Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-04-01
7 Il said his name was Meeks,

II said his name was MeekS,
n and it struck thoughtful ones
- - in Buffalo Horn that the pa
tronymic was singularly appropriate;
for the gentleman himself was a mild
eyed. SANDY -lookin'" little man, with
self-deprecatory air that suggested
a standing apology Oh his part for pre-
suming to exist. He floated into town
quietly, and so unobtrusive and modest
was he that it was several days before
his presence began to be noticed, and
then only on account of 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!
what chump Uncle Sam must be, to
send wee bit of man like this to
arrest an Oklahoma malefactor!
10 be sure. nobody had the temerity
to suggest this to Mr.. Meeks There are
communities in which the one who pre-
sumes upon appearances Is taking very
long chances, and Buffalo Horn was
one of these. Therefore, Mr.. Meeks
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 law i'm Nuait u,
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 a broad
grin to appear whenever his guest was
mentioned.
"Oh, but amt q easy?" chuckled
Mart to II couple of friends, one day,
as he nodded towards the bar-room,
where Mr.. Meeks was engage! in set
tin 'em up" to the ever-ready crowd.
'D' We ever see sech sucker? Comes
yere an 'Xpec'S tn duck 'e's layin' fer
t lope right intuh tn camp an give
'isself up. s'poSe; so yere'e stays. dig
gin up fifteen n week f'r board an
spcndin' copious ut tn bar. oh. | en-
stand it awhile"
"Gawd! S'posin' tn man sh'd come
in, all of Il suddint?" said Jim Wylie,
the city marshal. Say, bet ed die O.
scarew
What is 1t tn little feller wants,
Martt" asked some one sitting by the
window.
"Sh-h-h. Easy. Frank! ." oh.
dno', not now. But I'll bet We one
thng-'tain't nobody he's a-goin' t
ketch right Off"
1t came to be rumored. within day
or two, that "Kingiisher" Williams
was the man Mr.. Weeks was after. this
rumor being based upon the fact that
the little man had been-very quietly,
of courSe-maklng inquiries concerning
that notorious person. whom numerous
county and national officers were more
or less anxious to meet. He was not
known personally to any one in Buffalo
Horn, but Mr.. Wylle assured the little
man that Kingtisher Williams was n
very bad man, indeed. and that II Mr.
Meeks effected his capture 1t would be
great feather In his whereupon
the little man swelled up considerably
and invited Mr.. Wylie to join him at
the bar.
1t was about week after this con.
versation that the secret-service officer
and the city marshal were standing I'm
the bar-room, discussing some question
or other, when the door opened and A
stranger entered and. walking I'm to
the bar, called for whisky. Mr.. Meeks
was looking earnestly upward into the
big marshars face rs the stranger en-
tered, but withdrew his gaze for a mo.
ment to glance at the newcomer. Then
he reached for his revolver.
There's my man." he remarked,
calmly. in an undertone, to the marshal
Get back from the bar. please"
Wylie, dumbfounded. did as he was
bidden, In time to see the stranger look
up Just as Mr.. Meeks got him covered.
Hands up, Mr.. willlamsw com.
S@nded the little man. II want your