The Van Buren press., 1893-12-23

man warts to see lying ont OF doors,
with little creek running through
the middle of it aud fine pasture grass
growing.
"As Billy went into the valley he
made out little cabin down next 20
the creek, several miles from the foot
hills. 1t was morning. and he had lots
of time. He got down to the Geek.
got of his horse and made as II he
were prospecting along the little
stream. As he came along toward the
cabin he saw Fingered Jack and
three other fellows sitting on bench
beside the wall Their Winchesters
were oil standing against the end wall
around the corner from them. They
were all watching Billy. but didn't
seem to recognize him Or If they did
they thought they had q cinch, and
kept on smoking and chinning. without
ever q motion to get out their guns
They probably figured that when Billy
got right opposite them they'd speak to
him, and while some Of them talked
one would hold him up. Possibly they
meant to do him. But he fooled them.
HE kept prospecting along the lit
tie creek until he got fair even with
them, keeping his horse between him
and the men beside the cabin, with his
bride rein thrown over his arm. just
az he came even with them he whipped
out his two six-shooters like lightning,
jumped in front of his pony, and drew
on the four horsethieves not thirty
yards away.
"'Put up your hands, he said. Fl,
"By gad, sir, they were paralyzed.
But they recovered = quick. The
two fellows on the end jumped for
their Winchesters. Billy got the first
with his right and winged the other
with his left His horse jumped bit,
he said when he told me about it, and
bothered his arm. The other two saw
they were trapped and put up their
handa One of them wos Three Fingered
Jack
"'How are you, Jack?' says Billy.
Glad to find you at homo. I've come
q long way to see you. Now won't
you kindly turn round and stand with
your face to that wall there, while
assist your friend bit to relieve him.
Gelf Of any extra shootin' or cuttin'
irons he may have in his pockets2
Jack turned around without q
word. It's curious what o powerful
influence there Is in the drop of six
shooter; and the beauty of doing it
with gun and not Winchester Is
that you can cover two men at
once with the gun. Now there was
that gang Of train robbers down at
Rawlins. But that is another story.
Jack stood up against the wall fine
"'Thanks,' says Billy, dropping the
bride rein from his left arm, and TAX
ing some fne, stout cord ont of one Of
mis- holsters with his let had, all the
time keeping both men covered with his
right
"'Just keep your hands well up
above your head, please he said to the
other fellow; and you. Jack, just
please put your hands out behind your
back. Don't try any grab game, now.
for I'm watching, you KIN ow, and this
gun might 20 off,
Jack stuck ont his hands as he was
ordered, quiet Es L lamb. Then Billy
walked up to the other fellow and held
out the cord. There was q moose In
one end already prepared.
"'Now, said he, just have the kind
ness to put that moose over Jacks hands
and tie 1t up tight Please be careful.
I'd be sorry to have TO do any more
shooting than I've done ~
"Well. sir, the fellow did It And
then Billy got another moose and tied
the other fellow himself Then he
stood 'em both up against the wall and
went through them and took every
blooming thing they had in the way OF
metal away from them. Then he tied
their feet and set 'em down on the
ends of the bench and tied 'eln fast to
that Then he went through the fel-
low he had winged. He was bad hit
through the shoulder, and was uncon-
scious from loss of blood. Billy ban
daged him up and managed to bring
him round after bit, feeling pretty
clipper all things considered. Billy
buried the dead man and then got up
sone OF Jacks stolen horses. He lashed
the wounded man into one saddle, and
then took the rope of Jacks legs, got
him astraddle q pony and lashed his
feet together under the pony's belly.
Then he served the other chap the same
way, Ee threw all their guns into the
creek and then united their hands, but
tied their elbows together across their
backs. That left their hands free to
guide their ponies. Then he jumped on
his own pony and made those fellows
go ahead, one Of 'em leading the pony
the wounded man was riding. 1t took
Billy thirty hours to get them out over
the range, and he never took eyes off
of 'em until it was done. But he did it
and got the rewards. And ten days
after he got 'em in Laramie q lot of
their gang held up the town and took
'em out. Yes, sir, they did"
! Merely . Matter of Money.
A very eminent Philadelphia, now