"One-Eyed Charley" - Graphite on 12x20" antiqued paper. It is framed in a beautiful 17x25" antique frame with concave glass. SOLD.

"It was the spring of 1859 in California. A mother and her two children embarked on a hazardous journey by a Wells Fargo stagecoach down the Sierras to Placerville. The coach driver was Charley Parkhurst. He wore a wide brimmed tanned hat, that hid his one eyed face from the savage sun. He finished it with a knotted necktie, leather pants, and scuffed boots.. stained with years of dust. He was a real cowboy. The setting sun unleashed fierce icy winds and haze... and upon the horizon was a mother's worse fear: three masked bandits heading their way. The outlaws yelled to Charley: "Pull her in, put your rifle down, and bring down the money chest!". Charley obeyed, placed the money chest down on the ground and backed off. The outlaws shot it's lock off and ordered one of the children to open it. To the young girl's surprise.. the chest was empty. She was suddenly pushed to the ground, and a barrage of gunfire rang through the night sky. All three outlaws were down. One-eyed Charley was a dead shot, and hero. Many years passed, and after living a secluded life...Charley passed away. His body was taken to the mortuary to be prepared for his final resting place, much to the mortician's surprise... Ol' One Eyed Charley turned out to be a woman."