The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-13
HE CAUGHT THE BOYS
But Tom COrbett Lost Many Chunks
of His Breath.
THEY WANT TO BE HOBOES
The Youngsters Wait for a Freight,
Which Theo Didn't Catch, So
They Count Ties for
Few Weary Miles.

Missoula, March 12-when Tom Cor
bett took the eastbound train for Ana
conda tonight, he had hardly recov-
cred his breath which he lost a little
at a time this morning while chasing
two runaway boys across the prairie
beyond De Smet 1t is not usual
occurrence for the deputy sheriff to
hurry, but he did so this morning all
right and has not yet recovered his
equilibrium. BY the time he reaches
Anaconda he will probably be breath
ing naturally but he will not forget his
experience for 4 long. long time
The way Tom came to hurry was
this: Last night, Harry Jackson and
Bonnie Mulligan, two lads about IL
years old. quietly packed up their good
clothes and. without bidding their par
ents goodbye, started out to buffet the
tough old world alone and unaided.
They were going west. How far they
didn't know, but they were going till
they found something that suited them.
Their first move was toward the rail-
road, where they expected to catch a
freight train that would land them in
Hope this morning. They waited
around in the dark until they were too
sleepy to wait any longer and then
went over to the Helena hotel, where
they engaged a room.
They registered at the hotel Office as
Harry Jackson and II. Gregory. They
paid their bills and went to bed Be
fore breakfast this morning they were
up and away but still no freight train
was in sight. They had slept well and
the lack of railway transportation
didn't dismay them, so they took deep
breaths of the morning air and started
out afoot. The morning was beautiful
and the walking was good as they
trudged on out of sight of the city that
had been their home, but which would
shelter them no longer.
About this time Deputy Sheriff Cor
bett appeared upon the scene, inspired
by the appeals of the boys parents.
He made diligent inquiry about the de-
pot and yards and finally discovered
a man who had seen the boys walk
away He also learned that they had
left before breakfast IL was the work
of but a few minutes to get "a team and
start for De Smet
AS the officer drove up TO the station
at this place an hour later. he caught
glimpse of one of the boys on the
platform. The runaways smelled a
mouse and lodged around the building
and behind an engine that stood on the
track. When they had screened them
selves with the engine. they ran across
the fields. BY the time the officer got
around to where he could see them
they were 200 yards away and running
like deer. Tom drew a long breath and
started after them, but he could no
more overtake them than he could fly.
He made a good run for about 100
yards, and then his breath, which had
been dropping in chunks as he ran
along, gave out entirely. The boys had
crossed a 40-acre field and were crawl
ing through a fence when Tom ran
short of breath and were going faster
all the time.
There was but one thing for the off,
Ger to do in this predicament and he
did IL. He drew his gun and disposed
of his last breath by yelling to the fly
ing lads. They turned and he waved
his gun at them. They heap savayed"
and slowly took the back trail. Mean
while. Tom had been picking up his
breath which was scattered all over
the prairie and when they came up TO
him, he could talk sufficiently To tell
them TO walk back to the station.
Rather than have them win again, he
took out his handouts and shackled
them together. In this way they
reached the station and climbed into
the buggy.
The ride home was a quiet one. The
boys didn't say much until they had
almost reached home. Tom Bonnie
wanted to know If the officer wouldn't
remove the handouts. They were al
bowed to remain on the Juvenile wrists
until the boys felt pretty bad and then
they were taken off. The recovered fu-
gitives were locked in the woman's de-
partment of the county Jail and after
ward turned over to their parents.