Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-06-15
SECOND sIonr SHOOTING.
An Old MarIsman's Sad Shot Mt a IleeIl
Convict.

An Old Marksman's Sad Shot Mt Fleeing
Convict.
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.
"We do need more guards" the
Superintendent replied "but do you
think that you can serve our pur-
poser"
eyes, think | can"
"But you're pretty Old"
II know that but I've got my
second sight, and can shoot a gun
about as well as | ever could, and
that's one Of the main requirements,
l reckon"
ayes; the orders are strict-shoot
any convict that attempts to get
away. But it strikes me that you are
a little too old"
The old fellow stood under a lamp
swinging from a crossbeam in the
guardroom. His gray whiskers and
his white hair catching the moving
light and the following shadow, gave
him a welrdly venerable look.
"Now, you may think I'm too old,
but Pm not, )" he urged. "I'll kill any
man that tries to get away; and not
only this, If they should try to over
power me they'll find me the handlest
man with a gun they ever saw.
Cap'n, l wish you'd give me the
place, for / need 1t. Somehow |
haven't the heart to do much Of any
thing, and for a good while l have
just been drifting from one place tc
another. Familys all gone-wife's
dead, and my children are scattered
everywhere. Give me the place, Cap
tain, and I'll do my duty"
What is your name?"
swell, l have been called old
Ambrose so long that l hardly know
what my other name Is. Reckon
you'd better call me Old Ambrose.
II don't know whether to take you
or not, Mr.. Ambrose.
"Old Ambrose, If you please"
"All right then, Old Ambrose. AS ]
was saying / don't know whether tc
take you or not. A number Of con
vlcts have got away lately, and the
lessee ls held responsible, and he, Of
course, looks to me-"
didn't I tell you I'd got my second
sight?"
ayes, that's all very well, but still
/ am afraid. But we do need an
other man. Are you willing to get
up mornings at o. clock9"
my dear sir, can't sleep after 4
o. clock"
"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 then, Old Ambrose. III
try you for a while, any way. To
morrow morning you will go with q
gang to the second embankmenti
about two miles from here, and you'll
have to get up earlier than o'clock.
"All right, sir"
"And l think you'd better turn in
now, so as to get enough sleep"
II will, SIR"
@By the way, your guns In Che
corner"
"Thank you, sir"
Early the next morning the ole
man moved out with the squad, and
Just before the embankment was
reached he thus addressed brother
guard: Il hate to do this kind OF
work, but the truth is Pm hardly fl
for anything. I've travelled two hun
dred miles since had a regular job,
and l made a dead set at this one,
and I'm going to keep it If I can. J
reckon all a man has before him IL
his duty, and l never had my duty tx
scare me yet l hope / won't have
to shoot at one of these convicts, for
as / said last night, I've got my
second sight, and man that ever
could shoot can shoot better thar
ever when his second sight comes"
Old Ambrose stood at one end Of
the embankment 1t was just about
daylight. Suddenly convict fell,
rolled down the embankment, and
then, springing to his feet, made {
break for a wood not a great distance
away,
"Halt~ Old Ambrose cried. The
convict paid no attention. Three
times did Old Ambrose cry halt, ant
then fred. The convict fell.
"You got him, said the construc
tion boss, coming forward.
eyes, and / know he's done for. J
was going to shoot him in the leg
but just as / pulled the trigger he
stepped in a low place. I'm going
over to see the poor fellow"
The construction boss went with
him. 1t was now broad daylight
The convict lay on his face The
construction boss turned him over
~Merciful Cod" Old Ambrose cried
sinking upon his knees. 1t was his
son. Chicago journal.