Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-07-30
NEW SERIES, Vol. Xxx, NO. 81.


whenever man puts hand ON me. /
amt spelling for a fight. specially with
you, O'Connor, and If you see your
duty make sure that it is to let me
alone. Now go away and dom t trouble
yourself any more about me. -
Tex turned to go away, but IN turn
ing he saw the marshal draw his pistol
There was quick, sharp report, puff
of smoke, and O'Connor lay writhing
ON the floor III his blood.
Again the large gambling room was
in q state OF commotion. Tables We're
upturned, and loud voices could be dis
tinguished above the din. shouting: !:
'Kill him ~ Shoot him l'' There was
general rush in the direction where
Tex had stood, but the boy had disap-
peared.
Then it was that Leadville expe-
rienced moral revulsion. When men
could no longer sit down to beguiling
game of stud poker or watch the cards
as they We're silently slipped from the
case by the nimble fingers OF the faro
dealer without being disturbed by the
crack of pistols and the accompanying
acts of violence and bloodshed it was
time TO make few examples and read
Just the moral standard of the commu
nifty.
How much greater was the necessity
when, as ON this occasion, men made
free with the executive hand of Justice
in the person of the marshal, whose
only offense had been that of trying to
cage flagrant violator of the peace and
maintain the dignity of the law. even
what little there was of it. But Tex
could nowhere be found.
Sheriff Tucker began to take the case
in hand. BE and his deputies secured
the town from one end TO the other.
They visited all of Tex's resorts and
calling places, but none had seen him
after the shooting. At last Tucker heard
that he had left town ON horseback. Hs
was probably far over the divide by this
time, but Tucker was not the sort of
man to be easily discouraged. He and q
deputy, whose aim was as accurate as
his own, and whose courage was some
thing to be banked ON in all emergen-
cies, started in pursuit. They had bet
ter horses than the animal Tex was rid-
ing, and they were soon ON the boys
trail.
Then began one of the hottest pursuits
that was ever known. BY daylight they
were in sight of the fugitive, catching
farof glimpse of him as he waved his
sombrero at them just as he slipped over
the crest of range of hills. Both par
ties had changed horses several times.
At one place Tex had traded his broken
down broncho for buggy horse, paying
the difference that the owner asked
without haggling about the price. Then
l,el fraFlad a ITfa
pony that would try to run mp n hill as
fast as he ran down, and whose spirit
nothing could conquer but death. Once
they were perceptibly gaining ON him
and tried few shots that fell short.
Just as they thought they were going
to close in on him and were putting
their horses to their best Tex waved his
sombrero over his head, standing erect
in the saddle. and gave such an unearth-
ly yell that the poor pony was frighten-
ed into convulsive effort that carried
him beyond the range of vision of Tuck
en- and his man. Yet ON they pressed,
around the shoulder of hill, and there
they saw their man-at their mercy.
His broncho had broken his neck stum-
bling over a bowlder. Tex had been
thrown down, but was too expert rider
not to find his feet. His revolver had
been hurled down bank and was be-
yond reach. His pursuers were upon
him, and the business end of two re-
volvers were ominously directed against
his breast.
Tex made bounding leap down the
bank. "Crack, crack l'' spoke two reyoly-
ers, but the bullets missed. The next
instant Tex had got possession OF his re-
volver, but the leap had broken his
wrist, and the sheriff and his man had
the drop ON him
''Tex," shouted Tucker, throw up
your hands We've got you. {"
''Shoot, d-n you, shootP'
He tried to level his own gun, but
his wrist was limp, and before he could
change it to his left hand there was an
almost simultaneous report of two pis-
tolls, and pair of bullets had passed
into his heart, Tex fell heavily ON his
side, and as the sheriff and his deputy
saw that they had done their work well
they watched him.
''Take the potl'' gasped Tex, and
died. .-Washington Post.