The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-04-26

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
bosses three times We struck his
trail, found whar his boss had broke
down an he'd stolen another. That
stolen boss meant a necktie party.
Sabe?
In 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 tibet young Teller set-7one
leg over the horn of his saddle. Fine
locker. Stood six in his stockings. L
knew him the minute l 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 man about
your size straddle of sorrel mare look
in a heap like the one you ride?'
'''No, haven't us as
That's purity good mare O yourn.'
Yes, she was worth cool five hum
dred dollars, but she's little winded
now; say, mister, Pll give you five
hundred dollars clear for that one O.
yourn and stop the DEAL He was
making q good bluff, Mister Editor.
Hoss stealth in them days was death
on the spot. He knew we war on him.
His offer would well pay for the
broken-down boss, 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 a
leetle mite played out, as we'll 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 a 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 a muscle.
Seemed kinder like shame. Neon
nell went up to him and said:
!" Now, gpard, Is everything all right?
Does it At your neck accordin' to
HoyleP'S .'&f@T 81 o hs@ 't4
i "'All right va @ 4 r. ~"
Have you anything to say why
this ere little picnic shouldn't pro-
ceed?" .rst ,g4tr. lta, Il. a#t.3
'Nothin'.' ca8.t a. 5e 80
Have We got any. word ter leave to
yer friends? If We have, max it short,
fur we're goin to break camp inside er
ten minutes n ts M"
''That young Teller took his eyes off
a bit of sage brush fur the first time
and looked us straight In the eyes.
His eyes war blue. took notice Of
that, am his face was clean and kind
of pure lookin'. He didn't seem to be
takri' much interest in what war goin'
on round him. Kinder had a far-away,
talki n'ter-the-angels look. Made me
feel as though 1 didn't count nohow.
Kept thinkin' of something l learnt in
Sunday school in Missouri when l
warn't bigger nor that basket o
papers. Then he came to, an DRAWN
a crumpled letter from his pocket,
spoke with a kinder tremble in his
voice: .tu ats fa ss
'''Perhaps you are a better scholar
nor be. If you'll jest read that an
be kind enuf to answer it, I'll tell yer
what ter say e3
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;
".ETowAH, Ga Jan 10, 1874 My Dear Son
James: For long weary months 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
reach you, thanking you for your ever thought
full care for me In my old age. But once more
TO look In your dear face and feel that my
baby boy was near me would cheer my old
heart more than to possess all the gold in
Idaho When are you coming homer You
promised me that in the spring you would
come back to me. May the good God watch
over and prosper you, and return my dear boy
TO my old arms before die. From your loving
MOTHER
Joe paused and looked vacantly up
at the ceiling. His eye followed the
drunken gyrations of the yellow wasp.
The heavy rumble of the great cylinder
warned me that the outside pages were
going to press and that more copy
would soon be needed. Still 1 waited
in silence. IAF~i