Morning journal and courier., 1892-07-05

preached from behind. The fever in the
air had infected him. He got "rsttled,n ~
drew down everything in sight once or
twice, and misdealt repeatedly.
| Every now and then a stranger would he
ushered into the room to behold the man
who killed the Missouri bandit, and who In
consequence had the brand of Cain indeli-
| bly, marked on his forehead in the eyes of
a great many. There was no doubt about
| 1t; Ford was being looked at as q freak.
Usually he did not feel annoyed at this,
rather he enjoyed it, but on the night In
question as the strangers entered and
stared at him he became nervous, If notex-
| cited. He gave over his place as dealer
| and took the upper position as banker.
The man who was looked on as traitor by
the majority in camp because he had not
observed the ethics of the west in killing
James was nervous and feverish and sus-
picious. Once or twice when a morbidly
inclined individual appeared to take look
at him, Ford placed his hand on one of his
revolvers.
A woman, pale and sickly looking, en-
tered the..den where Ford SAT, and throwing
her arms around his neck, entreated him
to go home. In her excitement she over
turned q stack of chips and her arm swept
the board.
"Dot, go home, ,"said the outlaw gambler.
Don't make a scene"
Several of the heaviest players at the ta-
BILE rose and left it on the appearance of
the woman, as the occurrence might break
their luck. The woman paid no attention
to any one but the gambler, whom she
begged piteously to go with her.
You'll get killed tonight sure, Bob; do
come home with me-"
At the sight of the entreatin2 face we'll
known saloon keeper stepped up and in
sisted that Ford should go home.
1t was not half an hour after when man
entered the gambling den with a revolver
in his hand, with the intention of shoot
ing the man "whose hands were red with
blood money" Some days later this same
man fired two shots at Ford in the New
Orleans saloon, but it was daytime and
Ford was on guard.
In the rooms kept by tine woman who
claimed him as her husband Ford seemed
more at ease. He relaxed little, assumed
the airs of the host, and dispensed with
ons of his revolvers, but as the door opened
Ford stepped noiselessly into another
room.
"Irs Mat and his friends, " exclaimed the
woman, who, with all her depravity, seemed
Ford was hero. The intuitions that told
her of the mans dangers also seemed to
bind her to him.
With people whom he could trust impli-
city Ford was clever talker, although in
clined to be heroic. The fears of the even
ing and early morning being dispelled, he
became more communicative than ever he
had been known to be. The conversation
turned to shooting and the use of firearms.
His gray-blue eyes cleaned with fire, his
mouth twitched, and his hand sought his
hip pocket menacingly as some one men
toned the James episode.
"Don't, Bob ,don'tI" shrieked the woman
by his side, as she saw him grasp the wes-
pom.
He flung her from him savagely and she
was picked up by the women in the house,
| while he strutted up and down the room,
boyish looking in appearance and some
what effeminate appearing in his anger.
az know what done and whats goin'
to come ont of it, but amt bit
ashamed" he said defantly. His friends
calmed him.
"Ivs been shot at more times than any
man in Creede," said Il" would-bs hero,
"and l always gave good as / received" "
There" he continued, as he brought in
some clothes and threw them down, there
are the evidences"
4 narrow sOmbero was shown with q
bullet hole through it. From a vest pocket
he drew a silver dollar with two bullet
marks on il close together.
Pretty good shooting that, boys. Got
\ that in the Backet of Blood saloon, ,at Lead
VILE" said Ford rather proudly. Before
the fool could fire sgain / split his hand
and he dropped his gun"
| Tine narrative of Ford's adventures has
not nearly been completed. The ayenging
| angels of the James killing followed him in
i to New Mexico, he said. In the camp
/ where be worked a man insisted for weeks
i that he had discovered mine of wonder
| full value some ten or twelve miles from
| camp. He wanted Ford to become his
| partner, and at last persuaded the latter TO
accompany him to the spot at night. On
| the way a man heavily masked jumped
i ont, while at the same time the com mpaniOn
/ covered Ford.
1t was with no little pride that Ford re-
counted how he had disabled his compan-
| ion by shooting him through the shoulder,
| and of w0unding his other assailant with
/ out himself receiving a scratch. Then the
self assumed hero told of his later episodes
! in Wslsenburgh and Colorado City.
81 never killed man bat in self-6e-
| fence, and / have been slow in doing that,
too. Ny side has never been told about
Jesse James," continued Ford in a more
dogged mood than formerly displayed in
/ telling of his adventures. s'If / thought
l would have had to kill Jesse never
would have gone into the job. had it all
planned to get the reward for his capture,
and after that be would have escaped as he
did before. I didn't tell him that, but my
| brother knew and SO did the governor
| When the time came / called out to Jesse
10 throw up his hands. thought he had
no weapon and would quit right there. But
he didn't.
az swear to God, boys" said the gam
bier. becoming very much flushed and ex-
| cited, James tried to get the drop on me,
and he had half turned round, with his
gun in his hand, when fired. They say
1 shot him in the back, but that isn't so
If the body hadn't been taken mp could
have proved it.
81 know what have got to expect, but /
don't deserve it all the same. / suppose
I'll die in my boots"
| "Oh, no, Bob, you won't. They'll not
kill You without warning" cried Dot, as
| she threw her arms around his neck.
"1f / went out without my gun could
not walk across the street." continued the
man. and his statement had considerable
truth in ii, as there were a dozen men in
| the camp at the time who would have been
proud to have had Ford in their private
graveyard and his death to their credit.
But this one thing I'll say, and you can
stake your all on it, and that is. the man
who gets me does not live long. I'll kill
him, by hell! though it should be my last
breath"
''If you don't, 2ob," said the Creede Ca
mile, "I'll kill him"
Ford, it seems, was not much of pro-
phet.
Queen victoria's Private Car.
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