The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19

Col. Edward Lynde had the contract for
the road not an enViable one, considering
the country from which ne had to secure
his supplies. He was a fine looking man,
tall, 1.-THE, alert, and a stranger to fear.
He made an engagement with Davis for
transporting the supplies. Toothpick
promised by contract to bring 100 yoke
of oxen to the present city of Eufaula to
carry supplies south; but what does Tooth
pick do? He simply went out and round
ed up some Texas steers, and, yoking these
up with difficulty, started out. The nov
city wore out for the beasts after the
first two days out, and there was a grand
stsmpede, in which wagons were over
turned and the steers broke away. Tooth
pick made not the lest attempt to rectify
matters, and rode away south.
Lynde soon heard of the confusion and
started after Davis with big muleteer
named Jim. A fifty-mile chase brought
them up with Davis, who was accempa-
MED by a Mexican. Toothpick reached for
his guns, but was covered by Big Jim.
The Mexican, who attempted to throw
knife, dropped it with an oath when he
got a bullet in the wrist. Toothpick was
tied up Ikea trussed chicken, thrown in
wagon and carried back to the end of the
line, where he was made to square ac-
counts. Davis didn't relish this and swore
that Lynde's life should pay for the incon-
venience of that long ride, and made
promissory note for Big Jim
lone night, about month after this.
Col. Lynde drove into the hamlet of Avo-
ca and jumping from the blackboard has
tened into the hotel The barroom was
redolent of smoke and full of border men
and in the midst of the largest group
stood Davis Every man was accounted
man of experience and all had heard
e uNNo I.Nfo 80
best known TO himself, had never carried
a gun, but walked over to Toothpick Da-
Wis and pushed him aside, remarking in a
loud voice that he would kill him on
sight If he crossed his path again. He then
proceeded up stairs and to bed; this was
not pleasant, and the gang proceeded TO
liquor up making things lively, and a
man was shot in a room beneath Col
Lynde. Early next morning Lynde went
into the office, which was long, narrow
room, with railing at one end Sudden
ly there was commotion in the street.
Davis burst in the door, reeled in with a
revolver in each hand, and with an oath
asked for Col. Lynde. The latter leaned
over the railing, and drawing his huge old
fashioned pocketbook from his hin pocket
started for Davis. shouting I've got YOU
now and Toothpick fed as if spurred by
the devil himself"
speaking OF the time When parts of the
country We're practically pre-empted by
marauding half-breeds and rustlers. re-
minds me of the rustler war in Wyoming
spoke up another of the men. as he lit a
cigar II was down in Cheyenne at the time
The outfit left.to clear out the rustlers
little Engiishman had come to town the
day before with letters Of Introduction
and was simply wild with delight when
he found that he could go along and see
the rustlers done for, but, when the rus
tiers got the best of and cooped IN the
whole outfit, the Englishman's nerve oozed
out until he hadn't a single strand of ii
left-he was simply limp with fear. Then
came the rescue from fear of assassina-
ton but with it the certainty of a long.
wearsome Imprisonment. Weeks and even
months passed with the poor devil living
on his cot and counting the flies To mass
away the time. AT last, after about three
months of utter WEAKNESS he got out on,
bail. Haggard and unshaved and covered
with dirt he left the court house and has
tened to the telegraph office and wrote a
message to friends in England. 1t con-
tanned just one word
Free.
Then he disappeared for three hours
when back he came to the telegraph Of
fee with new trousers rolled up at the
bottom, a new white shirt open at the
throat and a new silk hat on the north
west corner of his head. There was a roll
to his gait and an unsteady look in his
eyes. but taking a pen in his hand. he
braced himself and wrote another mes
sage as brief and to the point as the form
err one. 1t said
Drunk. "
by the way, adverting to Toothplck