The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-04-21
CUMMINS IN COURT.
Judge Ryland Has a Distinguished
Visitor Unbeknown to Him.

There was a rather noted visitor at the
criminal court yesterday. He was a man of
medium heighi, p obably feet or 10
inC hes, raths trim build, with sandy NOUS
ache, and ne lily dressed and these who
sat near him just outside the bar, seemed
20 take no particular note OF the distin-
gUi he'd in iividual, bat had they known
Who he WIS. he would undoubtedly have
b en- q sensation Of the hour. II was only
rs the BAzoo reporter was leaving the room
that he noticed a gentleman approach
the strsn- er and whisper, "Hos do you
do. Mr.. Iummins ?" With sudden Start
that individual turned his gsze upon his
irquisitor and his piercing eyes fairly
flashed with a puzzled look for foil min
ute and t. en- relaxed into be m of glad
recognition as memory seemed to have
flown on its mission back TITO the far
VISTA OF PAST YEARS,
and brought to view dark, dresry, damp,
dismsl night smid lonely cypress swamp
whe.e the Geld, pitiless ram Of an autumn
ste I'm came pelting down. finding its way
only by the vivid lightning fash as it
Mastered IN seeming terror to hide itself
amid the foliage from the apg-y thunder's
roar.
But there was going on there a struggle
6ercer than that Of nature-a struggle of
life and deaIh-four men fighting, an
hundreds to save themselves from a dogs
dea'h, almost hopeless they felt for on
every side and every hard the foe were
closing re'eut.ess by blirdly about them
in The dark Soon but two remained of the
four. Then a third went down b meath Q
stray bsll. Flinging himself from his st, ed
the fourth man erouched b. side a cypress
stump and determined TO spend his last
bsll in SELF defense. Hardly had be gained
his position, however, when cry broke on
the air and
AwftB, RINGING voLLEY
told Others had entered the list, and FIVE
minutes later the newcomers had found
the beleaguered four-two still in death,
one badly wounded and the other unhur'.
Ii was terrible ride wi those ten gallant
rescuers was inside that night, but il saved
the lives of two men, and in the speaker
Mr.. Cummins Recognized one OF the men
who owed their rescue to his gsllsnt lead
ership that terrible night.
al am glad to see you" he whispered,
grssping The preferred hand.
"The pleasure is mutual. Where srs you
from%
"rbe northern part of the state"
"And where are you going%
"Home to Texas. am living near Bon
ham now"
"What doing?"
"Herdipg and ranchiHg it?
"You have lett Missouri for good,
then? ?"
"Oh. yes, some time ago"
"Hsve You seen Frank lately ?"
mo sir, not Tor two years"
This much the reporter heard and when
the gentleman who had addressed the stran-
ger came out, the scribe approaching him
said:
"Who is that Mr.. Cummins you were
talking with In the court room?"
"That is Jim Cummins, an cd associate
of the James boys, but / would like for
you rot 10 mention it until tomorrow. He
is here on his way to Texas from Northern
Missouri and would not like 10 be ANNOYED
by gaping crowds. / owe him much and I
would not like to be the means of his be-
ing snnoyed%
The reporter promised to keep mum and
the gentleman when asked to explain what
he meant BY saying he owed Jim Cummins
much, related the incident that begins this
sketch 70