Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-04-01

Mr.. : MEEKS' : PRISONER.


body was hurt; and the general senti-
ment was of the well, I'll be dog
goned"' variety.
That night Mr.. Meeks had a levee
and bluShingly received the congra tula-
tons of the best citizens of Buffalo
Horn during a period of two hours,
while his now staunch friend. Jim
Wylie. obligingly guarded his desper-
ate prisoner. Had he been a less tenn
perate man, he might have retired
/ somewhat the worse for liquor. as did
| most of the citizens of Buffalo Horn;
but he kept his wits about him and was
as sober as his prisoner when they
turned in
Next morning. n half-score Of leading
citizens had sufficiently recovered from
the nights revelrieS to accompany him
and his prisoner to FourMile Creek.
This honor was modestly protested
against by the little man. who seemed
not to see that he had done anything
remarkable but he was hooted down.
and when they reached Four-Mile his
escort parted from his with three ro,is-
ing cheers and volley of revolver
shots by way of salute.
1t was about one o'clock in the after
non when an excited, hatless man,
mounted on a painting horse that
dripped with perspiration. dashed up
to the Hotel Winslow, in front of which
n number of citizens were sitting discus
sing the events of the day and night
previous. and hoarsely announced:
L i,,.rf ,1,n,, 1,a'. Ii 1n1
what? Who?" asked Wnslow.
'What We talkin about. man,
The stranger was gaSping for breath,
but presently managed to explain that,
twenty miles south, he had been resting
under a tree by stream when little
man and Il big man, whom he had
known in Kinglisher as "Kinglsher"
Williams, came along and dismounted
near by. The little man was leaning
over to get a drink when Williams
sneaked up behind him and struck him
down with his handouts. After this,
said the stranger he saw Williams take
the keys from the little mans pocket
and unlock his handouts. Then he shot
the insensible victim with the latter's
own gun, mounted. and rode away: and
the newcomer hurried into Buffalo
Horn the faster because Williams
caught sight of him as he was leaving
! and took a few shots at him.
IVY didn't We shoot back-'r else git
tn drop on i'm wen e hit little Meeks
wi tn bracelets?" asked Jim Wylie,
fiercely.
"'Cause. in the first place. l didn't
think ed kill tn man. Secondhand
the stranger eyed Wylie quizzically-
81 reckon We han't real well acquainted
18th Kingfisher Williams, be ye?"
In less than an hour the little town
was practically depopulated of men, all
but the cashier of the local bank and a
few bar-tenders having gone on the
warpath to catch and hang Kingfisher
Williams for the murder of Mr.. Meeks.
The stranger did not accompany them,
his horse being blown and himself not
being anxious to meet Mr.. Williams.
However, it made no difference. as ev-
cry one knew the ford which the
stranger said was the scene of the
tragedy.
Thus. nearly every one being gone
southwark to mete out justice to the
alleged murderer of Mr.. Meeks, 1t was
really child's play for that gentleman
and Mr.. Williams, emerging from their
hiding-place In the hills just north of
the town, and joining the stranger who
had brought the news, to loot the bank,
three stores, the hotel, and every saloon
in the place. and to get safely away on
fresh horses at least three hours before
the pursuit could be organized.
And that is why every officer whose
business takes him into Buffalo Horn
and neighboring towns is looked upon
with suspicion until his credentials are
apprOved.-LesterK etchum, in the San
Francisco Argonaut.