Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-04-08
CHAPTER XI.-CoNTrNUED.

There was no difficulty In learning at
the wretched shack Mt the edge of the
reservation which way they had gone.
Nine at least were in the party, and the
hoof tracks led away southwestward
across the fiat until they struck the line
of the railway, two miles west Of the
Junction. Here there seemed to have
been brief halt, discussion, possibly n
divids, and n split. Two horses had
crossed the track and gone south; the
others, veering westward, had "lit OUT
for the Santa Clara, and Randy Mer-
riam, trifle hungry now, WINS wishing
with all his heart he had gone first to
Florence, and left the inspection Of the
stables until afterwards. 1t was some
where about two o'clock when they
started. The men were booted and
spurred, but Merriam was in ordinary
trousers, and the troop horse he rode
was quick to find the spur was gone
and slow to mind the heel. The McClel-
Ian saddle, too, with Its upright pommel
and camille, worried him after the ease
of his own Whitman. When dawn came
he was well-nigh ready to give up the
chase after fording the Santa Clara and
finding the trail had turned northwest
ward, when sharp-eyed trooper swore
lie could see the quarry making for the
foothills and not two miles ahead; SO
Merriam borrowed a single spur and
pushed vehemently, vigorously on.
Then broad daylight came, and there
could be no doubt they were gaining
The chase was hot. The pursued were
tossing of saddle bags, riatas, and 9TH
er detachable horse furniture to Tighten
their weight, but they stuck to their
guns and ammunition. Merriam's men
were considerably strung out, not more
than six being well up within support
ing distance, when the fact that they
were in range of the greasers was DEM
onstrated by the zip and sing OF 4 bull
let close alongside.
"That's business" muttered the
trooper who rode close on his left rear
"Shall I try shot, sir?"
Merriam shook his head. The situa-
ton had few points In Its favor.
obedient to his orders to pursue and
capture the gang, Randy had ridden
hard, yet over many mile had he asked
himself the question-Suppose they re-
sist arrest, what's to be done? He had
no warrant. He was not even deputy
sheriff, not even the humblest con-
stituent Of posse comitatus. II he OF
his men returned their fire and shot
some Of these unnatural naturalized
voters and citizens, like as not an in
dictment for murder would be hanging
over his head, II not hanging him In the
course Of a fortnight. True, there wai
no sheriff within 20 miles, and long be-
fore the civil authorities could be
brought into play the murderers OF
Brady would be scattered all over the
face Of the earth. All the same, under
the strict Interpretation Of the civil
law, Lieut.. Merriam knew that he and
his people had no more business trying
to arrest these renegades than they had
to vote at q territorial election. In
point of fact, like many another Officer
and man, soldier Of Uncle Sam on the
broad frontier, he was aware Of the fact
that even a horse thief had more civil
rights than the trooper. His expedition
therefore, in the eye Of the law wal
nothing more nor less than a lawlesi
DASH winding up In possible fret
fight, and all against the peace and dig
nifty Of the people Of New Mexico. Per
haps Buxton knew this, too. but the or
ders he gave were peremptory. and Mer
RAM never stopped 10 reply, reason why
or expostulate. But now when III.
renegades began to shoot the reasoning
why had to be done. His men were no.
for battle-so was he-but the natter
expects Of Its officers that, no mattel
what the temptation, provocation or ex
ASPIRATION. they keep cool heads ant
tempers, only shoot when the law per
mits, but then shoot to Kill. No CLAIM
Of self-defense could be allowed. The,
were me pursuing and therefore tn
attaclxingparty. and. though these Mex
leans were followed red-handed, hot
footed, there could be no question wha
q OWL jury would say II any Of theil
dIngy hides were punetured by the ball
Of q brutal soldIery. ~ us'
Zip-bangi-s second shot. Bing
l--l ~--kkn~ 81 &c.,