The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-03-19

"whatr' we all cried, springing to
our feet, mot to-night?"
Eyes" he said, this very night, you
boys must help me ont All the men
are over at Gepson's, ten miles away,
to ball, and these fellows must be
caught Why, You might make Ave
hundred dollars, and besides, you fell.
lows are quicker and drawer than the
men. So get ready and come on
This last remark caught us, and the
whole crowd commenced getting on
their things
Wrap up good, /" he said, ''it's mighty
| cold, but there's crust forming on the
snow that will about hold up our
horses"
Having wrapped up thoroughly, we
all started out, Mr. Brooks and Hal
leadinn and fobin and bringing up
the rear.
AS 1 remember it now, it was the
coolest night ever saw. The wind
almost tore my lantern out of my hand
and my Winchester felt cold through
my double gloves
Nov, look here, boys" mumbled
Brooks, through his thick muller, 1--WE
will go In twos, making for the state
line. These fellows were seen to pass
here two or three hours ago, and can.
not be far off in this weather. If any
of you strike the trail Of the whole
gang fire of your gun twice in Quick
succession, II YOU strike the trail of one
run him down and get him by your.
sell. The man that gets the Doodle
will treat the crowd" So saying, he
and Hal disappeared in the murlsy
The whole crowd spread out toward
the state line, but Tobin and spread
out towards B., which was then
quite village and pretty large rail
road center.
The crust that Brooks said would
hold our horses didn't at all, and after
laundering nearly FIVE miles we left
them at small cottage and struck ont
across the country for the small village
of D. three miles away, where we
would get d train for home.
We were cold and hungry, and swore
vigorously at Brooks, the convicts and
the state in general
After we had made about half the
distance Tobin suddenly stopped and
whistled. IF here amt blood Pm q
liar and not Texan"
Sure enough there were footprints.
and splotched with blood-fresh blood
Mt that.
The day was now breaking. and we
could follow them easily; so. pulling
our weary bones together, we sat out
on slow trot
We had only gone few hundred
yards when we caught sight of the poor
wretch laundering slowly along.
As he saw us he gave one last effort.
and, lurching forward, fell.
When we reached him we found
well-built man, with good features, and
a pair of black eyes that wore deadly
haze and looked at us piteously. lie
was almost naked, and his feet were
bare and bleeding.
We kindled dead tree near by into
n good fire, and poured whisky down
him plentifully.
In short while he was able to speak,
and asked us what were going to do
with him.
At the end of the first sentence we
looked at each other with a slight air
of surprise. He did not speak like
convict.
His voice was clear and well pitched.
his rhetoric perfect, and everything
about him seemed 70 indicate that he
had seen better days.
He noted our surprise and went on to
say: ''Gentlemen, you have run me
down at last and will, no doubt, take
me back to the mines, but will never
go back alive"
We both gave a start, and exchanged
questioning glances.
He noticed this, and went on to ask |
if we would listen to his story.
We both assented. and, covering him |
up with my greatcoat, babe him go on.
my NAME" said he, ''is Wilson, and |
was convicted of forgery and one |
that really committed. was a poor
clerk in s., when my young wife |
died, leaving my only child, little
girl, for me to take care Of |
In few months lost my position, and |
could not find work of any description.
Things went from worse to worse. /
pawned everything had, and was re-
iuced almost to starvation. One cold
night 1 went TO my little attic room,
and found baby almost frozen and cry
ing from hunger.
my God. gentlemen, it was more
han / could stand. Steal? Why, /
would murder to save that little ones
ife.'
Here the poor fellow broke down,
and the hot tears rolled down his face.
The next day." he went on, Il
forged a check for one hun dred and
fifty dollars, and got the money; but
he forgery was detected, and / was
'ent to the mines. My little girl was
'ent to house of charity. and l don't
snow where she is now. but will find
ler."