Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-22
THE SHERIFFS MISTAKE.
An EPISODE OF LIVE on THE PLANS.

"Thars strangers" said the sheriff,
suddenly, setting down his tin cup of
regulation whiskey untouched. and shuf-
fling to the door
The sheriff was a safe man 10 believe,
though how he made out anything in the
binding air of evening sunlgh, ,ha, flood
ell the level prairie west of Buffalo Sta
tion. no one but professor of optics
could have told The old man had the
eve OF an eagle
Two on EN- with pack pony" he
added; and Just then a sudden sunset
shadow swept across the lonely waste,
and We saw them too.
They were about a quarter of mile
away. heading for the station and its
single combination building Of store,
dining room, tavern and freight house.
They came on at an easy gait, driving
their pony before them. As they neared
US we could note the signs of hard travel
about them. From their dust
clothing and their loose seats in the sad
die, as well as the jaded canter Of their
ponies, everything spoke of 4 loug ride,
and weary one.
They crossed the track and drew up
in the shade of the station, one Of them
only replying to the sheriff cheerful hail
with a cur, nod He dismounted stitily,
addressed a few words to his companion,
who remained in the saddle with one leg
crossed over the bow, and a moment later
his gaunt, buckskin and frieze garbed
figure vanished in the cool shadow Of the
store.
A likely boy said the sheriff, who
had been cycling his companion intently.
They might be Texican cattle drovers,
and then again they moughtent."
He added the latter sentence reflective
ly, relaxing his scrutiny Of the mounted
stranger That person was a likely
boy" indeed. Afoo, he might have stood
nearly six feet on his bare soles. His
swarthy face, handsome as gypsy girls,
and delicately cut and set as any lady S
was framed with shock Of tangled wavy
hair, of whose black, glossy glory any
court dame might have been proud; and
his eyes, full. black, and lustrous as
those of a race horse, flashed proudly un-
der the finely pencilled brows. The hand
which rested lazily ON bis knee, was large,
and in perfect keeping with his we'll knit
figure; but in shape clean-cut and hand
some as womans.
| was still scrutinizing this somewhat
singular appari,iOn with more than ordi.
nary curiosity, when the sheriff turned
suddenly to me.
"Whars your pony, Tom: ne asked.
I'm the she'd
"Saddled :"
with loose girth-yes."
The sogers are in the Hundred Horn
Gulch," he went on, speaking rapidly.
"Slide forred and bring EN- up. May
the big wolf of Devils Run devour me if
there amt two of our men,
/ knew the sheriff two well to hesitate
or question further. As | girthed my
pony in the shed shadow foated across
the doorway and was gone. When
rode out the two strangers were cantering
off to the southwark, pointing for the Re
publican River, and as | gave my pony
rein and galloped in the opposite direc-
ton, saw the sheriff mounting his big
gray mare, which had been tied to the
corner-post of the store.
The sheriff and party Of soldiers from
Fort Hayes were on the watch for the
robbers who had stopped the west.
bound train at Big Springs eight days be.
fore, and who were supposed to be strik-
ing for the Texan border with their rich
spoil. The soldiers, as the sheriff had
said, were posted in ravine known as
the Hundred Horn Gulch, a few mile;
from the station, and where the main
trail from North Platte crossed the rail.
road track.
The sun was just dipping when | rode
up TO the station ahead of the troopers
The sheriff who was studying the writ.
ten description of the marauders by tht
waning light, put himself at our heat
without a word, and we trailed off, q
long line of creakiug jingling and hoof
beating clamor, through the windy ST.
lence and gloom of the darkening prairie
The ride was long one, for oul
quarry had an hours start Of VI. and the