Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-08-01

In Bits place W0u!d one Oh two
things-apologize to Kil and let him
alone. or-kill him. ! thought Of
speaking to Bill about It, bit medal
ing In another mans row was unheal-
thy business in these days, so en-ed
by keeping silent.
Kid did not disappoint me. One
night, as sat reading in my tont
there came from the outside sharp
exclamation that was fo lowed imme-
dlately by the sounds Of struggle
then a piercing scream, and | heard,
lnmistakable in Bills voice: 'Y mis-
erable, sneakin' little kyo.el Put er q
knife In me In til dark would yer
Wall, | reckon not. An now I'll Jest
give you er taste Of It, ily little snake
in-th grass"
Grabbing up my gun, knowing that
nothing short of that would have any
weight with Bill, hurried,y threw open
my tent, and, the bright light Of my
amp flashing out, saw Kid fat on his
back, with Bill kneeling on his chest,
,ne hand gripping the boys throat,
and the other, grasping knife, Up
rAised to strike. In Kids face there
was look Of horror that | will remem-
yer as long as live. The sudden
Hood OF light caused Bill to pause, and
hen his arm sank slowly to his side,
he knife slipping from his hand.
Wall, I'll jest be all over d-d!" he
calculated, and letting go of Kids
hroat he stood up. ! could see rothing
o justify such a change in his att ude,
and | was amazed to see him now
each down and take Kids hand.
cit up" he said gruifly; Il amt er
yoin' ter hurt yer-never would
eched yer ef I'd knowed wha- ] know
now, an I'm sorry | done it" He
helped Kid to his feet and went on.
Now go back to yer tent, amt Goin'
er blow on yer, an won't bullyrag
yer no more-sabe? I'll keep he
knife, though. SOS yer won't Sit in.e
10 more mischief with it."
Kid made no answer, and | coald 20
Zee his face, but did sse his hands
suddenly clinch as he went IVY lnt3
he darkness. Having watched hih
,ut Of sight, Bill walked off wlthon
wen a glance in my direction. WIS
greatly puzzled by what had occurred.
ind my curiosity being aroused | de-
.ermined to find Eli Inc rext morning
md get him to tell ne what It was
hat caused this sudden CHI ng towlr(
Kid; but that day WAS Surdar. ard he
eft camp at daybreak on an at iop
nun, so | did rot see him. Turn n
he affair ovr II r,y '1ird va hern-
ng, | came to the conclusion at 8 II
leart was too large ior his jussul mt
ind that Kid would yet avenge him
;elf; and | was not wrong, though he
| lid 1t in way that could not have
expected.
, Our camp was pitched on low hill
hat rose island like in the midst OF a
grassy valley. On the west This valley
vas bounded by range of rugged
mountains that came down 10 within
II mile Of camp, and on the east by a
,hain of high hills; to the north and
,outh, where the railroad came in and
vent out. the grassy level stretched
.way further than the eye could reach.
TO economize in feed 1t was the Gus
ON to pasture the mules In this valley
whenever they were not at work, on
Sundays and at night, and they went
tut as usual on the day following Kids
lttempt to knife Bill, though not under
,harge Of the night herder, he and the
IBID gray mare having to remain In
amp to rest and sleep. When the
gong sounded for supper, about an
,our before sunset, the herd was IL
plain view from camp, and not over
lalf a mile away, SO the herder gal.
oped in to his supper, leaving them
lnguarded until the night herdel
should 70 out and take them.
As we were in the Apache country
t was a very foolish thing for him te
10. He hat scarcely unsaddled his
aorse and gone into the grub tent
when shrill yells and whoops, mingled
With the thunder Of pounding hoofs
coming from the valley, brought ever,
nan running out. Watching their op
,ortunity from their lurking places II
he mountains, band of half naked
Apaches had slipped into the herd, ant
,unning about among the mules, lash
ng and striking, were trying to STAN
,ede them. They would have succeed
ID, mules being mortally afraid Of In
, lians, but that the night herder, pre-
pairing to go on duty, had brought th'
lid gray mare to the grub tent to wal
while he ate bis supper, where sh
, ,tood in plain sight from the valley
, The mules were running away south
ward when the leading ones spied hel
0 md, making a wide detour to avoid tn
! Apaches who were following as fast q
) heir legs could carry them, the en-
ire herd came galloplng In.
, Yelling with rage and disappoint
nent, the Apaches turned to 90 bacl
| o the mountains, when a white ma
,ode out from the rocks before then
: ind started across the valley towar
amp. BY his horse, which we recos
e ,ised, we knew him to be Bill Smitl
3 rhe Apaches opened fire the momer
k hey saw him, and, changing hi
| course SO as to avoid them, he Q
I promptly spurred his horse into ga
IL Cd, and we thought he had got saiel
3 ,ut Of range, when the animal sudder
9 y went down, falling on Bill, stun
r ling, and pinning him to the groun'
/ instantly a yell Of exultation went U
9 rom the Apaches, and they dashed t
4 -