Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-07-05

exactly opposite to him IN character,
tastes, and pursuits. but, neverthe-
less, they were inseparable "mates,
and all Bills people hoped that the
influence of this very quiet, sedate
youth would in time tame Bills wild
and lawless nature AS the boys
grew into their teens it became the
question of choosing career, and the
quiet boy always said he wanted to
get into the police. That was his
great ambition, and a more promising
recruit could not be desired. Hcame
out afterwards that when the lads dis
cussed the subject, the embryo police
man often observed: eff you don't
look out, Bill, and alter your ways,
III he always having to arrest you. !"
Bill..laughed this suggestion to sccrn,
not that he had any intention Of
amending his ways, but -he/could not
believe that any one, who knew his
great physical strength and utter reck-
lessness, would dare to lay hand on
him.
The strange thing was that, in spite
of strong instinct for plundering,
Bill was universally acknowledged to
be splendid "bushman' that is,
one familiar with all the signs and
common objects of the forests. He
would have made an ideal explorer,
and could have lived in the bush IL
/ plenty and comfort, under conditions
IN which any one else would have
starved or died Of thirst.
Time passed on, and one of the boys,
at least, got his hearts desire and was
enrolled in the very fine police force
of Fremantle. Just about this time
one of the neighbors imported spe-
cial breed Of fowls, which Bill forth
with proceeded to torment in his
/ leisure moments. One Sunday even
! ing, just at dusk, Bill was hanging
about the poultry yard with evil in
! tent, when he suddenly perceived his
t friend in uniform end on duty, the
/ other side Of low hedge The
/ owner of the fowls had asked for a
constable to watch the place. and, a.
+ i'll luck would have ii, Bills friend
was sent. The two boys looked at
each other for a moment, and then
the policeman said:
"Now, Bill, you had better come
/ along quietly with me, there's war
rant out against yon, and I've got to
+ tab e You TO the police station.
''If you come one step nearer I'll
shoot you dead. I" answered Bill.
That's all nonsense, you know,
the poor2young constable replied, AMI
began pushing the hedge aside to get
through, It, Bill drew his revolver
and shot the friend and playmate oi
his whole life deal on the spot He
/ then rushed back TO his own place,
and, hastily collecting some food and
cartridges was of and away into the
nearest bush or forest, the fringe
OF which almost .onchei even the
principal towns in those days
i It is hardly possible 10 imagine the
state of excitemen. into which this
crime threw the primitive little com
nunitv. Murders were comparativei,
rare, and | vas told that they were al
most always committed by old ''lags, :
men who had begnn as convicss per
haps thirty five or forty years before,
and had generally only been let ont a
shor. time before ~ IL ticke.-o. ieave
Bat this catastrophe was quite fresh
] departure, and called forth aIrnos. a.
much sympathy FOR the relatives Q!
the vre,ched Bill as for those O. bis
victim The native iraekers SET Il
work a. oace. and picked up B,ll's
trail without aav difficulty bat II.
thing ~as 70 catch lin. No Will-o'
Visp couli have been more elusive.
G..d he lei The best :rAcaers and the
nos: wary consi@bles q regular dance
over hills ana valleys. through dens.
brush ali scxab-coyered sand. day
after day. S... would eota- OF tbs
police Le.ag hot oa aia tracks 'Lirs.