The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-10-10
Arrest Of a Desperate.

A few years ago had q great desire
20 enter the United States service. I
didn't care in what capacity jus. so
90 long as got my living from Uncle
Sam. Mentioning my desire to the
United States marshal for the north.
ern district of Florida, it was gratifi-
cd. was at once ushered into the
presence OF the United States judge.
held up my right hand and, with q
heroism worthy OF a better cause,
swore to support the Constitution of
the United States. though at the time
Twas hardly able to support my Own
constitution. Taking my formidaEdis
commission and a supply OF station
airy, went back to the village Of
Dead Pine to await orders.
Dead Pine is a small town 80 NAM
ed because there is a large live oak in
front of the principal saloon. Dead
Pine is not an imposing place. At
that time it had little depot, some
stores, some mortgaged farmers
and three saloons. Il also had q
malarial back country. with plenty OF
''bad men" living in it, q couple of
half starved churches, and some
Christians loaning money at from 2
to any per cent. monthly to their
struggling neighbors. It was also the
center OF a lumber and turpentine dis
trict. where prominent citizens steal
state and government timber and call
it business.
In few days my trouble began. I
received portentous document from
headquarters at Jacksonville. It had
four impressive and sinister looking
official stamps on the envelope, and
ordered me to at once seize the body
OF Thomas Perkins, supposed to be
lurking somewhere in the country, and
bring said body before the United
States court, then in session at Jack.
sonville. By a careful reading of the
somewhat diffusive warrant, discov.
ed that Thomas had been guilty Of
perjury in violation of the statutes in
such cases made and provided.
An hour later the following dispatch
was handed to me:
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
To United States Deputy Marshal, Dead
Pine, Fla.
Understand Perkins desperate charac-
ter; get help necessary; take him dead or
alive.
MARSHAL.
That dispatch made me very indig-
nant. Get help indeed! Not l! was
6 feet 1 inch in height, weighed 1875
pounds. If I couldn't alone arrest
one man I was unworthy to wear the
bright red ribbon on the lapel of my
vest labeled Omitted States marshal"
Besides, il I got help, there would
not be enough glory to 60 around. l
wanted it all for myself, and deter
mined to bring in the prisoner. elect by
my own unaided efforts, or occupy
one OF the misfit collins at the village
undertaker's.
gentleman, who, suffering from some
affection of the intellectual liver. had
resorted to perjury. l located him.
Six miles from town, in veritable
wilderness, two miles from any other
house, lived, moved and had his be.
ing, Mr.. Thomas Perkins, in whom
this great government of our was so
intensely interested.
The next thing was to make neces-
sary preparations. made them. In
the morning by the bright light, OF a
beautiful winters day, a stout wagon,
drawn by two sturdy and reflective
mules, was drawn up in front OF the
village hotel, which was very inap-
propiately named 1.-THE Delmonico."
On the front seat was my negro driver
and pilot, Bill. On the rear seat sat
the writer. Under a blanket at my
feet was q Winchester rifle
and a double barrel shot gun
we'll loaded with buckshot. al.
though was oppressed with
a narrowing doubt as to whether
hadn't put the buchshot in first. In
the pocket of my overcoat was a
Smith & Wesson double action sixty.
eight, and in the breast pocket Of
my inner coat a bowie knife that
had once belonged to q Texas evange.
list.
A curious crowd had gathered to
zee me of. They knew my mission,
though none OF them knew who was
after. They cheered me with novel
suggestions and we'll meant advice.
II say. Cap" said one, 'ye'd better
take bottle ofwhisky erlonQ wi you.
There amt no barroom whar you're
eoin.'"
My driver looked approvingly at
this speaker.
HE won't look very pretty comm
back here with q furrer driv cl'ar
through his chist, will her" said an.
other.
'tTwouldn't do fer him to 60 out
bar hunt;n' at night with that red
nose shinin', would hit?"
That last remark hurt my vanity.