Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-04-01
r Il said his name was Meeks,
. and il struck thoughtful ones

4 Il in Buffalo Horn that the pa
tronynic was singularly appropriate;
for the gentleman himself was a mild
eyed "SandylOokin' little man, with
Il self-dcprecatOry air that suggested
a standing apology on his part for pre-
Stunning to exist. He floated into town
quietly. and so unObtrusive and modest
was he that it was several days before
his presence began to he noticed, and
then only on account of a rumor that
had gained circulation to the effect that
he was an officer of the United States
Secret Service. Then Buffalo Hornites
smiled. OF course, like all Western peo-
pie. they understood that 1t is not best
to judge from appearances; but, oh.
send a wee bit of man like this to
arrest an Oklahoma malefactOr!
TO be sure. nobody had the temerity
to suggest this to Mr. Meeks. There are
communities in which the one who pre-
sumcs upon appearances is taking very
long chances, and Buffalo Horn was
one of these. Therefore. Mr.. Mceks
was treated with great show of respect
by all the leading citizens, who squared
things with themselves by privately
giving him the horse-laugh." And, all
unconscious. Mr.. Meeks kept on his
way. or. rather. stayed where he was
and lay in wait for some certain Grim
inal who was wanted for violating a
score. more or less. of the Federal
statutes.
In strictest confidence, and with
child-like faith, he had impaired more
or less information concerning his mis-
sion to Mart WinslOw, the landlord of
the little hotel where he was staying
and Mart being, after the manner of his
kind, an inveterate gossip. soon spread
what information he had CLEANED from
the stranger, thereby causing broad
UNTO appear whenever his guest was
mentioned.
"Oh. but amt e easy?" chuckled
Mart to couple of friends. one day,
as he nodded towards the bar-room
where Mr.. Meeks was engaged in set
tin EN- up to the ever-ready crowd.
"D' ye-ever see scch a sucker? Comes
yere an 'Xpec's tn duck 'e's layin' fer
t. lope right intuh tn camp an give
ITSELF up. l s'pose; so yere'e stays. dig
gin up fifteen a week FIR board an
spendin' copious at tn bar. Oh, en-
stand it awhile"
"Gawd! S'posin' tn man sh'd come
in, all of a suddint?" said Jim Wylie,
ate, al 1,oA 49, -
scare!'
What is it TIL little Teller wants,
Mart:" asked some one sitting by the
window.
"Sh-h-h! Easy, Frank! Oh.
l dino, not now. But I'll bet We one
thing-'tain't nobody he's a-goin' t
ketch right off"
1t came to be rumored, within day
or two. that "Kingfisher' Williams
was the man Mr. Weeks was after this
rumor being based upon the fact that
the little man had been--very quietly,
that notorious person. whom numerous
county and national officers were more
or less anxious to meet. He was not
known personally to any one i'm Buffalo
Horn. but Mr. Wylie assured the little
man that Kingfisher Williams was a
very bad man. indeed. and that if Mr..
Meeks effected his capture it would be
a great feather in his whereupon
the little man swelled up considerably
and invited Mr. Wylie to join him at
the bar.
1t was about n week after this con-
versation that the secret-service officer
and the city marshal were standing in
the barrOom, discussing some question
or other. when the door opened and a
stranger entered and, walking up to
the bar. called for whisky. Mr.. Meeks
was looking earnestly upward into the
big marshals face as the stranger Ell
tered. but withdrew his gaze for mo-
ment to glance at the new conner. Then
he reached for his revolver.
"There's my mani" he remarked.
calmly. in an undertone, to the marshal.
Get back from the bar please"
Wylie. dumbfounded, did as he was
hidden. in time to see the stranger look
up just as Mr.. Meeks got him covered.
Glands up. Mr.. Williamsw COM
manded the little man. II want you."
With an oath, the other drew" and
for few seconds there was con-
fusion of shots. in which the city mar
shall could take no part by reason of his
revolver getting stuck and refusing to
come forth. Then the stranger threw
up both hands. in token of surrender.
Have yOu-er-a pair of handouts,
Mr.. Wylie?" asked Mr.. Meeks. PUT
'em on him, please. Sorry. Mr.. Will
Jams, but | can't take any chances with
you"
Williams did not answer, but growled
angrly under his breath as he sub
mitted to being handcuffed.
"I'll git you for this!" he said to
Wylie. as the latter stepped back after
finishing the operation.
''Oh. We will, will We? Wait ontell my
friend, Mr.. Meeks. gifts through 18th We,
Mr.. Williams" was the cheerful reply.
Wan t. put i'm in tn cooler?' asked
the marshal, presently.
mo, thanks. He'll bunk with me to-
night, and tomorrow we leave. Much
obliged, all the same"
1t was not more than an hour before
every one in Buffalo Horn knew that
little Mr.. Meeks had, single
captured the notorious Kingfisher WILL