The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-23
COPYRIGHT. 1896. ay. } 8 llpplworr COMPANY ]

With the sheriff anG Mr.. Camp tho
walked over TO the saloon, where judy
Wilson was waiting to dispose of Ii,
case. Mr.. Cullen and Albert tried tc
come, too, but all outsiders were ex-
cluded by order Of the court" / was
told to show cause why / should not
forthwith produce the letters, and an.
swered that asked an adjournment of
the case SO that l might be heard by
counsel. 1t was denied, as was to have
been expected Indeed, why they took
the trouble to go through the forms was
beyond me. I told Wilson should not
produce the letters and he asked il l
knew what that meant. couldn't help
laughing and retorting:
1T very appropriately means con-
tempt Of the court, your honor"
IN give you stiff term, young
man." he said.
1T will take just one day to have
habeas corpus proceedings in United
States court and one more to get the
papers here, rejoined pleasantly.
Seeing that I understood the moves
too well to be bluffed, the judge, Mr..
Camp and the lawyer held whispered
consultation. Ny surprise can be imag-
ined when, at its conclusion, Mr.. Camp
said:
Your honor, I charge Richard Cor
don with being concerned in the holding
up of the Missouri Western overland,
No 8, on the night Of Oct. IA and ask
that he be taken into custody on that
charge"
couldn't make out this new move
and puzzled over it, while Judge Wilson
ordered my commitment. But the next
step revealed the object, for the lawyer
then asked for search warrant to look
for stolen property. The judge wa.
equally obliging and began to ill one
out on the instant.
This made me feel pretty serious, for
the letters were in my breast pocket,
and swore at my own stupidity in not
having put them in the station safe
when I had first arrived at Ash Forks.
There weren't many moments in which
to think while the judge scribbled away
a. the warrant but in what time there
was did a lot Of head work, without,
however, finding more than one way out
of the snarl, and when saw the judge
finish off his signature with flourish I
played pretty desperate card.
you're just too late, gentlemen" I
said, pointing out the side window Of
the saloon. "There comes the cavalry"
The three conspirators jumped to their
feet and bolted for the window. Even
the sheriff turned to look. As he did 30
I gave him a shove toward the three,
which sent them all sprawling on the
floor in pretty badly mixed up condi-
ton. made dash for the door, and
as went through it I grabbed the key
and locked them in. As I turned to do
so saw the lot struggling up from the
floor, and, knowing that it wouldn't
take them many seconds to find their
way out through the window, I didn't
waste much time in watching them.
Camp Baldwin and the judge had
left their horses just outside the saloon,
and there they were still patiently stand
ing, with their brides thrown over their
heads, as only western horses will stand.
It didn't take me long to have those
brides back in place, and rs I tossed
each over the peak Of the Mexican sad
die gave two Of the ponies slaps which
started them off at a lope across the
railroad tracks. I swung myself into
the saddle Of the third and flicked him
with the loose ends Of the bride in
way which made him understand that I
meant business.
Baldwin's cowboys had most Of them
scattered to the various saloons Of the
place, but two of them were standing in
the doorway of store. I acted so quick
ly, however, that they didn't seem to
take in what I was about till was well
mounted. Then I heard yell, and,
fearing that they might shoot-for the
cowboy does love to use his gull turn
ed sharp at the saloon corner and rode
up the side street, just in time to see
Camp climbing through the window,
with Baldwin's head i'll view behind
him.
Before had ridden 100 feet realiz-
ed that I had done up horse under me,
and, considering that he had covered
over 40 miles that afternoon in pretty
quick time, it was not surprising that
there wasn't very much go left in him.
I knew that Baldwin's cowboys could
get new mounts in plenty without vast
ing many minutes and that then they
would overhaul me i'll very short order.
Clearly there was no use in my attempt
ing to escape by running. And, as I
wasn't armed, my only hope was to beat
them by some finesse.
Ash Forks, like all western railroad
towns, is one long line Of buildings run
ming parallel with the railway tracks.
Two hundred feet therefore, brought
me to the edge Of the town, and wheel
ed my pony and rode down behind the
rear Of the buildings. In turning 1 look
ed back and saw half dozen mounted
men already in pursuit, but I lost sight
Of them the next moment. As soon as I
reached a street leading back to the rail
road l turned again and rode toward it,
my one thought being to get back, if
possible, to the station and put tho let
tiers into the railroad agents safe.
When / reached the main street,
saw that my hope was futile, for an
other batch Of cowboys were coming in
full gallop toward me, very thoroughly
heading me off in that direction. To es-
cape them headed up the street away
from the station, with the pack in close
pursuit. They yelled at me to hold up,
and expected every moment to hear
the crack of revolvers, for the poorest
shot among them would have found no
difficulty in dropping my horse at that
distance if they had wanted to stop ME.
1t isn't very nice sensation to keep
your ears pricked up in expectation of
hearing the shooting begin and to know
that any moment may be your last
don't suppose was on the ragged edge
more than 80 seconds, but they were
enough to prove to mo that to keep ones
back turned to all enemy as one runs
away takes deal more pluck than to
stand up and face his gun. Fortunately
for me. nv pursuers felt SO sure of nv