The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-29
ton \ reached timber With a good

fed forced them toward Sageville, and
by 10 O'Clock in the morning every
available citizen in the county seat
had been added to Mudge's posse and
was sent forth to chase and capture
the Jail breakers. Max was one of
the first to volunteer, and coming to
the sheriff with a frank challenge in
his blue eyes, being the best armed
region better than any hunter present.
Hoke Nudge could not refuse his SER
vices.
Man led the chase afoot. Nudge fol-
lowing him with jealous asSiduity on
h~orseback as if he feared the boy
would snatch from hin the glory of
the only notable deed his official career
had offered 1t was noon when the
boys eyes discovered the trail in the
muddy bottom land. Two pairs of
footprints pointing South were all the
signs he needed, and away he ran
through the tangled brake like a grey
hound courslng Il jack. The sheriff gal
looping along the margin could scarce
~ keep up with him. All but ten
of the posse had been dis
tanced. and when ut last Max emerged
from the thickct. and pointed up the
hill toward his grandfather's house he
could hardly gasp Out the words.
Headed for g~rapdpa's." Nudge
gained as they climbed the hill. and
rs he stopped it and the Watson home
came in sight he paused and waited to
instruct his few remaining adherents.
The rest We're scattered in different
directions. led astray by their own
stra ggling footprints.
Nudge. being a coward and sure of
his belief that the f%ugitives would
hardly venture into the Watson house,
babe his men Surround the place.
which was on a hilltop. while he alone
approached the residence to ask old
Watson if he or his wife had seen
the runaways. Max ran round to the
rear of the barn and the others made
i Gordon at i respectful distance so as
to prevent escape. Nudge dismounted
at the fence and entered by the front
door. His men waited ten, fifteen.
twenty minutes. then drew nearer.
scared, wondering. alert. In an hour
they ventured into the yard fearing
their sheriff had met foul play.
suddenly an ill-visaged stranger.
bearing a cocked Winchester. stepped
out on the porch, shouting:
We've got your sheriff foul and
We'll kill him and this old couple the
minute you open fire on rs. My part
per has EN- settin' in Il row against
the wall. The fust shot you fellerS
fire Wen Kill EN- all. an then Wen
so after you"
Then Nudge was pushed out with
the rifle at his back. He. 100. appealed
to his posse to give H." He said he
didn't care for his own life. hut he
didn't want to bring death on 'Jhis
poor ole couple His eye rested on
a as he pleaded with his men to
help him ave the Watsons by with
dra wing. When he Went back into the
house Max bade them withdraw to a
respectable distance or go home as
they saw iii. Five sneaked for Sage
vile. TIE others fingered beyond
range. Max slipped back into the
barn. Just before dusk Nudge. hand
cuffed and in his stocking feet. was
thrust out. The two fugitives. one
bearing the sheritf'S rife and the other
with his pistols at the back of Mudge's
head. followed. They paused while
one shouted:
First move you fellers make. first
shot you fire. Nudge dies" 70
Then they FASTENED at a Quickstep
in Indian file across the yard and
down the road into the night. The
warning was repeated at intervals as
they ran. till at last. Max. leading his
horse out of the stable lcaped into the
saddle. sat still a One and cried
out:
oh. grandpa
The old man came ri at the front
door. his frightened old wife after
him. 10Th handcuffed.
II turf you loose in "A minute
Max shouted. and dashed for the road.
Now 1 will run for sheriff" he NUT
| tered as he laid away into the dark
ness with his magazine gun across the
| saddle bow. Half a mile down the
road he saw in the cleaning shadows
10y the road. plodding back toward
town. the detected form of Nudge.
But he did not stop.
1t was 9 O'Clock that night when the
| treasured sheriff and his defeated
posse returned to rescue Max. They
met him driving u sullen prisoner
| slowly along in the dark.
G up and cut grandpa and grand
ma loose he shouted hoarsely. III
afraid to chance it."
where's the other one?' demanded
Nudge, plucking up courage when he
saw the poise of MaX's gun.
Hes down in Creep Hollow" roared
the triumphant Watson. You can
fetch him in on n shutter"