The Forrest City times., 1895-04-19

ner the splash-splash--sp of an ir-
rigating wheel seemed to be rehears-
Ing It's version of the incident that so
weighed on the drivers mind. The
sun beat down on the tin roof and
adobe walls of the old office with a
fierce, white intensity that awakened
the man from his rumination.
1T was hotter day nor this out
there on the mesa, when that young
chap stepped out from behind little
clump of greasewood and as'd me per-
lite ernuf ter throw up my hands. No
! argument in the face of that thar
| shootin iron, Mister Editor. He took
over four thousand clean dust and
made for Salt Lake on the back of my
bes' leader. Never hearn tell how we
caught him? No? Wall, We see,
took my wheel hoss and made for
Boise. Found Bill Mcconnell, gov
ernor and senator since, the same,
Col Robbins, Jim Agnew an Hank
Fisher. We made bee line cross
country to head him off. Changed
hosses three times. We struck his
trail, found whar his hoss had broke
down an he'd stolen another That
stolen hoss meant necktie party.
Sabe?
I'm twenty-four hours we came in
sight of him. Hoss played out. Game
up Nothin' but sand and sage brush
fur miles, except one lone tree. Kinder
placed there by Providence, Mcconnell
said. Thar thet young feller set-one
leg over the horn of his saddle. Fine
locker. Stood six in his stockings. /
knew him the minute / sot eyes on
him. He knew me, but never twigged.
Bill Mcconnell war ahead, and he
opened the meetin' without singin'.
Good morning, stranger
Good morning.
"'Seen anything of a man about
your size straddle of a sorrel mare look
in heap like the one you ride?'
"'No, l haven't
"'That's purity good mare o yourn.'
"'9es, she was worth a cool five hun
dred dollars but she's little winded
now; say, mister, I'll give you five
hundred dollars clear for that one o.
yourn and stop the deal He was
making a good bluff, Mister Editor.
Hoss stealin in them days was death
on the spot. He knew we war on him.
His offer would well pay for the
brokendown hoss, and he war "a
bankin' that his money would pull
him through. But, yer see, he didn't
know Mcconnell. Mac had been cap'n
of the vigilants back in '63, up in ther
Basin, and had name ter keep white
He just smiled at the mans innocence
That's straight blind o. your'n, pard,
an it stands us to come in, but we're
thar an hold you over. You look
leetle mite played out, as well as yer
mare. If you'll jest get down an jine
our little party, it'll stretch yer legs,
an mebbe We need stretchin' all over
HE got little white under the
gills, but slid down without word.
We followed suit, and Agnew threw
over his head moose, an passin' the
other end over limb of that lone old
tree, nodded that things war ready.
THAT young fellow was game ter
the last. Never moved muscle.
Seemed kinder like shame. McCon-
nell went up to him and said:
"'Now, pard, is everything all right?
Does it fit your neck accordin' to
Hoyle?
"'All right
Have you anything to say why
this ere little picnic shouldn't pro-
ceed?"
=" 'Nothin''
"'Have We got any word ter leave to
yer friends? If ye have, make it short,
fur we're goin' to break camp inside er
ten minutes
That young feller took his eyes off
a bit of sage brush fur the first time
and looked US straight in the eyes.
His eyes war blue. l took notice of
that, an his face was clean and kind
of pure lookin'. He didn't seem to be
takin' much interest in what war goin'
on round him. Kinder had far-away,
talki n rthe-angels look. Made me
feel as though l didn't count nohow.
Kept thinkin' of something l learnt in
Sunday school in Missouri when /
warn't bigger nor that basket o.
papers. Then he came to, an drawin'
a crumpled letter from his pocket,
spoke with kinder tremble in his
voice:
/ Fernaps you are oetter scholar
nor be. If you'll jest read that an
be kind enuf to answer it, I'll tell yer
what ter say
Mcconnell had already passed the
coil of rope to Jim Agnew and he had
drawn it taut. He took the letter, an,
as we hung around kinder curious like,
he opened it an read out loud
| ".ErowAH Ga Jan 49, 1874 My Dear Son
James: For long weary months l have waited
| for news from you. since your last dear letter
to your old mother God bless you, James
/ and answer my prayers. that this letter may