Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-01-26

equals when it came to ialr anu
square gun-fght. If any one had told
them that the "Kid" would outwit
them and escape they would have
laughed at the very thought of it.
For months the "Kid' was as docile
as kitten. The guards became used
to him, then familiar and then friend
ly. He seemed to have forgotten that
they had helped to cage him and we're
his custodians, and as time passed the
trio became boon companions, The
guards laughed at the "Kid's' stories
of his exploits, played cards with him
during their long watches and would
often remove one of the "cufs' from
his wrist, so that he could manipulate
his cards or ply knife and fork at meal
times. Whenever this was done both
handouts we're fastened to the right
wrist, and thus locked in cell with
one of his stalwart guards the little
cutthroat was safe enough.
Ollinger and Bell took turns at
watching in the Jail and relieved each
other to go to dinner. One day when
Ollinger had gone across the street to
restaurant Bell took the ''Kid' from
his cell to an upstairs room in the
little two-story adobe Jail. He put
some food on table for him and then
unfastened the left cuff and locked 1t
on the prisoners right wrist
The "Kid" sat down aad began to
eat without the slightest apparent
concern. While he was munching the
coarse prison fare Bell strobe restless
ly up and down the room. He wore
no coat and his heavy revolver pro-
truded from the holster attached to
his cartridge belt. Each time he
walked the room he passed within two
feet of where the "Kid" sat, and once
when he came within reach the Kid, -
with the quickness Of a cat leaped
from his chair and dealt him rap on
the head with the handouts. Bell
staggered under the blow, and before
he could recover the ''Kid' had
snatched the revolver from the holster
and sent bullet through Bells body
The guard tottered and fell and IN q
few moments was dead.
Ollnger was across the street and
had, no doubt. heard the shot The
outlaw seized double -barreled shot
gun and ran ont on the front balcony.
Already Ollinger had crossed the
street. He had come on the run, but
before his foot struck the steps he fell
with load of buckshot in his heart.
The murderer walked carelessly
down the stairs, stepped over Ollin-
gers PROSTATE form and strutted down
the street with the revolver and shot
gun in his hands. A blacksmith was
shoeing horse in a neighboring shop,
and BILLY the Kid easily persuaded
him to desist, then mounted and rode
out of town at a walk, saying just be
fore he started: 'Now for the Gov
ernor.
The news. of the escape quickly
reached Santa Fe, and Governor Wal
lace's friends became very uneasy lest
the "Kid" should carry out his threat.
The Governor himself was not entirely
tranquil in The circumstances. 1t is
one thing to face an enemy on the
open field and quite another to have a
treacherous foe dogging ones foot
steps.
Brave as Governor Wallace had
shown himself to be, he recognized
the danger and prepared to meet it.
At that time he had already begun
''Ben Hur," and used to sit for hours
in his Office each day engaged upon
the absorbing work. From the day
upon which "Billy the Kid escaped
from the Lincoln County Jail, a close
observer entering the Office might
have detected lying on the table, par
TALLY hidden among papers and scraps
of manuscript, the CLINT of pistol,
for the Governor was never without
one while he knew that his arch-enemy
was at large.
The people of Santa Fe we're well
aware that the head of the Territorial
Government was preparing for war,
for every morning about Z o'clock the
sharp crack of a reyolyer being fired
rapidly resounde1 from the corral in
the rear of the GuOernatorial resi-
dence. 1t soon became known that it
was Governor Wallace improving him
self as a pistol shot preparatory to an
impromptu duel with BILLY the Kid.
A figure had been marked on the
adobe wall Of the corral, and the Gov
ernor filed it full of holes. He became
so expert that he could knock an i'm
imaginary eye out of the figure q
twenty PAGES. He made no bones Ct
the matter and, in fact could be ees..y
seen from the adjoining houses.
During the weeks which ELAPSED os-
fore the termination of this period o.
suspense Pat Garrett was in he, puf-
suit of "Billy the Kid" 1t was a
most remarkable and exciting chase
The whole Territory was deeply intent
upon it, and news of the whereabouts
of the two men was eagerly looked
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