with his drinking. He knew no degree of drunkenness. He was either cold sober or maudlin drunk, nor did his emotions know any restraint. He was either on the pinnacle of hope and joy, or else he was in the depths of black despair. When in the latter mood, he was known to weep copiously. After a few drinks of mescal he was evenly balanced between joy and sorrow. Should his vision at this time be crossed by thoughts of captured smugglers and large rewards, excessive happiness took possession of him. Should the balance swing the other way, he became fearful of possible government agents, and an investigation of funds due Uncle Sam.

The Mexican stage was an unfailing source of mescal supply. The railroad laborers returning from Sonora, always had their liquor confiscated, and returns of the confiscated liquor made to Drink's parched throat. His superior, the El Paso collector, was ignored.

Calabazas Goes In For Law and Order

An election was held and Drinky was made justice of the peace. He promptly rented from himself the Custom's House as a court room. A public subscription was called to buy a justice's docket.

His library consisted of a United States Revised Statute, part of a small pocket dictionary, a book on chicken culture, and an old almanac in English, Spanish and Chinese. On account of its vagueness this book was used to swear witnesses. Davis was elected constable. He was a burly fellow; always carried a pocketful of pictures of noted criminals. Each and every new arrival was given the utmost scrutiny, much to their discomposure. Davis was never known to be on hand when needed, nor had he ever been known to arrest anyone save a Chinese or a woman.

He made noisy starts after fleeing criminals, but unless Chinese, they always reached the border and safety. If Davis feared for his hide, always his horse would go lame and he would be forced to return to Calabazas. Davis, preparing to earn mileage fees, was an awesome sight. His magnificent horse was bedecked with an ornate Mexican saddle, heavily silver mounted. The horse's head all but concealed with a hair bridle, silver rosettes and a Spanish bit large enough for a stove grate. Davis himself, in full regalia, was a sight for sore eyes, huge embroidered sombrero, bearskin chaps, loud shirt and handkerchief, riata tied to the saddle horn, Winchester across the saddle-bow, huge knife in his boot leg, two ivory handled revolvers slung to his massive silver mounted belt, and over his shoulders a belt filled with rifle cartridges, and the crowing glory was his spurs, polished, plated and engraved steel with rowels four inches in diameter, great polished chains hooked around his feet and fastened with large buckles. These jingled when the horse was moving and warned the fleeing criminals that the constable was on the trail.

Nothing of importance happened for the first few months after Drinky's election. A few Chinamen and Mexicans were fined to furnish mescal money. Then one night Easy Trigger Bill and a couple of his bad men went on the loose. At the Big Casino, Ned, a poor harmless derelict who had been hanging around the saloon and dance hall for many months, where he earned his sketchy meals and drinks by sweeping up the place and calling dances, was at work. The dance was in full swing when Bill and his henchmen entered the tent with curses and threats. He demanded Harry, the proprietor, so he could shoot him full of lead. The music ceased and Bill grabbed Ned, demanding to know (Continued on Page 19)