Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-29
THE DESPERATE.
TRUE STORY.
BY CY WARMAN.

Lib siuutluS SudibS VI Iuo SettllS
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
moment later the red sun dropped be-
hind the Wahsatch untains, and the
day was snuffed out like a candle.
Suddenly, now, great black cloud
showed its shoulders up over the hills
behind which the sun sank. With
majestic swiftness it lifted its head,
spread out it's dark wings, shadowed
the waste and filed the wild canyons
with awful gloom. Far out toward
the foothills the unshod feet of a
mountain cayuse were beating the
hard face of the desert, urged on by
the cruel spurs of his pitiless master
For more than six hours the horse and
rider had been simm ering in the sum-
mer sun, and now they welcomed the
shadows, ducked their heads and dived
in under the cloud; til horse eager for
the cool, and the rider for the cover of
night.
Across the desert another rider is
urging his steed of steel, his pilot
pointing into the storm-swept night.
In darkened day-coach, behind the
little locomotive, United States mar
shall and his deputies sit staring at the
storm into which the daring driver is
about to plunge. Now the rain begins to
upon the windows. A moment later
IS falling furiously, roaring upon the
foof 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 nearing the
river, and SO slacken their speed AS
the cayuse comes to the waters edge
he braces his feet and stops short.
The riders first impulse is 10 dis
mount, 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 locomo-
tive and changes his mind.
Just over the river stands Green
River station, with its water tank,
where the iron horse will stop to
drink. If the lone rider can reach the
station before the train leaves he can
leave the country which he does not
like. AS the locomotive comes nosing
cautiously up the bridge the horseman
drives his spurs into the cayuse, and
the foaming animal plunges into the
roaring river. The swift current car
ries him downstream, and the engines s
headlight shines full upon him as he
is swept under the bridge.
Beyond the bridge the engine is
stopped, and the occupants of the dark
car come out to look for the mau 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 gal
loped up to the station.
While the men were still searching
for him along the river, the weary
traveller learned from the agent that
the regular train had passed, that the
train at the bridge was special, that
it would not be likely to stop at the
tank, and it it did it would not take
passengers.
And SO, being weary and not wish
ing to be seen, the traveller tethered
his tired horse at the rear of the hotel,
secured room and retired.
Presently the key began calling the
agent at Green River, and when he
hearkened it told him of tragedy
that had occurred at Coyote on the
morning of that day. A lone desper-
ado had taken the town, robbed the
station, killed the operator (who was
the agent also), stolen horse and es-
capped. A special with United States
marshal had gone down the road to
look for the murderer. The descrip-
tion that the new operator had gotten
from the frightened people led the
agent at Green River to believe tha,
the desperate had been there but a
moment before. When the special
pulled up to the station and stopped,
the agent told the marshal of the ar
rival OF the stranger.
''That's our man, said the marshal,
and he immediately surrounded the
little wooden hotel, which was called
the Palmer House. Then, having Sc
cured the number OF the strangers 8
room, the marshal aud one of his mel
went up.
They tried the door; it was locked
They knocked, and the man said
''Come in" The marshal said h.
could not, and asked the occupant O
the room to come out; and the MAJ
answered, "Wait till get my boot,
on, for he loathed to die half dressed
Suddenly the door flew open, and tn,
hunted man leaped into the hall. Befor,
the marshal or his deputy could raise
hand, the desperate man began unload
ing couple of rapid. firing. six