News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-05-23


Crossing the stream, he hunted bacl
along the south bank, hardly expect ,ne
to discover the object of his search, but
adding occasionally to his string O
game.
Presently his attention was attracted
by an unusually demonstrative squire
who was saucily bidding him defiance
from his perch on the limb of large
hollow oak. The shotgun was brought
to the boys shoulder, but, as if aware ot
his danger, the threatened anima
lodged out of sight in a convenient
orifice in the tree trunk.
"Hello you are a sharp little fellow,
I 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"
A fallen tree near by offered a com.
Portable seat, and Bruce assumed an
easy position, with his back against the
moss-covered stump and resting the
gun across his knees, awaited the re-
appearance of the beleagured squirrel.
Minutes passed, but nothing more
was seen of the sharp, rat-like ears and
beady eyes, although Bruce's vigilance
never relaxed.
Halfway down, 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, with not the slightest
intention of exposing himself further.
Another pair of eyes wero riveted on
the unsuspicious boy-a pair of snaky,
black orbs that cleaned dangerously
near, in 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 es-
capped murderer was now crouched, like a
tiger gathering for spring, not twenty
PAGES from the unsuspecting Bruce.
If Caddo Bill had fancied his safety
assured upon successfully lodging his
guard and climbing the stockade at
Fort Griffin, his 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 continually on the
move-gliding from covert to covert
now hid in a clump of thorny cacti-
again threading the winding bed of
snake through the tall prairie grass.
Exhausted by his continuous exertiOns,
and weak from the Iavages of hunger
that he lacked the wherewithal to ap-
pease, his moccasins worn to shreds, and
the rel shirt and cavalry pants, that he
wore at the time of his escape, now torn
to fragments by the envious briers, the
fugitive really presented pitiable ap-
pearance.
Rut worn and weary, rs he was, the
evil, murderous instinct was still domi-
nant in his breast, and his eyes glinted
ominously, as he watched the boyish
form carelessly reclining SO close to his
own hiding place.
Was there ever such good luck The
greatest cause of uneasiness to Caddo
Bill had been the fa 1t that he had been
forced to begin his flight totally unarm-
I'D for although renowned for his reck-
less bravery when armed to the tAeth, IN
his defenceless condition he was help
less. Supplied with but carbine, some
of his pursuers would have doubtlessly
felt his vengeance before this; but, with
out even as much as knife, however
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 tax
ing, was substantial-looking shotgun,
lust the weapon that he wanted. Pos
sibly, he would have to commit another
murder to secure the coveted arm, but
that was matter of but small moment.
On second thought, it would be far the
safest plan to kill the boy and quiet his
Ia . so
to pursue.
Cautiously he rose to mis- feet, his
right hand clutching heavy fragment
of granite. All unconscious of his peril,
Bruce sat-half asleep and half-awake -
quite tired of Watching for q squirrel
that never appeared, but yet i'll no par
ticular hurry to journey homeward.
No thought of Caddo Bill had crossed
the boys mind since leaving home that
morning. Like his father, Bruce had
thought it hardly probable that the
murderer would attempt SO far to the
northward in case he had escaped re-
capture.
Silently as panther stealing upon its
prey, and relentlessly as death itself,
Caddo Bill crept nearer and nearer.
Barely twenty feet separated the
murderer and his victim. The Indian S
face was drawn in a grimace of fearful
vindictiveness. His arm was drawn
back for the deadly blow-his muscles
contracted for the final spring.
Suddenly there was rustic of shrub
berry, and the rush of flying feet, and
some heavy object was hurled against
the crouching Indian from the rear,
dashing him forward almost upon the
now thoroughly-arou Bruce. The
missing calf had suddenly appeared up
ON the scene-exactly on time-not a
moment too early or too late.
How long Tom had been an interested
observer of Caddo Bills actions, it is,
of course, impossible to state. Evident
ly, however, the faInting rags of the
fugltive's scarlet shirt had been con-
strued as premeditated challenge,
which could not be tamely overlooked,
without doing violence to all the tradi-
tions of the fighting Hereford's, and the
young champions onslaught was sudden
and irresistible.
Caddo Bills surprise was complete,
and his discontinue increased by the
fact that he was, for an instant, unable
to comprehend the exact identity of his
allowed Bruce time to thoroughly digest
the danger of the situation. And, there
fore, when the murderer staggered tC
his feet, intent ON the further prosecu
| tion of the villafnous scheme, young
Webster, without an instant S reflection
discharged both barrels of his gun il
his assailant's face, and dropping the
now useless weapon, fed from the spot
! Id - -
! his shots.
Ten minutes later, terror stricken ant
out of breath, Bruce dashed into the
little dining room at the ranch, where
half a dozen strangers were gathered
about the table-soldiers from Griffin
who, by the aid of bloodhounds, haC
ira led their late prisoner thus far OIL
his way to liberty.
Hurriedly the boy told his story, anC
in an inconceivably short space of time
| found himself seated on a fiery cavalr,
horse, behind the lieutenant in com
mand of the squad, guiding them to th'
scene of his late encounter.
Caddo Bill was found without diff
Guilty, not dead, as Bruce had begun t.
fear, but so badly disabled by handful
of bird shot, in the muscles of hi
shoulder, that his capture was easil.
effected
The belligerent calf, Tom, was ais
found on the field of battle, contentedl.
cropping the scattered herbage, ant
looking as harmless and insignificant a
it was possible for fat, well-grown cal
to appea". He evinced no disinclina
tion to return to the ranch, but trOttet
contentedly along in advance of tn