Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-30
md the desire engenderea a aeIermlna.


ton.
would capture him, but how?
cast my eyes about the shanty
There were no firearms, no rope where
with to tie a prospective prlsoner-ln
short, nothing at all which could use
IN making such a desperate capture.
But. stay! On a rough wooden shelf,
not a great distance from my hand
were two bottles. one containing
chloroform liniment. Happy idea!
would chloroform the Apache Kid!
If should live thousand years,
could never account for the wild i'm
pulse that spurred me on to perform
that rash act. AS have said, am not
a particularly courageous man, and l
can only account for what l did by sup
posing that 1 was acting blindly and
thoughtlessly on the spur Of the mo-
ment.
Drawing my handkerchief from my
pocket, l stepped to the shelf and laid
my hands on one Of the bottles. But
1 recoiled when I 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 it as filter, so to
speak, for the air that entered my
lungs. A moment later had saturated
the handkerchief, and was slowly APP
preaching the recumbent form Of the
redakin.
Kid slept well-at least his loud
breathing gave me this assurance-and
l kept my eyes on that old Winchester
as l slowly advanced and halted beside
the cot. had neither time nor inclina-
ton to remark upon Kids countenance
as smoothed into peaceful lines by the
all-conquering hand Of slumber. l
merely applied the saturated cloth to
his nostrils and held it there for minute
after minute, while the persplration
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, I dropped the handkerchief
and hurried from the shanty.
My nerves tingled with excitement.
Now that l 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 rope
AS l turned to retrace my steps to the
house, the thought came to me with
crushing force that Kid had rarely
travelled unattended by some brave will
criminal tendency. Might it not bC
that he had halted at the shanty t.
wait for some red companion to joir
him? What a fool I was. In another
instant had leaped on my horse AMI
|, was galloping like mad for the Phoeni!
mine. l would get the entire outfit o
, the Phoenix and make secure the fina
capture of my half-taken prisoner.
have reason to believe that the dis
! lance from the Blueball to the Phoeni,
has never been covered so rapidly be
fore or since as it was by me tina
J night.
! When l declared that I had capture
, Kid, the renegade. the Phoenix boy
: even jeered at me; but they all turne
out, armed themselves, and followe
r me back to the Blueball.
. The candle had long since burne
| out and all was dark in the shanty
, | threw a Gordon of men about tn
house, however, and then entered
= cautiously, accompanied by three of tn
| best shots from Phoenix.
: Not a sound was to be heard as W
, stepped iato the cabin.
5 Hes still under the influence of tn
chloroform," I remarked, as l struck
= match and lighted a fresh candle
When 1 finally turned my attention
the cot l was amazed 10 find that
e was empty.
The Apache Kid had disappeared.
! On the table lay a pack of muct
thumbed playing cards belonging
Joe. One of them-the ace of hearts
was turned up, and on il was hastil
written the following:
when you chloroform your ne!
Indian, use something besides BENIN
Up. S. l take your gun, having To-
mine. KID"
The note was correctly spelled an
the chirography was fair; but then II
had enjoyed the advantages Of a GOO
Indian school-some say he attendt
Carlisle.
But how was it I had happened
mistake the benzine for The chlorofor
liniment bottle, and why did not Il
Kid rise up and annihiiate me on Il
spot?
have never been able satisfactory
to answer these two questions.
Tpssnn In Patience,