New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
A BAD MAN.
THE DEPUTY.MARsHAL,S DAYS WORK.

when he's had plenty of chance to get to CANADA
or Mexico. he's our meat: I've got deputy
down there who's onto his job, and If your friend
Mr.. de Vries is in that neck Of the woods, STILES
can produce him in twcnty-four hours"
That is what the United States marshal said
TO the special agent of the Treasury Department
who had come West In search of Mr.. Hamilton dc
Vres, absconding bank president. The latter, IN
Willingly, had got himself into trouble with Uncle
Sam. well with the authorities of his State,
and was therefore. in suIer way to get INTO
the hands Of justice than if he had been careful
not TO tamper with the patience OF the long
suffering uncle aforesaid.
The marshal was SO certain Of his deputy's
ability TO lay hands on Mr.. dc Nries-lt, as the
special agent believed. the cX-banll president was
soiourning in said deputy's neiehborhood-tnat the
agent. who was only human and, besides haI no
personal interest in the matter. left the affair."
for the present, in the marshals hands and pro-
ceeded to take life as easily as possible while ne
meht-it much better than going partly by
stage or horseback. into "A wild and Woody region
after a man who might not he there, after all.
While the special agent, who had been up latc
the night previous. yawned ana strctGncoi pre-
paratory to leaving to return TO his hotel. the
marshal wrote telegram TO be sent TO the deputy
who looked after the three tough counties IN
the southeast corner of the State.
Here Ball. take this TO the office. will You p
And to Uncle Sans emissary he remarked Now.
then. that's settled Stiles'l have him by Satur-
day if he's there. Ever take anything ~
The special agent rose with some alacrity, and
they went out and drank TO the health of the
down-trodden and Overworked employees of
sordid exacting government. ~
When the marshal appointed Bob Stiles
deputy and assigned to him the duty of attending
TO the three southeast counties. he knew what he
was about. lie had always been firm believer
in the truth OF the old SAYING that y II takes
thief to catch thief On the same principle,
he held that it required q bad man 20 handle
bad men; and in making hi, appointment for
Jones Ellihorn. and Antelope counties he had
no hcstancy in selecting Mr.. Stiles. whose appli-
cation for the place Endorsed by many
leading citizens-not because they were keen TO
see Bob get the place. but because he asked them
TO indorse him. and a refusal 10 do 50 involved
Dosshe indeed prObalIlP UNPLEASANT cOnsc-
Yes. Bob Stiles was uudeniably bad man.
Not that he had ever made himself amenable 10
the law-at least not mat ANYBODY knew OIL
hat he had n blood-staned obituary list of per
who had disagreed with him. and beautiful
disregard for the consequences of anything be
chose to do and he chose to do some very pcculifr
things. especially when he had over-indnlGed In
quenty When Mr.. Stiles was not engaged IN
his official duties. his avOcation was that Of
gambler. and he was not an prescriptions one,
either: in fact | obliged 10 confess. albeit
with much reluctance that Mr. stiles cnloved
"sllinnng sucker" we'll as did any Other
member of the fraternity.
n happened. however that one SID night |
the very night before the day tho marshal s'n him
the telegram concerning the missing bank prf'- !
dent-Mr. Stiles and II confrcrr hal sat in 2anio /
with a supposed sucker from the mines. who /,
turned out to be very much of player himself, |
and that Mr.. Stiles and his friend rose from the
game "busted," and each OWING the house for
several stacks Of chns. and Mr.. Stiles stood on
corner. this bright afternoon. looking very down
hearted ana Sadly OUT OF MS usual et'AAto "lci
the boy came along with his telegram.
Him. Tall man-back whiskers-dark com
plccted-gray eyes, I'm; Greet. I'll look
He had been walking as he read, and had
reached the poStoficc by this time In response
TO his inquiry, the CLERK handed HIM an oihclal;
it. and the contents made his eyes dance Sta
bucno. Hyars luck fer ye, Lobby; oil BOY
Five hundred dollars T'warl, Thanks, Bobby,
we don't if we do oh, no, not any! And
as Mr. Robert Stiles walked up the street to his
usual shanou he el' g ANTE fh Ges ana
already in his possession, for he knew right where
he could find certain Thomas Rudey, eX-moon-
sinner, urgently wanted for the murder, several
raded Mr. Rudcys still, in ncighbOring State
Next morning bright and early. the deputy,
marshal rode gaylv forth. lie had made small
borrow and won hundred or SO, the night
before: he would make five hundred dollars ana
some fees to-day and these facts. toScther WIN
nature and the excellent breakfast he had Just
eaten conspired to make him, if anything more
cheerful than usual and that was very cheerful;
indeed There was only thing that troubled
him. and that was the fact that no reward was
offered for the arrest Of De Vries whose history
he had read in the papers
Til idce!' the dcputy marshal said 70 himself
IIyars this higl-toned cnss firm ohio-busts
firm orphns an widders, an gifts, away; no
r'ward fr him Iyars a poor devil OF moon
sinner. got nothing but still t keep is family
on an thinks he's got tests much right I make
whiskey-dam good whisSey. tOO-as body else
shoots a rcvenoo ofiuser th't mos likely shot at
him frst, an Uncle Sam offers five hundred fer
i'm, It's tough, no talkin'.7 And Mr.
Stiles chrpcd to his horse, which was nlbblinS
at the branches of the trees by the roadside
Four hours later, Bob Stiles, deputy-marsha
rode into little valley into which the 6y-road
had led him from the main trail lie looked TO
his revolvers carefully, 10 see that they were an
right for the emergency which was suite prop
able and decided plan Of action. lie us
mounted and proceeded on foot toward The
shabby, tumble-down log-cabin that stood in
L. t,o l. Ia .tho
As he reached the edge of the clearing he
halted, and took note Of the cabin and It's sur
roundin2s observing. with some surprise, tie neat
appearance Of the garden ana yard ana Inc ul-
availing repairs that had been attempted on the
old cabin. Kind O decent, pears ike" thought
the deputy marshal, as he snealed around TO ad-
vance on the house from the rear Wonder
where all tn folks is ,"
As he emerged from the thickct at the rear Of
the house and started toward il, two or three
scrawny ours rushed at him, barking hcrcely, but
no one appeared to silence them. lie spoke to
them quietly and presently they drew OIL some
what Modified but still growing suspciously
Then the deputy marshal tp-toed quietly up 10
the open window and looked ill.,
On a tumblcd, fOrlOrn-looklng bed, at the other
end of the long rooln lay propped up with the ped
clothing young woman evidently III me IasC
stages Of consumption Sme b wSs o few
minutes respite from the end that Bob could SOC,
was Sd near. Her wasted hands rested on the
heads of two little children who were crying
SOFTLY in their uncomprehending way, IN sym
pathy with the broad-shouldered man VINO, WIN
his about the dying one, as II 10 hoid her pack
from the awful shadows, was sobbing his heart
out
"Oh, Sue can't let We go. Don't 90 and leave
me-don't An Tom an Moll-they-they--'
Don't Tom" came in weak voice from the
form on the bed It's dretful hard Z go an
leave YOU all, but it has Z be. I'm glad We think
I've ben good wife TO e-an'-Tom-promise me
yell allus be good L children-won't ye, Tom.
dear ?"
The only sobbed and nodded his head.
The slight form his arms clasped was shaken by
. tit Of coughing that was awful to hear and the