The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-15

fantastic shadows. Suddenly these
clouds swept away. A full clear burst
of light flooded the prairie, and not a
half mile away we saw three moving
figures which, in the now marvelously
brilliant lunar ILLUMINATION, could be
easily distinguished as those of two
mounted men and pack animal.
The wind was in our faces, blowing
the noise Of our approach from the fugi-
tives' ears, and though we rode hard, and
with no attempt to stealthiness. it 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.
In gesture and bearing they meaLt fight
and looked every inch desperate and
dangerous men.
We halted, too. For moment dead
silence fell upon us. The sheriff's gray
mare neighed, and the charm was
broken.
"Who's there?" called one of the fugi-
tives in Spanish, emphasizing the chal-
lenge with the sharp click of his pistol
lock as he brought it to cock. .ss
The rattle of dozen carbines falling
into position drowned the sheriff's reply.
Then the clear voice of the younger
! fugitive arose: .sIf we must die, we
mil ht as we'll die like men," it said.
What followed was almost like the
flaming of a flash of lightning. heard
the sheriff call out; ''Throw up your
hands," and saw him spur strai ght for
the strangers; then rafting fire Of car
Diners and revolvers, and fierce oath
from a trooper behind nae who tumbled
from his saddle with his thigh smashed.
At the same time, and before I could
kick clear Of the stirrups, my poor pony
staggered and fell dead, with pistol
ball between his eyes, and in his fall
pinned me to the earth.
| The fight was as brief as it was frri
Gus, and like all really desperate encoun-
tiers ever witnessed was almost a silent
one, as far as any sound of voice went.
But the sharp reports Of revolvers and
the dul]er discharge ofcarbines freighted
the night wind, and the ground owls
numbered into clumsy fight at the I'm
wonted noises. Finally, single flash
famed across the light thin vapor from
the firing, a single report was blown to
leeward, sharp and clear, and then the
discharges ceased. With desperate
effort I dragged myself clear of my dead
animal, and limped to my feet.
The sheriff and half a dozen soldiers
were grouped about the body of one Of
the fu gitives. Another soldier supported
the figure of the ""likely boy" Some
black shapes on the prairie marked the
whereabouts of the rest of the dozen
troopers, and told at what cost the victory
had been won.
The boy himself, only held half up
right by the soldiers strong arm, was
still alive. The bright moonlight shin
ing on his handsome, girlish face Lighted
it to unearthly beauty. In the struggle
his coat had been torn off, and broad
dark, slowly-spreading smear was visible
on his coarse gray shirt. His breathing
was hoarse and quick. the sure index to {
| shot in the lungs.
sHe's goin',' said the sheriff, hopping
the blood from bad cut in the forehead
with his sleeve. "Great snakes! what {
fight he made"
|; "Here's the pony, sheriff"
+ One Of the men led tie pack pony
, which during the entire fight haG been
; quietly grazing at little distance off, W
to the group. With quick jerk he drag.
} ged off the tattered blanket which cover
-. ed the pack.
l There were few camp utensils, SOM
provisions, and bulging sort of double
bag thrown over the fronts of the pannier
g With an effort he pulled this off, but it
. weight tore it from his hands, and it fel
with metallic crash. AS it struck tn
e earth its seams burst. The queer-shapet
4 sack was simply an old pair Of panta
t looms with the legs tied up, and its con
< tents rolled, jlngling' and sparkling
:, over the short grass cascade of mintet
E gold.
/ Before the musical ring of the preci GU
4 metal had died away the group about tn
J. dead man and the wounded boy parte'
e with an exclamation Of startled surprise
b The boy had suddenly struggled to hi:
u feet. He stood swinging dizzily to an
fro for an instant, and snatching revo]
t yer from the belt of the amazed soldier
i who still stood beside him, fired poin
d blank at one of his captors directly i
front of him.
|. The man fell dead, and his murderer
with tie smoking pistol still in his hane
tottered forward step and sank in
heap on the corpse of his companio,
n with his face upon his breast and on
', arm about its neck. *
e Strange! Well, however that may be s
if far, the strange part is to come yet. {
course, you have suspected all along thu
te the handsome boy was woman2 Wei
y he wasn't! and what is more, the pal
s. far from being two of the train robber
lie were worthy Texan drover and his sol
IF who had sold out their beasts at Mort
e. Platte and were on their way home wit
y the money. They had eleven thousan
G. dollars in coin with them. The boys ha
g the laugh on the sheriff for many q Ion
le day after. For once his Wanted acut,
ness had failed him.
rs What was done to HIM? Why, Gre;
Or Scott! stranger, what do you suppose
le Are we not all liable to make mistake
u A BUTLER BOTTLED.
~ TNa,u Vorlr Snecia1 tn Cincinnati Fnuuira,