Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-05-07
md the desire engendered a determine.
/ would capture him. bud how2

short, nothing at all which could us'
in making such a desperate capture
But, stayl On a rough wooden shelf
not great distance from my hand
were two bottles. one containing
chloroform llnlment. Happy Idea!
would chloroform the Apache Kid!
II should live a thousand years,
could never account for the Wild Inn
pulse that spurred me on TO perform
that rash act AS have said, am not
a particularly courageous man, and
can only account for what did by sup
posing that / was acting blindly and
thoughtlessly on the spur Of the mo-
ment.
Drawing my handkerchief from my
pocket, I stepped to the shelf and laid
my hands on one of the bottles, But
| recolled when reflected that the
odor of the narcotic might affect me
while was administering 1t to Kid.
Selling a towel, tied It about my
nostrils, fold on fold, so that, in breath
ing, l might use 1t as a filter, 80 to
speak, for the air that entered my
lungs, A moment later l had saturated
the handkerchief, and was slowly APP
preaching the recumbent form of the
redskin.
Kid slept well-at least his loud
breathing gave me this assurance-and
kept my eyes on that old Winchester
as | slowly advanced and halted beside
the cot. had neither time nor incllna-
ton to remark upon Kids countenance
as smoothed into peaceful lines by the
all-conquering hand OF slumber.
merely applied the saturated cloth to
his nostrils and held 1t there for minute
after minute, while the perspiration
started in beads on my forehead and
my rash courage oozed gradually out
my finger tips. At last, sure that the
Indian must be under the influence Of
the drug, l dropped the handkerchief
and hurried from the shanty.
My nerves tingled with excitement.
Now that had my man, what should
| do with him? Reason suggested that,
to make him secure beyond all perad-
venture, he should be bound, and
went to the stable to secure a rope.
AS turned to retrace my steps to the
house, the thought came to me with
crushing force that Kid had rarely
unattended by some brave with
a criminal tendency, Might 1t not be
that he had halted at the shanty to
wait for some red companion to join
him? What fool was. In another
instant had leaped on my horse and
was galloplng like mad for the Phoenix
mine. would get the entire outfit OF
The Phoenix and make secure the final
capture of my half-taken prisoner.
have reason to believe that the dis
lance from the Blueball to the Phoenix
has never been covered so rapidly be-
fore or since as it was by me that
night.
When I declared that I had captured
Kid, the renegade, the Phoenix boys
even jeered at me- but they all turned
out, armed themselves, and followed
ne back to the Blueball.
The candle had long since burned
out and all was dark in the shanty.
[ threw Gordon of men about the
house, however, and then entered 1t
cautiously, accompanied by three Of the
best shots from Phoenix.
Not a sound was to be heard as we
stepped into the cabin.
He's still under the influence Of the
remarked, as l struck
match and lighted a fresh candle.
When l finally turned my attention to
the cot I was amazed to find that 1t
was empty.
The Apache Kid had disappeared.
On the table lay pack of much
thumbed playing cards belonging to
Joe. One Of them-the ace Of hearts
was turned up, and on it was hastily
written the following:
when you chloroform your next
Indian, use something besides benzine.
up. S. l take your gun, having lost
mine. KID"
The note was correctly spelled and
the chirography was fair; but then Kid
had enjoyed the advantages Of a good
Indian school-some say he attended |
Carlisle.
But how was 1t | had happened to
the benzine for The chloroform
liniment bottle and why did not the
Kid rise up and annihiiate me on the
spot?
I have never been able satisfactorily |
to answer these two questions.
A Lesson In Patience.