The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-06-09


himself was mild-eyed, "sandy
lookin'" little man, with self-depre-
catory mir that suggested standing
apology on his part for presuming to
exist. He hoated into town quietly,
and so unobtrusive and modest was
he that il was several DAYS before his
presence began to he noticed, and
then only on account of n 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 people, they understood that
it is not best to Judge from appear
ances; but, OH what chump Uncle
Sam must he, to send a wee bit of
| man like this to arrest an Oklahoma
malefactorl
To be sure. nobody had the temer-
ity to suggest this to Mr.. Meeks.
There are communities in which the
one who presumes upon appearances
is taking very long chances, and Buff
falo Horn was one of these. There
fore, Mr.. Meeks was treated with
great show of respect by all the lead
ing citizens, who squared things with
themselves by privately ''giving him
the horse-laugh. And, all uncon-
scious, Mr.. Meeks kept on his way,
or, rather, stayed where he was and
who was wanted for violating score,
more or less, of the federal statutes.
In strictest confidence, aud with
child-like faith, he had impaired more
| or less information concerning his
| mission 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 grin to appear when
ever his guest was mentioned.
"Oh, but amt e easy?" chuckled
Mart to n couple of friends, one day,
rs he nodded towards the barroom,
where Mr.. Meeks was engaged in
"settin' 'em mp" to the ever ready
crowd. SD We ever see sech suck
er? Comes yere an 'xpec's tn duck
'e's layin' fer t lope right intuh tn
camp an give 'isself up, I s'pose; so
yere e stays, diggin' up fifteen n
week FIR board an spendin' copious at
tn bar. Oh, l en- stand it awhile"
"S'posin' tn man sh'd come in, all
of suddint?" said Jim Wylie, the
city marshal. "Say, / bet ed die o.
scarer'
"Who is it tn little feller wants,
Mart?" asked some one sitting by the
window.
"Sh-h-h! Easy, Frank! Oh,
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 q
day or two, that ''Kingfsher" Will
liams was the man Mr.. Meeks was
after, this rumor being based upon
the fact that the little man had been
very quietly, of concentrating in
quiries concerning that notorious per-
| son, whom numerous county and ma
tional officers were more or less anxious
| to meet. He was not known person
ally to anyone in 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 great
feather in his cap-whereupon the lit
tie 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 in
the barroom, discussing some question
or other, when the door opened, and
stranger entered and, walking up to
the bar, called for whiskey. Mr..
Meeks was looking earnestly up
ward into the big marshals face as the
stranger entered, but withdrew his
gaze for moment to glance at the
newcomer. Then he reached for his
revolver.
"There's my mani" he remarked,
calmly, in an undertone, to the mar
shal. ''Get back from the bar,
please"
Wylie, dumbfounded, did as he was
| hidden, in ii lie to see the stranger
look up just as Mr.. Meeks got him
covered.
Glands up, Mr.. Williams" COM
manded the little man. 81 want
you "
With an oath the other drew" and
for few seconds there was confu-
sion of shots, in which the city mar
shal could take no part by reason of
his revolver getting stuck aud refusing
to come forth. Then the stranger
threw up both hands in taken of sur
| render.
Have you-er--a pair of handouts,
Mr.. Wylie?" asked Mr.. Meeks. "Put
'em on him please. Sorry, Mr.. Williams,
but can't take any chances with
you. "
Williams did not answer, but gro We'd
angrily under his breath as he suu-
mitted to being handcuffed.
"I'll git you for this!" he said to
Wylie, as the latter stepped back after
finishing the operation.
"Oh, ye will, will ye? Wait ontell
nv friend Mr. Maeka oita throuol,