The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-03-03
THE DESPERATE
BY Oy Warunan.
1900 'EIi7I7aITT7I7I


THE slanting shafts of the setting
sun glanced along the level pools,
and gilded the ripples and shimmering
shoals of the quiet river-the Green
river-that lay along the edge of the
Adobe desert, like band of braid at
the bottom of wOman's skirt. A mo-
ment later the red sun dropped behind
the Wahsatch mountains and the day
was snuffed out like a candle.
Suddenly, now, a great black cloud
showed its shoulders up over the hills
behind which the sun sank WithRma-
jestic swiftness it lifted it's head, spread
out its dark wings, shadowed the waste,
and filed the wild canyons with aw-
full gloom. Far out toward the foothills
the unshod feet of mountain cayuse
were beating the hard face of the des-
ert, urged on by the cruel spurs of his
pitiless master. For more than six
hours the horse and rider had been sim
mering in the summer sun, and now
they welcomed the shadows, ducked
their heads, and dived in under the
cloud; the horse eager for the cool,
and the rider for the cover OF night.
Across the desert another fider is
nrging his steed of steel, his piIo point
ing into the storm-swept night. In a
darkened day-coach, behind the little
locomotive, a United States 1narshaI
and his deputies sit staring at the storm
into which the daring driver is about
to plunge. Now the rain begins to beat
upon the windows. A moment later II
is falling furiously, roaring upon the
roof Of the cab and blurring the head
light. The iron horse and the cayuse
are running neck and neck now. Both
riders know that they are ne airing the
river, and so slaclIen their speed. AS
the cayuse comes to the waters edge
he braces his feet and stops short. The
riders first impulse is to dismount,
abandon his horse, and find the railroad
bridge, which he knows must be near
at hand, but glancing back he sees the
light of the locomotive and changes
his mind.
Just over the river stands Green River
station, with its water-tanl, where the
iron horse will stop to drink. If the
lone rider can reach the station before
the train leaves he can leave the coun-
try which he does not-lilke. As the loco
motive comes nosing cautiously up to
the bridge the .horseman drives his
spurs into the cayuse, and the foaming
animal plunges into the roaring river,
The swift current carries him down
stream, and the engineers headlight
shines full upon him as he is swept un.
der the bridge.
Beyond the river the engine is stopped
and the occupants Of the dark car come
out to look for the man and horse.
Long before they reach the river bank
below the bridge, however, the little
cayuse has touched land, leaped upon
the level bank and galloped up to the
station.
While the men were stil searching for
him along the river, the weary. traveller
learned from the agent that the regu-
lar train had passed, that the train
at the bridge was a special, that ii
would not be likely to stop at the tank
and If it did it would not take passen-
gers.
And so, being weary and not wishing
to be seen, the traveller teth9red his
tired horse at the rear of the hotel
secured a room and retired.
Presently the key began calling the
agent at Green River, and when he
hearkened it told kim of tragedy that
had occurred at Coyote on the morn.
ing Of that day. A lone desperate had
taken the town, robbed the station
killed the operator (who was the agent
also), stolen a horse, and escaped. A
special with a United States marshal
had gone down the road to look for
the murderer. The description that
the new operator had gotten frcm the
frightened people led the agent al
Green River to believe that THE des,
perado had been there but a mbment
before. When the special pulled up to
the station and stopped, the agent told
the marshal of the arrival Of the $tran.
ger.
That's our mar" said the MARSHAL
and he Immediately surrounded the lit
tle wooden hotel, which was called the
Palmer house. Then, having secured
the number Of the stran GERS rdoms the
marshal and one of his men went up.
They tried the door; It was locked
They knocked, and the mar. said:
tCome in" The marshal said could
not, and asked the occupant of the
room TO come out; and the an en-