The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-22
CAPTURE OF souInTY SMITH.

| ming into the rickety shanty and out
| again, dancing with delight. A scrawny.
! wfthered. weary woman came out of the
house with two dirty children at her heels
| and behind them half-grown, red-head-
ed, gangling girl. with TWO fierce little
| fiery braids sticking away from her poll.
| A bErly man on a ragged pony cana
galloping down the country road.
Super read Mag?' he bawled at the
| woman.
o'clock What's up?"
/ What's up! Everything is up. Sointy
Smith has gone an done il right this
time He killed Frank Copley in the Haz-
| rd'sloon. put four Geld uns in the deputy
sheriff, and Lord knows how many he's
! sshot seHce / left town"
The children stared in awed astonish
ment al this bloody news and followed
| him round. 10 the corral
| Well what y'all lookin' at? Here, you
:, Siss." to the read-headed girl, get a
move on you. Marian. don't stand thar
all night like you was locoed. Git my
| supper"
Did you see him. HANK
See who?"
Why. him. Squinty Smith,"
See him. OF course l didn't see him
/ If l see him it'd be all UP with him, IG
q ribbed him up with lead till he'd a-suEk
/ his own grave. But I didn't have no gun
rohow. Sheriff Housman says I must
! Jine the posse an says. 'Sher II. IL I'd
a-been sher'ff stead o you. wouldn't
! need no posse for to ketch Squinty Smith
nor no other ornery outlaw like him.. So
didn't have no gun, so just come home
| Tor tgit supper an ready up my arsenal
I Git move on thar, Sissr'
The red headed girl tossed her head and
| disappeared into the tumble-down kitch-
en-. The mother got busy with pot, and
1 -
| about what he'd a-done If he only hal
his weapons" pulled his Winchester out
Of the closet and began 10 slip cartridges
/ into the magazine
Il don't want no morn a peep AT that
goldinged Squinty Smith, nohow. He al
luz wuz ornery. an he otta been put outa
hiz long time ago. He's had Sher' Il
Housman bluffed for two year an more,
IN he's got purity nigh every man I'm
Plankton buffaloed! But I'll show him."
The mons siatterniy children stood
about him in gaping admira ton. The red
beaded girl stuck her head in at the
door and said:
What did you fetch t'eat daddy?"
Dry up. you ninny; I didn't have no
time 20 think about fetchin' home noth!n.'
q come home to git suthin'. l come
home TO git my weapons, an If ever 1
betch peep at that dang"
At this instant there was a sharp. rasp-
ng click at the open window and blue
barreled gun muzle jumped into the light
Hold up your hands. MITCHELL said
quiet but very distinct voice.
The big man at the table held up his
hands with a foolish effort to smile al the
race that looked over the gun.
Quit yer foolin, Smith," he said weak
~; put it down an come in
Squinty Smith, a bull-necked. one-eyed
ruffian got in at the window without fore
going an instant of his advantage.
I'm take charge of these. Mitch" ne
said, cody putting his hosts pistol into
his coat pocket, land this. Both snide
lcokin' guns. but I'll take charge O.
them"
Mitchell sat still. his wife and Siss
watching the performance from the dark
ress of the kitchen. while Smith walked
cut into the lot and deliberately dumped
the rife and the pistol into the we'll
Got any more guns?" he asked, coming
back.
Nary gun. Smithy." answered Mitch
ell. trying TO wink knowingly at his wife.
'All right you can let down your mitts,
Guoth the outlaw. You sit thar and
here. Mrs. Mitchell, you set alongside.
Now make that gal o. yourn git me some
super
The scared children huddIed in the cor
ner behind their fallen hero. The woman.
fascinated int osubmission, sat beside her
husband The outlaw. his big. blue revolt
.er beside his plate. attacked the pile Of
corn bread. Siss. the read-headed. nerv-
Gus. viperish-looking girl. came in ami
out with q dish of potatoes. some fried
bacon and can of water.
What makes you act so foolish
Smithy?' Mitchell was whining; "aint
nothin' wrong, is they? You might =
knowed I'd give you your supper 'thout
no such row as that
You might and you mightn't. Got any
cggs?" growled Smith leering at Siss out
of his one vindictive eye.
Amt got none fur youi" snapped the
little virago. bridllng with fury and whip
ping ner two little red pigtails venomous-
~
The desperate turned red with fury
clutched at his pistol and was choking
cut curse when Mitchell interrupted
with:
See here. Siss you dang little rattle
snake. fetch him some eggs. That ain I
no way fur you TO go sassin Mr. Smith
Don't you know no better than fur to be |
givin' hack talk to folks older'n your"
Siss looked inquiringly at her mother. |
but the weak little woman nodded her !
head and piped:
In the stone jar. Siss. You'll find |
couple o eggs in the stone jar.
Now see here. Mitchell" said Smith. |
t-ansfxing the hulking coward with hts |
mean eye. faint no use you lettin' on |
you don't know. ! seem you in town to-
Gay. and you passed me on the road. /
was under Baggots corn crib. l killed |
Copley and the depty. an I'd killed Hous-
man too if I'd a chance. I'm goin' to take
your horse, an If you T any o. these |
brats O. yourn says a word to the sheriff 1
about me. r which way I come r VIVA: !
route took, I'll come back here an blow |
n whole outfit into
Siss came in with two fried eggs AMI !
laid the dish before him He took his /
knife and fork and reached for the food, i
hurrying like a hungry, hunted man.
Siss stood irresolute an instant beside /
him. Her swapping blue eyes were on the /
PISTOL. Quick as a Hash she grabbed Il /
up. wh!sked round the table. and with 1
she cooked weapon held in both her skin /
Ly hands and pointed fulI in the bal /
rams face she yelled:
Now you impident pup. I'm a-goin' :
FRAGILE you with bullets
Smith was so astonished that ne let !
fall his eating utensils. sat bolt upright.
stiff a lay figure. pale as his dirty hide 4
would 90. his lips hectic. his one eye star I
.ng and the sweat OF rage and fear upon 1
his notified forehead The little yellow /
haired boy. crouching in the corner began |
10 squawl luguhriously. Mitchell and hl.-
thin wife sat and stared at the transag- /
Ured Siss.
cit Up an tie him. daddy she almost
shrisked. Tie him T III frazis him al
over the Hoorl"
Mitchell looked al Smith and paused.
.sis big hands shaking bit