Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-25

lSCence WlCn several dSeucleS, DuC AC IS one in which few men care to engage, no matter what the salary. It is all right when you are hunting the outlaw, but vastly different when he turns and hunts you. Had fully understood what would be required of me, 1 would not have en- gagged in the work for any salary the agency could have named, but, once en- gagged, pride and circumstances kept me bound to the work until imperatively obliged to relinquish it.
 For two years previous to my start, man known as Bill Gibbs had been out lawed in Arkansas. He was robber and murderer, had a price set upon his head, and had taken refuge in the Boston mountains, and from his lair defied all authority of law. He was a terror to a large district, and the plan to get rid of him was discussed and arranged like an ordinary business transaction.
 "What sum in cash will your agency take to hunt down and kill Bill Gibbs?" was the query.
 "We will do it for - dollars"
 "Au right; go ahead"
 When the preliminaries had been ar- ranged with the committee, I was called in for orders.
 "You will proceed to Huntsville, Ar kansas, and from thence locate Gibbs. Do not attempt to take him prisoner.
 
 your time and make your own plans, but do not return until you have disposed of him."
 Inside of five days was in Huntsville, but tramped over the country between that town and the base of the range for a week before I could secure any definite information regarding Gibbs. Every farmer knew him, and almost every one paid him tribute, but such was the fear nf hiS that nnlV SiOnaI person dared to admit having seen him. The outlaw was entirely alone, and he had been left unmolested so long that the ad- vantage would be on my side. He was described to me as a man of 40, very pow erful and vindictive, and of a natural bloodthirsty disposition. When he came down out of the mountains he was sure to do some devilish thing although un- provoked and among people ready to l befriend him. 1 found several negroes who had had an ear slashed off by him, and half a dozen white men who had been shot at or otherwise intimidated.,
 It was over two weeks before I got any | information of a direct value. I then stumbled upon a negro squatter to the southeast of Huntsville and near the foot hills, who banned out at a lively rate. I encountered him on a trail in the woods, | and had him covered with my rifle before he knew of my presence. By threaten ] ing and coaxing and bribing I induced him 10 yield up the information I was after. He was then three miles from his cabin and on his way to Huntsville to procure supplies for Gibbs. Hc had a | bundle of coon and fox skins, which he was to exchange for coffee, crackers, pow der, and lead. He had been compul- sorry agent for year, and such was his l fear of the outlaw that when I brought the muzzle of my cooked rifle down to within foot of his breast and threatened to fire he walled out:
 "You kin dun kill me, mars white man, but I'ze afraid of Mars Gibbs jist de same!"
 Gibbs was to wait at the negro cabin until the owners return. I ordered him to go forward and say nothing to any living soul about meeting me, and when he had disappeared I started for the cabin. I had no idea that the outlaw would remain in the hut or close to it. While he trusted the negro as much law life would render him suspicious o1 everybody, and he would take no chances I reasoned that he would quit the cabir as soon as he had obtained a bite to eat and that he would go into hiding at some point from which he could command a view. Therefore, when within a mile o the spot, made circuit to the right anC came out mile or more to the south O. the little clearing. found that lavint tion of the cabin, and after an hours search up and down I discovered evi denceS that some one had traverSed il but recently. Weeds were broken down stones displaced, and at a certain mois spot found plain footprints. The out law had come down from his lair by this gloomy trail, and he would doubtless re turn by it.
 met the negro about 8 o'clock in thu morning. He would have time to do his trading and return by or in the after noon. Gibbs might go off on an expedi tion after receiving his supplies, but the chances were that he would at once re turn to his lair. I followed the ravine back to a point where it narrowed to a width of six or eight feet, and where the path was in semi-darkness even at high noon, and there I prepared my trap Had met him face to face could ha Vt shot him, but I could not lie in ambusl and do it, outlaw though he was. It was too much like murder. Inside an hour had my rifle set, as spring gun, to be discharged as the mans legs pressed { small cord running across the path, ant then I retired to q thick clump of pine. about forty rods away. and went intt camp to await results. If my actio1 } seems cold-blooded let the reader con demn. 1 had in my pocket list of tiv' men whom Gibbs had killed in cold b:oo, and the names of dozen whom he .la, slashed and maimed out of pure malig nifty.
 While I was arranging the gun,- tw, ], landlookers were approaching the cabin l They were strangers to the neighbor hood and unarmed. Gibbs was just leay ing the cabin to go into hiding anl :. 1 though the men neither displayed weapon ISTERIN I"OOD FINISHING. Piano Polishing, an