The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03
CATTLE HUSTLER
 OF THE DAYS GONE BY
BY PAU COOK.

| that he was in the saloon playing cards. the sheriff examined his guns and start ed out to land his man. He came in the door with both pistols drawn.
 Ut happened the luckiest in the world for Knowles that there was a small mir TOT on the rear wall opposite him which reflected the door in front. Very few would have noticed it, and the sheriff did not. As he came in Bob happened to catch sight of the mirror and saw the sheriff just raising his guns to cover him. Knowles carelessly knocked his pipe off the table to the floor. Bending over lag fly, as If to pick 1t up, he fired from un- der his left arm. The bullet landed in the sheriffs shoulder, but It was enough to destroy his aim. Instantly there was stampede for the door, the occupants of the room pillng pell mell over the sheriff. A number of shots were fired, but in the confusion Bob made his escape.
 Strange as it may seem, Knowles had a great deal of respect for a parson, and whenever he would come across a wan dering sky pilot the desperado would treat him with the greatest considera- ton. Bob and several of his gang were robbing a richly laden coach in New Mex leo one day. When the passengers were ordered to come out among them there appeared a parson Everybody else was stripped but the preacher was allowed to. go free with all his possessions. One time nervy divine took shot at him and ever after that Knowles was more careful in handling the men of the cloth, sagely remarlSing that there was no tell Ing what a fellow Is liable to run across, even among the preachers.
 Knowles was one of the most active desperadoes of the early days in the west. At one time he would be robbing a coach in Arizona, and in a few weeks he would stampede herd of cattle in the Panhan- dle. Possibly the extent of his operations accouRted for his being so successful.
 "IIe had a narrow escape one time when the Texas Rangers got hot on his trail. Knowles was headed for Mexico. The pursuers were coming after him in a hurry and he was kept moving night and day. When he reached the Rio Grande he was almost done for. His horse dropped dead under him from fa- tigue, and 1t began to look as if the chase was ended. Luckily 1t was late in the afternoon, and if he could keep out of the way of his pursuers until nightfall his chances of escape would be good It was getting along into the summer time and the river had very little water in 1t. In some places the depth was not over a foot on the sand bars. Knowles found one of these shallow places and lay down with his nose just above the surface of the water. lie was cOmpleLely and able to go no further.
 Pretty soon the Rangers came charg- ing around the foot of hill, their horses fecked with foam. They found Bob's dead horse and immediately scattered to look for the owner. They searched high and low for Bob, but it never occurred to them to look for him out in the river. After beating around for several hours, the Rangers gave up the search As soon rIac trCf otah crossed the border. By this time his bed was becoming rather cool and he was glad to get to dry land again.
 ''As happens often with desperate char acters as well as those that are not so bad, Knowles career was brought to close by a woman. On one of his raids he met a little woman who completely fascinated him. She was so plucky, and resisted his attempt to rob her fathers 8 camp so stoutly that Bob was captivated. The old man was killed and the girl put bullet in Knowles shoulder before he could disarm her. Bob did not forget her and as soon as the excitement of the raid had died out he was back again looking for the girl who had taken his fancy.
 He finally located her at the ranch of some relatives and under an assumed name he began. to make ardent love to her. He hoped that the girl did not re- cognize him as the slayer of her father.
 But in this he was badly mistaken. for she was merely playing with him for the | sake of revenge. About the time for his regular visit she informed the sheriff who
 her lover was and he lay in wait for him.
 Knowles was seated at table eating when .the sheriff stepped into the room with | two long guns in his hands Nervy to the | last. and knowing that capture meant
 death Knowles took desperate chance. | He leaped straight at the sheriff's throat,
 but his form had hardly strengthened out
 before. he fell a corpse with a bullet through his heart"