The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-16

y y
sure that it is to let me alone. Now 20
away and don't trouble yourself any more
about me"
Tex turned to go away but in turning
he saw the malshal draw his pistol. There
was quick, sharp report a puff of smoke
and O'Conor lay wrthing on the floor in
his blood.
Again the large gambling room was in a
state of commotion. Tables were upturned
and loud voices could be distinguished
above the din, shouting: "Kill him ~
Shoot him. There was general rush
the hoy had disappeared.
Then it was that Leadville experienced a
moral revulsion. When men could no
longer sit down to beguiling fame of
stud poker or watch the cards as they were
silently slipped from the case by the MIN
BILE fingers of the farodealer without being
disturbed by the crack of pistols and the
accompanying acts of violence and blood
shed it was time to make few examples
and read just the the moral standard of the
community.
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 fragrant
yolator of the peace and maintain the dig
nifty 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. He and his deputies secured the
town from one end to the other. They
visited all of TeX's resorts and calling
places, Int none had seen him after the
shooting vt last Tucker heard that he
had left town on horseback. He was
probably far over he divide ny this time.
but Tucker was not the sort of man to he
discouraged lie and a deputy. whose aim
was as accurate as his OWL and who's.
courage was something to he banked on in
all emergencies, started in pursuit. They
had better horses than the animal Tex was
riding, and they were soon on the boy s
trail.
Then began one of the hottest pursuits
that was ever known. by daylight they
were in sight of the fugitive, catching q
far-otf glimpse of him as he waved his som.
brero at them just as he Slipped over the
crest of a range of hills. Both parties had
changed horses several times At one place
Tex had traded his broken down bronchc
for buggy horse, paying the difference
that the owner asked without hagglinu
about the price Then he had traded the
buggy horse for tie pony that would TT,
to run up a hill as fast as he ran down
and whose spirit nothing could conquer
hut death. Once they were perceptihl,
gaining on him and tried Il few shots tina,
fell short.
Just as they thought they were going tc
close in on him aud were putting their
horses to their best Tex waived his sombrerc
over his head, standing erect in the saddle
and gave such an unearthlv yell that the
poor pony was frightened into a convulsive
effort that carried him beyond the range Of
vision of Tucker and his man. Yet on they
pressed. around the shoulder of hill, and
there they saw their man-at their mercy.
His broucho had broken his neck stumb.
ling over bowldcr. Tex had been thrown
down, but was too expert rider not to
fine his feet. His revolver had been hurled
down a bank and was beyond reach His
pursuers were upon him, and the business
end of two revolvers were ominously
directed against his breast.
Tex made a bounding leap down the
bank. Crack, crack y spoke two revolv-
ers, but the bullets missed The next in
slant Tex had got possession of his revol-
ver but the leap had broken his wrist and
the sheriff and his man had the drop on
him.
"Tex,' shouted Tu eker 'throw up your
hands. We've got you.
''Shoot. d-n yon, shoot"
He tried to level his own gun, on but his
left hand there was an almost simultaneous
report OF two pistols, and a 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 pot!' gasped Tex, and died
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