The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-06-20


II was, really, rather strange that
this highly prized scion Of an ancient
family should have been 20 prone 10
make his owners troublej since, for
tbeAif ftitS n9kx8
bgsH pessgl 81 Is y#lisf; gu y loKg8
70 '~ander at will about the door-yard,
50 that he might enjoy perfect i'm
munity from the assaults Of wander
Ing wolf or Mexican lion. but al
though he still remembered some OF
the numerous accomplishment taught
him by Bruce In leisure moments, one
Of which was TO charge blindly at the
tantalizing wave of~a red handker-
chief, he was in other respects as wild
as any other young cattle.
As he had expected, Bruce found
tho CATS tracks Without difficulty,
plainly showing In the dusty path that
lssti down the vaffcy Of the little creek;
but he was somewhat surprised to find
thht Tom had logged steadily along;
swerying neither TO the right nor left,
for nearly mile, finally leaving the
trail ut a point where the rocky nat
ure Of the soil and dense underbrush
rendered futile all attempts at further
trailing, and the most persuasive and
persistent calling failed to elicit any
responsive bleat from the little runa-
way.
For mile farther Brtice wandered
down the little valley, shooting now
and Then green-crested duck, or one
OF the numerous gray squirrels that
barkcd and chartered at him from the
limbs above his head but, search as
he would, no further trace OF the lost
Tom could be discovered.
Puzzled and disheartened, the lad
fffsll5f=tHfned back resolving to mount
his pony after dinner, and search out
the entire country for radius of three
or four miles.
Crossing the stream, he hunted back
along the south bank, hardly expect
ing to>~discover the object OF his
search, bat adding occasionally to his
string OF game.
Presently his attention was attracted
by an unusually demonstrative sqlir-
rel who was sauciIy bidding him de-
tiance from his perch on the limb Of a
large hollow oak. The shotgun was
brought to the boys shoulder, but, as
II aware OF his danger, the threatened
animal lodged out of sight in con-
venient orifice in the tree trunk.
Hello! you are a sharp little fellow,
] see"' muttered our young hunter,
Never mind, though! You can't
stay in that hole forever; and the next
time you show up you'll never know
what hurts you. y
A fallen tree near by offered COM
Portable seat and Bruce assumed an
easy position, with his back against
the Undiscovered stump; and, resting
his gun across his knees, awaited the
reappearar CO Of the beleaguered squir-1
rel.
Minutes passed, but nothing more
was seen of the sharp, rat-like ears
eyes, although Brucess
vigilance never relaxed.
Halfway down, a mass of scarlet
and yellow ivy leaves hid a second
opening in the tree trunk, and here,
unnoticed by the lad, the cunning
squirrel watched his every motion,
awithzuetz gghtest intention tex
posing himself further.
Another pair of eyes were riveted
on the unslrspicious boy-as pair of
snaky, black orbs that cleaned dam
gerously near, in "a clump Of verdant
foliage; for, by some unlucky chance,
the route TO safety selected BY Caddo
Bill, the red fugitive from justice, had
lain through this quiet valley, after
all; and the escaped murderer was now
crouched, like a tiger gathering for a
spring, not twenty PAGES from the un-
suspecting Bruce.
If Caddo Bill had fancied his, safety
assured upon successfully lodging his
guard and climbing the stockade
at Fort Griffin mind must have
soon been disabused of that Impression.
For more than forty-eight hours he
had been followed and harassed by the
numerous parties in pursuit-contin-
ually on the gliding from COW
ert to covert--now hid in clump of
thorny cacti--again threading the
winding bed of some narrow arroyo,
or gliding like snake through the
tall prairie grass. Exhausted by his cob
tinued exertions. and weak from the
ravages of hunger that he lacked the
wherewithal to appease, his moccasins
worn to shreds, and the red shirt and
cavalry pants, that he wore at the time
of his escape, now torn to fragments
by the envious briers, the fugitive real
ly presented pitiable appearance.
But worn and weary as he was, the
evil, murderous instinct was still DOM
inant in his breast and his eyes
glinted ominously as he watched the
boyish form carelcssly reclining SO
close to his own hiding-place a.
Was there ever such good luck! The
greatest cause Of uneasinesS to Caddo
Bill had been the fact that he had been
forced to begin the fight totally I'M
armed; for, although renowned for his
reckless bravery when armed to. the
teeth, in his present defenseless condi-
tion he was helpless. Supplied with
but a carbine, some of his pursuers
would have doubtless have felt his
vengeance before this; but, without
,yo,4cf,A ,otteh ~ - Lnifa hnwh ypr
small. he had no choice but stealthy,
speedy flight.
Was kind fortune about to smile
upon him once more? Here, within
his reach, almost, and to be had for
the mere taking,was u substantial-look-
ing shotgun, just the weapon that he
wanted. Possibly he would have to
commit another murder to secure the
coveted arm, but that was a matter OF
small moment On. second thought, il
would be far the safest plan to kill the