The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-27
HIS SECOND SIGHT.
The Pathetic Outcome OF IN Old Man
Good Aim.

ITO S6SON6 Si0Itss
The Pathetic Outcome OF IN Old Mans
Good Aim.
One night an old fellow came to the
stockade where the convicts were
penned, and said that he had heard
that more guards were needed.
Eve do need more guards" the SUI
perintendent replied. ''but do you think
that you can serve our purpose?"
Eyes, think I can"
.sBut you're pretty old"
ST know that, but I've got my second
sight and 1 can shoot gun about as
well as ever could. and that's one of
the main requirements, l reckon"
Eyes, the orders are strict--shoot any
convict that attempts to get away. But
it strikes me that you are little too
old"
The old fellow stood under lamp
swinging from cross-beam in the
gard room. His gray whiskers and
his white hair. catching the moving
light and the following shadow, gave
him weirdly venera bic look.
Now you may think I'm too old, but
I'm not" he urged ''rn kill any man
that tries to get away; and not only
this, if they should try to overpower
me they'll find me the handiest man
with a gun they ever saw. Cap'n, L
wish you'd give me this place, for l
need it Somehow haven't the heart
to do much of anything, and for good
while 1 have just been drifting from
one place to another. Family's all
gone-wife's dead, and my children are
scattered everywhere. Give me the
place. cap'n, and I'll do my duty"
''What is your name?
"Well, I've been called old Ambrose
so long that l hardly know what my
other name is. Reckon you'd just bet
ter call me Old Ambrose"
81 don't know whether to take you
or not. Mr. Ambrose"
"Old Ambrose. if you please"
'All right, then, Old Ambrose. AS
was saying, 1 don't know whether to
take you or not. A number of convicts
have got away lately and the lessee is
held responsible, and he. of course,
looks to me"
'But didn't tell you that Ia got my
second sight?"
Eyes, that's all very we'll, but still, l
am afraid But we do need another
man Are you willing to get up morn
ings at five o'clock"
MY dear sir, can't sleep after four
o'clock.
'And you can stand a diet OF corn
bread and beef?"
my dear sir, wheat bread gives me
dyspepsia and beef is my only meat
"All right, Mr.. Ambrose"
'Old Ambrose. sir"
'All right, Old Ambrose, I'll try you
for while anyway. Tomorrow morn
ing you will go with a gang to the
second embankment, about two miles
| from here, and you'll have to get uE
earlier than five o'clock"
''All right, SIR
"And | think you had better turn in
now so as to get enough sleep"
81 WILL sir"
''By the way, there's your gun in the
corner"
81 thank you, sill"
Early the next morning the old mar
! moved out with the squad, and just be
! fore the embankment was reached 'h'
| thus addressed brother guard: -
hate to do this sort of work. but the
truth is, I'm hardly fit for anything
I've travelled two hundred miles since
had a regular job, and l made a deaf
set at this one, and I'm going to keel
it if can. | reckon all a man has be
fore him is his duty, and l never hat
my duty to scare me yet l hope
won't have to shoot at one of these con
victs, for, as / said last night, I've go
my second sight, and a man that eve
could shoot can shoot better than eve
when his second sight comes"
Old Ambrose stood at one end OF tn
embankment. 1t was just about day
light. Suddenly a convict fell, rolle'
down the embankment and Their
springing to his feet made break TO
a skirt of woods not great distanc
away.
Halt, Old Ambrose cried. The cor
vict paid no attention. Three times di
Old Ambrose cry halt and then he free
The convict fell
! "YOu got him, said the construcllo
boss, coming forward.
Yes and l know he's done for
was going to shoot him in the leg br
just as pulled the trigger he steppe
in a low place. I'm going over to Sc
! the poor fellow"
The construction boss went with hin
1t was now broad daylight The col
vict lay on his face. The constructio
boss turned him over: "Merciful God
Old Ambrose cried, sinking upon n
knees The convict was his son. OPP
R,.ad, in Chicago Journal