Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1878-09-19

hands, and saw him spur straight for
the strangers; then came II flash, Il rat
Ting fire of carbines and revOlverS, and a
fierce oath from trooper behind me who
tumblcd from his saddle, with his thigh
smashed. At the same time and before |
could kick clear of the stirrups, my poor
pony staggered and fell dead. with pis.
tol ball between his eyes and in his fall
pinned me to the earth.
The fight was brief as it was furious,
and like all really desperate encounters !
ever witnessed was an almost silent one,
as far as any sound Of voices went. But
the sharp reports of rcvolycrs and the dull
cr discharge of CurbincS frcightcd the
night wind, and the ground owls lumber.
ed into II clumsy flight at the unwontcd
noises. Finally, Il single flash famed
across the hight, thin vaportrom the firing,
ii single report was blown to leeward,
sharp and clear and then the discharges
ceased. With desperate effort ! drag.
gcd myself clear Of my dead animal, and
limpcd to my feet.
The Sheriff and II half u dozen soldiers
were grouped about the body of one of the
iugitivcs. Another soldier supported
the figure of the 'likcly boy" Some
black shapes ON the prairie marked the
whereabouts of the resi- Of the dozen troop
crs. and told at what COSt The victory had
been won
The boy himself, only held half upright
by the soldiers strong arm was still alive.
The bright moonlight shining on his
handsome face lighted it TO an unhealthy
beauty. In the struggle his coat had been
torn off. and broad. dark, slowIy-sprrad-
ing smear was visible on his coarse gray
shirt. His breathing was hoarsc and
quick, the sure index to a shot IN the
lungs.
Hes goin said the Sheriff, mopping
the blood from bad cut in the forehead
with his sleeve. Great sakcS. What Il
fight he made
Here's the pony, Sheriff.
Onc of the men lcdthepack pony, which
during the entire fight had been grazing
at little distance oil, up to the group
, With quick jerk he dragged oil the tat
/ tered blanket which covered the pack.
There were few camp utensils, sOmC
provisions. and Il bulgimg sort Of dOubl,
bag thrown over the fronts OF the panicr
With an effort he pulled this oil. but it
weight tore it from his hands, and it irl
with metallic crash. As it S,ruck tn,
earth is seams burst The qu2cr-shapc,
sack was simply an old pair OF pantaloon
with the legs tied mp, and is content
rolled. .iingling and sparkling, over tin
short grass il cascade Of mintcd gold.
Before the musical ring OF the plcciou
metal had died AWAY thc group about tn
dead man and the wounded boy partc,
with an exclamation Of startled surprise
The hoy had suddenly struggled to hi
feet. He stood swinging dizzily TO AM
fro for an instant, and then Snatchlng
revolver from the belt of the amazed sol
licr, who stood beside him, fired poin
blank at one of his captOrs directly i'll from
of him.
The man fell dead, and his murderer
with the smoking pistol still in his hand
: tottrrcd forward Il sicp and sank in Il hca
ON the corp,c oi his companion, with IN
face upon It's breast and one arm about 1t
neck.
Strange. Well, however that MAY Il
so far the strangcst part is to come yet
. OF course, you have suspected all aIon
; that the handsome boy was Il woman
We'll, he wasn't! and what was more, til
pair, far from being the train robbcr
! were worthy Texan drovcr and ms 5o'
!! who had sold ont their h"".' ...
Platte and - I"." .
V .. lI.........