The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-07-01

MR.. MEEKS'S PRISONER.
BY LESTER KETcHUM.


he said his name was Meehs, anu
truck thoughtful ones in Buffalo
I'M that the patronymic was sin
arly appropriate; for the gentleman
Dseif was a mild-eyed, SANDY
kim little man, with self-depre-
Orv air that suggested q standing
blogy on his part for presuming to
n He foated into town quietly,
80 unobtrusive and modest was
that it was several days before his
lsence began to be noticed, and
n only on account of q rumor that
gained circulation to the effect
he was an officer of the United
ties secret service. Then Buffalo
rnites smiled. OF course, like all
stern people, they understood that
s not best to judge from appear
ees but, OH what chump Uncle
b must be, to send a wee bit of a
h like this to arrest an Oklahoma
lefactorl
10 be sure, nobody had the temer-
to suggest this to Mr.. Meeks.
ere are communities in which the
who presumes upon appearances
aking very long chances, and Buff
D Horn was one of these. There
e, Mr.. Meeks was treated with
bat show of respect by all the lead
citizens, who squared things with
mselves by privately ''giving him
horse-laugh." And, all uncon-
GUS, Mr.. Meeks kept on his way,
rather, stayed where he was and
in wait for some certain criminal
% was wanted for violating score,
re or less, of the federal statutes.
In strictest confidence, and with
(ld-like faith, he had impaired more
less information concerning his
Bsion to Mart Winslow, the landlord
the little hotel where he was staying
and Mart being, after the manner
his kind, an inveterate gossip, soon
ead what information he had
eaned from the stranger, thereby
hsing broad grin to appear when
er his guest was mentioned.
'Oh, but amt e easy?' chuckled
rt to couple of friends, one day,
he nodded towards the barroom,
ere Mr.. Meeks was engaged in
ettin 'em up" to the ever ready
wd. sd We ever see sech a suck
Comes yere an 'xpec's tn duck
layin' fer t lope right intuh tn
mp an give 'isself up, 1 s'pose; so
fe e stays, diggin' up fifteen a
Eek f'r board an spendin' copious at
bar Oh, l en- stand it awhile"
Sposin' tn man sh'd come in, all
suddint?" said Jim Wylie, the
marshal. "Say, 1 bet ed die O.
Who is it tn little feller wants,
tY' asked some one sitting by the
hdow.
Sh-h-h! Easy, Frank! Oh,
p, not now. But I'll bet We one
g-tain't nobody he's a-goin' t.
ch right off.
came to be rumored, within a
or two, that "Kingfsher" Will
ps was the man Mr.. Meeks was
this rumor being based upon
TACT that the little man had been
fry quietly, of course-making in
les concerning that notorious per-
wnom numerous county and ma
~ ohcers were more or less anxious
meet. He was not known person
10 anyone in Buffalo Horn, but
Wylle assured the little man
Aingfisher Williams was a very
man indeed, and that if Mr.. Meeks
yea his capture it would be q great
ler IN his cap-whereupon the lit
pan swelled up considerably aid
ed Mr.. Wylie to join him at He
was about week after this Con
'tion that the secret service 4ficer
me city marshal were standing in
,arroom, discussing some Question
her' when the door oper5d, and
niger entered and, walking up to
par' called. for whisky. Mr..
was looking earneAy up
INTO the big marshal's foe as the
ger entered, but witlirew his
or a moment to glane at the
pmer. Then he reached for his
here's my mani' he marked,
y IN an undertone, to The mar
Get back from be bar,
ne, dumbfounded, didss he was
IN tine to see thystranger !
up Just as Mr.. Meel got him
nnds up, M. WilliaSf' COM $
- the little "a en. "INnt your !.
! an oath then Pther 'aew, and \
s~ secopdsitH1re Re wal, confu- a
,,,s1 sssots, in sghiek kths ty mar : :
roIve, @ .asse : eqp s Part eason OF :
oiSer gesting stpclS ! efusing
y lietth, rTbena III granger .
" both hsnds ii ptAS N sur a, q,
ee you-uVer a pair of odE ifs, al
siisy asked Mr. WI n6ontsut
lnlRl nj ga ~ q Il y = {. g..