The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-01

made its first hold mp within 10 miles of
my hut Five settlers who were return
ing from some sort of public meeting
were held up and relieved of everything
of valnc. The robbers bad poor horses.
and the settlers had good ones. There
was an exchange without consulting the
feelings of the settlers.
1t was two hours after midnight on a
moonlight night that | was reused up by
the arrival of the six. They were hungry
and wanted food.
When they had turned their horses
loose and crowded into my hut, saw
the most famous bandit Australia ever
produced. In his two years of ranging
Red Joe held up more people and rcapnd
more plunler than any other ruhhcr did
in five How many killings were placed
to his credit DO not know, but they cor
tainly numbered a score, and five or six
of his victims belonged 10 the police
force.
I'VE want as good meal rs you can
get Us, my man. said Red Joe as he
looked me over. and that was about all
that WAS said to me during the TWO
hours they v.grc in the hut. 1t was tax
en- for gran ed that | was neutral
They ate. dillk, smoked and yarnod I'M.
til daylight came. had carght up ,h",
horses for thcm, and as thcy mounted
the leader .saye me a sovereign. Thov
did not ask me to bind Their trail nor 10
Iit the police OH false scent, but SEEM
cd to have confidence that they could
hold their own against any force.
In week the police We're after them,
and inside of a month the gang was
broken up That meant that two were
killed and the others scattered.
| had neither aided nor betrayed the
police, but it came about THAI | was
charged with the latter offense, and, be-
ing arrested and taken before a magis-
tratc. was sentenced to three months in
jail. When my time had expired, |
was warned to move on" and went up
the country a hundred miles and took
service on stock farm.
Red Joe had been making name
meanwhile. With only single compun-
ion he had returned to the scene of his
fist operations and was pushing business
for all it was worth. When finally driv-
en- out again, he rode to the south and
held his ground for six months. Then he
made long ride to the north and terror
lied large extent of country for time,
and he was working back when his ca
reer was cut short.
1t is a curious coincidence that | cook
ed the first breakf fast for him after he
turned out and that the last supper he
ever ate was in my hut. | was herding
cattle now, but was alone, as before. |
had just rounded up my herd for the
night and was riding toward my hut to
cook my meal when two bushangers
broke out of the scrub and waited for me
to come up | took them for settlers at
first and did not recognize Red Joe till
he called out:
$50 it's you. is it, Fraser? When did
you exchange sheep for cattle?"
They wanted not only support, but in
formation When had cooked for them,
Joe began asking questions, and, to my
CONSERVATION, | soon found that the pair
had planned to hold up Major Burbanks,
my boss.
1t was distance of about - miles to
the house, and there were at least four
men about the place. The major had
nephew with him, thus making force Of
six, and | knew there would be shooting
to Kill. ! told the fellows plainly what
they might expect and did my utmost to
disSuade them, but was laughed at in a
good natured way.
They rode off about 8 o'clock. | was
tempted to cut in ahead of them and
give the alarm, but as ! planned it out
saw that they were watching me too
closely. They were in good spirits as
they rode away, and Red Joe called back
that they would breakfast with me.
As ! learned afterward they rode
straight for the house. Boldly they sum-
moned the major to open the door. He
fired through window and killed Joe's
comrade in his track. When the alarm
was raised, the four men who slept in the
stables turned out and began shooting
For Il quarter of an hour ii was six 10
one. Red Joe would not be driven away
He fought from behind cover, and he
fought in the open. and he Killed one
man and wounded another. He had rout-
ed the outside force when the major got
a bead on him and sent bullet through
his lungs
Then the bandit still fighting, mount
ed his horse and drew off, and no one
dared follow. With his life ebbing away
at every bound of his horse, he rode
back to my hut. heard him coming and
turned out in time to help him Off the
saddle, He did not say word until
had carried him into the hut and laid him
on my bed and examined his wound.
Then he whispered:
How bad is it? Am | done for?'
told him he was mortally wounded.
l stanched the blood and gave him
brandy from his flask, and though he
rallied a little, it was only rally. He
was silent for a long time and seemed
to he rejecting. Suddenly he said:
We'll it had to come, and odds is the
difference | have always said wouldn't
be taken alive, and the police will find
only dead man. | am going to do some
thing for you. Get pencil and paper and
write down what say"
He and his companion had cached their
plumber only week before in one of the
foothills of Beemarang mountain. He
said the money and jewelry would foot
up at least 100000. He gave rae the
clearest directions as to how to recover
it, and | wrote the words down as they
fell from his lips. An hour later he was
dead.