Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-05-19
NO. So.

rne captain went 20 his saddle and un-
tying his laSiat he stepped behind Cooney,
whose hands he took down and fastened
securely behind his back. Then facing
Cooney, he said:
NOW, Cooney, let us hear what You
have to say. Your hours are short, I'M
less you can show us that you are
straight"
Il have nothing 10 say answered
Cooney, looking fearlessly ut his confed-
crates. "You have seen me face death
often enough know that am not afraid
10 die.
The other American interrupted him:
-'None of your tongue, Cooney: we all
know how slippery you are. Come to the
point How comes it, that instead Of
your meeting us at Los Animas, the
Rangers were there waiting for uss II it
hadn't been for Pedro Concha, we would
have been trapped. He met MS some tive
miles beyond, and he said you were there
also
s'Answer thatr' yelled the American.
Pedro lied, answered Cooney.
swell, we will search you,n said the
captain; ''the proofs must he on you.
either in money or in papers.
While talking, Cooney had gradually
slipped his right hand through the knotted
lariat, and he had succeeded in olsen
tangling it, unseen by the rest; with his
elbows he had slipped his revolver scab-
bard close to his hand.
AS the captain stepped toward Cooney,
the latter, quick MS flash. drew his
pistol on him, and at 1t its report the
captain sank to the ground with yell,
Cooney's bullet crashing through his
head.
Before Cooney could move his hand
from its aim he was covered by the pistols
of the remaining four men, and he fell.
pierced by four bullets. on the corpse Of
the captain.
The four freebooters did not remain to
dispose of the bodies, nor even to look at
them, but searching for their hobbled
horses they saddle1 them at double quick.
Leading the two orses of the dead men
they struck through the prairie toward
the Rio Grande.
A faint streak OF light was barely tinge-
ing the horizon when troop Of Rangers
could he seen silently surrounding the
timber which contained the Wells. Each
rider was bending on his saddle, rifle in
hand, watching for those they were pur-
suing. However, daylight came clear and
bright, and the sun rose above the line OF
the timber, but the troopers detected no
movement, and no human being made his
appearance.
s'That scoundrel of Cooney must have
fooled us, and he must have decamped
with our money and his coniederates,"
said Capt. Mclean to his lieutenant.
LET us ride in and see," answered the
lieutenant
SPY no means" said Capt. Mclean;
1--WE might be surprised and lose a few
men. Those fellows won't do to trife
with; we will close on them regularly
with the whole company.
Capt Mclean gave the orders and the
company moved on, gradually closing in
its circle.
Mclean was riding forward, when his
horse gave sudden plunge, rearing almost
erect on his launches.
''Great Godr' cried the lieutenant,
''captain, look under you'll Look at those
corpsesr'
BY this time the troop had united at the
Wells, and all dismounting, the captain
turned over the bodies.
''Cooney was true after all, P" he said,
land, no doubt, they had an explanation
and fight"
Du' "no 10 thiS NO "uuou, AooAihS
at the other body.
The whole troop looked at the pallid
features of the dead outlaw, but they
looked in vain; his features were as I'M
known to them as his name
The two bodies were thrown into sink
in the prairie, and the mesquite over which
they had coursed so often, the terror Of
the frontier, now covers them out of sight
Of foes or friends, II friends they ever
had.-Tmes Democrat.