The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-17

| he was satisfied they were the two
| men who had brushed past him SO
shortly before.
| Have you any paper?' asked Bow
ers Of the man behind tho bar. II
would like to write note"
The barkecper fumbled around, NUT
tering that this weren't no stationery
store" and finally produced soiled
sheet and handed it over the bar.
Pulling out his pencil Bowers de1ib-
erately wrote his note. He then
bought another whisky aud entered
into a conversation with the bar
keeper, all the time striving to evolve
some feasible plan to effect the capture
of the murderers. as he believed them
to be.
Whatever his scheme might have
been it was cfectually stopped by tho
parties taking their departure.
ut will not do to loss sight Of them,
thought Bowers. "I'll follow them
until run in with an officer and put
him on their trail"
Rapidly. and, as he fancied, mob
served, he glided in their footsteps,
through dimly-lghted streets and dark
alleys, never once losing sight of them.
Suddenly they turned corner, and
Bowers qnickened his gait
Alas! for poor Bowersl As he turned
that corner. hot in pursuit, heavy
blow from the butt end of a revolver
laid him low. Several more followed,
but he did not feel them.
Unconscious and bleeding they left
him. where he was found at early dawn
by.a policeman, who ran for an am bu-
lance and scnt poor Bowers to the dis
pensary.
There bis wounds were dressed, and
as be was unable to give any intelli-
giblc reply to questions concerning his
identity. he was loaded into the am bu-
lance again and sent to tho city hospi-
tai
Next day the newsboys were shout
ing: IAN about the double murderP'
The papers were full of it. A bank
president living in the West End had
been murdered in his own home by
burglars A brave policeman. who had
caught them in the act, also had fallen
q victim to the villains. The only eye
witness to tho deed was missing. The
whole affair was shrouded in mystery.
A half dozen suspects were landed
behind the prison bars. Bowers could
not be found at his address He had
not shown up at the Office. We were
scared. Rewards to the extent of ten
thousand dollars were offered for the
detection Of the guilty parties
Late in the afternoon of the third
day a messenger came to me saying I
was wanted at the City hospital
Hurrying to that point I was shown
into the surgical ward, where over in
one corner ON an iron cot lay poor
Bowers fastening to his bedside I
grasped his hand
The sight of familiar face worked
revolution. His mind cleared instant
~. Tho nurses said he had been de-
irious most of the time.
Come" said he; ''get me out of this,
purity quick"
I expostulated. But Bowers was
firm in his determination. 1 knew the
superintendent and got him to sign his
release.
Hos all right now. so long as he
has his WITS" said the superintend-
ent NE was more shocked than
hurt"
Bundling him into the carriage
drove. at his request, directly TO the
Office of the chief of police.
Come on said Bowers He was
cool and steady now.
Gaining our admittance. Bowers pro.
ceeded to mako known his GRAND.
From beginning to end, he told all he
knew concerning the murder-how he
had recognized tho two mon in the
saloon; how he had asked for paper to
write note; how he had followed
them in the hopes OF finding an officer;
how he had turned the corner hot IN
pursuit; and there his narrative ended.
because that was as far as he went
But what was your idea of writing
. note?" asked the chief.
Here's the note," said Bowers,
it to him. "You can read it
yourself"
One glance at that soiled piece of
paper and the chief of police rose and
striding over to where Bowers sat-
thrust out his hand, saying:
Shake hands with me, my boy.
You've the right stuff in you. That's
the most welcome note l ever read.
It's not exactly q note, but it's accurate
likenesses of two of tho most desperate
criminals now unhung. And if don't
catch them aud see them hanged am
no longer fit to wear the uniform of
the chief of police"
And he did catch them. And we all
saw them hang. And the reward was
divided between Bowers and the de- i
tecttves who made the arrests, Bowers
getting the lions share.
Il guess I'll 90 to Europe purity |
soon," said Bowers when the money
was paid over to him.
And he went.
He did not write We have never |
heard from him.
That has been some years ago; b:t /
q friend OF mine, who knows moro |
about pork than pictures. tells me that
the last time he was in Paris he saw . |
painting by an American artist which /
was then creating q great furore in |
art circles. which painting was OF one |
log in twenty-seven different posi- !
lions
An Inglof1ous Retreat,
Peddler-I have here. madam, some
thing that should like to-