Arizona silver belt., 1878-11-07

sdS t'Aciln ulOuhtiuS Hto 0lS gfa3 mare, which had been tied to tae corner post of the store.
 The Sheriff and a party of soldiers from Fort Hays were on the watch for the train robbers wao had stop ped the east-bound on the U P. rail- road, at Big Springs, Nebraska, eighs days before, and who were sup posed to be striking for the Texan border with the rich spoil. The soldiers, as the Sheriff had sad. were posted in ravine known as Hundred Horn Galch, few miles from the station, and were the main trail from North Platte crossed the railroad track.
 The sun was just dipping when ! rode up to the station ahead of the troopers. The Sheriff, who was studying written description of the marauders by the waning light, puE himself at our aead without a word, and we trailed of, long line of creaking, jingliug, hoof-beating elamor through the windy silence and gloom of the darkening prairie.
 The ride was long, for our glar- ry had an hours start of us, and the moon rose, a globe of coppery fire, and found us still elanklag on. had joined the Sheriff and the leader of the soldiers
 Are you certain, Sheriff, of our men ?"
 Sure as the moon, {" said the old man. tersely, drinking in the sweet air of the sublime night with a sigh which seemed to say, ..Let me alone. I know what Pm about and won't be questioned"
 Silence again. The brisk breeze was blowing rifted clouds across the face of the noon, mottling the dim plain with fantastic shadows. Sud denly these clouds swept away. A full, clear burst of light flooded the prairie, and nos half mile away we saw three moving figures. which, in the now niarvelousIy brilliant lunar lillumnation, could be easily dis tinguished as those of two mounted men and a pack animal.
 The wind was in our faces, blow ing the noise of our approach from the fugitlyes' ears, and though we rode hard, and with no attempt al stealthiness, 1t was not until We were ] close upon them that they suddenly drew in and faced about, both men sitting bolt upright in their saddles, with their hands at their hips. h gesture and bearing they meant fight, and looked every inch dangerous and ] desperate men.
 We halted, too. For a moment a dead silence tell upon us. Then the ! Sheriff's gray mare neighed, and tee charm was broken.
 .'Who's there ?'' called one oF the
 fugitives in Spanish, emphasizing the challenge by the sharp click of his pistol as he brought it to cock. ] The rattle of a dozen earbines fall- ! ing into position drowned the Sher- ifs reply. Then the clear voice of , the younger fugitive arose If we must die, we might as veil die like
 
 men, 1t said.
 What followed was almost like the , flaming Of flash of lightning. l heard the Sheriff call out: Throw /, up your hands, i" and saw him spur straight for the strangers then came q Hash, rattling fire of carbines and reYolyers, and a fierce oath from 3 /, trooper behind rue who tumbled from his saddle with his thigh smashed. | At the same tme, and before 1 could
 kick clear of the stirrups, my poor pony staggered and selI dead, wIth a e pistol bull between his eyes, and in 2 hls fall pinned me to the earth
 Tue light WAS as brief as 1t was e furious, and, ike all really desperate
 encounters l eyer witnessed, was an
 almost silent one, as far as any
 sound of voices went. But the sharp reports of revolver and tho duller dis q charge Of earoines freighted the nighl g wind. and the ground owls numbered 3 into clumsy flight at the uawonte' | noses. Finally, single flash flame. I across the fight, thin yapors of It'
 firing. a single report Was blown ' F Ieswarl sharp and clear, ant then 5a' 4 discharges ceAsed. With [ desperAt' 'a effort l dragged myself clear of m. s- dead anlnal, and lnpel Q ing feeE E The Sheriff and half ? aszsl {, soldiers were grouped aooa. the bod, T., C9stia4sl os Fouris Pags.l