The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-14

thousands of testimonials viii be sent by
addressing Stuart Co.. Marshall. Mich.
and committing similar depredations, to
the disgust of stockmen.
The case tried even the sagacity of
"Peet' Matthews. Cattle disappeared
mysteriously from the range. Nobody was
seen to drive them away. and nobody was
even suspected of such wholesale robbery.
Several searching parties were organized,
and finally half-dozen of the boys caught
a couple of greasers making off with tWen-
ty head of yearllngs. They were headed
south for the line. Greasers never show
fight in the open field, and the Two of
them bolted at once, kicking their spurs
into the sides of their mustangs and max
ing the air blue with Mexican oaths. They
would probably have been let off with
sound whipping and a warning If IL had
not been for the Young boys. Both OF
these insisted that an example should be
made of the Mexicans, although none of
the party believed that they were guilty of
the extensive and systematic stealing
which had been going on for three months.
The miserable wretches were both swung
from the same limb of a live oak on the
banks of the Guadalupe
Peet was opposed to the hanging, but he
took the matter philosophically. 1T amt
agoin' to stop nary bit o. III stealing" he
commented, "but it hev relieved the com
munity O two more greAsers." The more
Peet cogitated the more at sea he found
himself for a plausible theory His two
most valuable allies in the hunt were the
Young brothers. They were stalwart fell
lows, regular dare devils. They had only
been in the ranch business a couple of
years, and their herd was one of the
smallest in that section. Their ranch house
was built on bold promontory jutting
into the Gulf There is a neck of land
tyValxya mil
miles to quarter of a mile wide, extend
ing into the Gulf at that point II ends
in high projection, 200 feet above the
Water,a and forming perpendicular wall of
rock on the south side. It is called Balls
bluff. Here the enterprising brothers
had built shanty and a few sheds. A
third brother, a boy of IS or 10, had Joined
the two older ones, and they attended to
their ranch with the help of a greaser
Peet had taken a great liking to the boys
They were intrepid, and they played a
good game of poker. One day Peet was
lounging around the station on the Inter-
national and Great Northern Railroad
He noticed half-dozen pine boxes on the
platform ready for shipment. Peet was
a natural detective He had a passion
for finding out things. He carelessly kick
ed at the lid of one of the boxes a couple
of times, without budging it. He walked
up and down the platform then, uncon-
CSlnSNsly, turning over WIN MS tongue "A
big black mouthful of tobacco The pas
senger train for the North passed in a
few minutes and the crowd scattered out
Peet fingered a while. sat down on the
edge Of one of the boxes, and deftly whit
tied hole in the lid with his pocket-knife
He peered into the aperture for a mo-
ment, whisted a bit, and cautiously en-
larged the hole. Then he shut up his knife
and the lines of his mouth grew tense He
forgot to chew tobacco for full five min
utes. He went into the little box station
gossiped While with the agent and start
ed south across the prairie. A while after
nightfall he neared the southern extrem-
lily OF Balls bluff. A single light from
the ranch twinkled In the distance Gu
riously enough the mustang he node be-
gan TO show signs of extreme fear He
snorted, crouched, and his body trembled
and twitched. Peet petted and coaxed
and treasured the animal to the utmost.
and the light Of his pipe. which he had
started up for company, showed a look of
cunning and conviction upon his face. At
last the mustang squatted back on his
hind legs shaking like a leaf He refused
to advance a step further Peet dismount-
ed, threw the rein over the pony's neck.
and set off on foot toward the light He
nosed around the sheds cautiously for a
while, crept along the edge of the bluff,
and peered into the water. Then ne went
to the house and knocked on the cabin
door. He could see through the window
that the boys were at supper
Hello, Peeti" called out Bob the older
one. His voice was not quite gracious
"Howdy, Peet," echoed the other, "jist In
time fer grub" Don't keer eff do" Peet
agreed, Il got dinged lonesome an rid over
for a game o. cyards."
"Hain't heerd nothn' o. them cattle
thieves?' asked Bob, as he dealt the cards
for game Of poker after supper
yep; hev diskivered somethin'." said
Peet, laying his hand on the table with
the faces down.
Now, Bob" he went on, IT knowed yeh
wanted 10 ketch these fellers yerself. You
an me is rivals in this here. EFF / win two
pots out o. three perpose at go ahead
an nab EN-. Ell you win i give my ham,, so
10 speak, to you. an you nab EN-"
" Greed" said Bob, with great laugh,
that almost took the roof off He slapped
his leg and chuckled in high good humor.
jim the second brother dealt the cards
Bob won the first pot. In the second Peet
held three aces against Bob's pair of mines
This left the contest even so far Both
squared themselves for the final deal. Peet
drew pair of kings and Bob am ace. Then
Peet discarded two cards and got another
king. Bob had worse LUCK and struck a
jack. The pot went TO Peet
Better luck next time" roared Peet
springing TO hts sfeet,2 hts eyes blazing
Throw up yer hands, ever cussed son of
ye," he yelled drawing a couple Of six
shooters on the crowd Bob reached for
his reyo1vers. Ion goes yer head, Bob"
called Peet, warninsly. and Bob thought
better OF II. He succeeded IA rounding
up the three brothers at old man Star
rings an hour before daylight. A council