Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-11

q
soft, broad brimmed felt hat was pull
/ ed over 'em, but they seemed to look
right through me and it made me feel
nervous. He was dressed In q Next
can rig, a blush brOadclOth Jacket,
| edged and deeyrated with gold braid
and buttons, a pair Of loose buckskin
pants and high boots. The butt of q
revolver peeked out Of his sash, and
another could see in q holster at his
hip. noticed him very close, and he
looked wonderful trim and neat. We
rid on good piece. laqghin' and talk
in and was feelin' pretty cheerful.
cause there was two OF US IN case
French Pete did turn up.
''Well. we got almost to DeadWoOd.
and near the woods about three miles
from there, when suddenly somethin'
took me to look at his boss. / hadn' t
done this afOre-dOn't know why,
but 1 had't-and Jimmy COrni there
was the famous little mare, with her
white trimmings and long name and
tail-Oh. yes, it was French Pete's
hOss, sure enough. But 1 didn't let
on that knew. and / was most be-
ginning to think I must be mistaken
when we came out Of the woods. The
sun was just rising, and we got to
that big pine-remember it, JOe?-
Just as the full circle came up over
the prairie. Just under this tree my
my companion says, with a little
chuckle. Jim, look at this Kinder
startled, turned, and I tell you the
hair riz right straight up on my head.
1 was lOOkin' plumb into the muzzle
of q big six-shOoter. ugh!
'Wha-what's this?' says I, skeer-
ed most out of my Wits-I never was
Of L. -E
loaded weapons through the barrel.
He laughed and SAID: Didn't know
you had French Pete for a travelin'
companion, did ye? Well, it means
thet I'd like to look over yer mail abit,'
and then he roared right out as he see
the long lace put on, for 1 couldn't
help thinking of what Fred Jones had
told me, and kinder Wonderin' if there
really was seen a pile of money in them
bags.
" well, says I, Il, don't see as I
can help it, here they be-
You unbuckle them yerself,' says
he 'PL keep an eye on this pistol
AMI see that it don't go of, but Pm
afeared / couldn't manage it if you
should cut up any shines; it goes of
mighty easy and he chuckled again,
for / could see thet if it should 90 of
a '32' would cut a tunnel right
through my head.
Gail of a sudden I thought Of some
thin and Jest as suddenly / found
that L couldn't Onbuckle the trap that
held the bags to the saddle. I fused
at 1t for several minutes and French
Pete was gettin' impatient. Hurry
up says he, Il can't control this WEEP
pin much longer
sc Il can't Onbuckle this SAYS I.
Take your knife says he. with
an oath. 1 got 1t out of my Eelt, got
the point under the strap and then it
slipped out Of my fingers and dropped
to the ground.
Then, without thinking, and I've al
ways thought he was a fool not to
shoot me on the spot, he lowered his
pistol, put it back IN his sash, and
out a big bowie rode up
along side. This little prOceedin' of
his cost him just five years
OF liberty. Maybe he thought
l was dreadful skeered, but
he made a big mistake. Jest
the minute he put away his pis-
tOl 1 pulled out both of mine and
pOked them, cooked and ready for
business, right into his face, and saws,
as calm as 1 could: French Pete
says 1, hands upl Your rOad-agent
business is jest about wound up
hands up, ivelyP He sec that I'd lest
as soon shoot him as not, and held
up-bOth arms.
al kept one of my pistols lookin' at
him while I searched him and cleaned
him of Weppins. Then l tied mis- hands
to the back Of his saddle and his feet
under the hose, and onbucklin' one
side Of his curb-reIn, druv him in front
OF me, with a cooked revolver in the
other hand. 1 got into Laramie all
right with my pris'ner about nine
o. clock, and he was tried, sentenced
and did his five years in state prison.
A government court tried him-a Lar
annie judge would ha' hanged him on
the nearest tree.
''He come out of prison a different
chap. He started in the mines and
made his pile; then he went to New
York and married. IN about two
years he come back, and now he's the
biggest toad IN the government assay
Office here at s.. His real name Is
Joseph Kennedy, and, " the mail car
rler suddenly added, nOdding towards
the short man in buckskin; ''there he
Is, and here comes your train" And
the mail carrier rose, stretched him
self, took up his lantern and mail bags
and went out into the storm.
CAN abOard!' and with a parting
shrek, a jerk and a spasmOdic snort,
the train rolled on It's way and the
little station was left deserted, alone
in the darkness and the wind.