, 1903-09-09
.by He
Was CouSbf
tOriginal.l

uttuH 1, Dti1E htslIOuS VI HUI iiS
a verltable desperate, got permission
of his keeper TO visit him. Among
other things he told me how he came
to be caught at last. This is the story:
I'd had things pretty much my own
way for Il long while, and 1t made me
careless. It's never best for a man TO
have n run of good luck. He needs a
backset now and then to keep him eau
tious. While ! was holdin' people up
and gittin' away with the plumber |
forgot that those I'd levied on was
stirrin' up trouble for me.
One day l rode by a ranch and seein'
1t was n prosperous lookin' place l
thought I'd stop and see if l could haul
in anything. The loo was opened by
as trim a gal as you ever see. Not a
plains gal or a greaser or anything like
that, but a lady all over. | told her l
was a-travelin' and would like to get a
dinner if ! might be allowed to pay for
It, and she said | could have all /
wanted to eat with nothin' to pay and
welcome. | heard an old crone's voice
speakin' from above.
"What you thinkin' of, Lillian? Or
course he can pay for dinner! Dyou
s'pose we're made of moneyp'
The gal colored, but said nothin' and
went out and give orders to the cook,
while !, bein' convinced that the place
was open to me, went upstairs, and,
scarin' the old woman by shown my
weapon agin' her scalp, axed her what
valyables there was in the house. She
was a vixen, you bet, and l was
afeerd I'd have to blow her brains out,
but the cold iron and my thinkin'
whether to do it or not, which she
could see in my face, helped matters,
and she at last give in and showed me
where she kept her valyables. 1t hap
pened that they was all together, so
she was 'blceged to show 'em up all at
oncet.
Well, while we was a-talkin' the gal
come upstairs, and though for while
she couldn't seem to git on to VIA
was I'D to, she did at last and give me
a look I'll remember to the day l
swing. Somehow it made me feel
what | was. Nobody ever made me
feel that way before.
Come" she said, when you've got
what you want. I've had what we
have In the house set out for you. I'm
not accountable for your acts, only my
own. You asked for a dinner n l
promised to give it to you. l shall
keep my promise"
She tut me downstairs, and there
on the table was such Il snack, as she
could get up in n short time, cold beef
and bread and butter, eggs and such
like, and : oct sns-naa-e -. saG~S
for | was hungry. l felt sort of mean,
with the gal a-waitin' on me as though
she was a servant and l a gentleman,
specially as I had all the movable
property in my pocket. Every time I'd
look up there was that innocent face
lookin' at me, and when | wanted any
thing she'd help me to it. SO by the
time I'd got a good meal into me l
was ready to do the only decent thing
l ever did in my life.
You're a nice leetle GAL" l said, and
you've treated me fair. Oncet | was
respectable, and somehow the way
you've been actin toward me and
lookin' at me has made me ashamed o
myself"
| TUX out what I'd stuffed in my
pockets and put 1t on the table and got
up and walked out o the house and
rod away.
VNT,II AI,k ,-n, ~ srht nnApnh ~ fnr a q
it went, but it went furder. Somehow
l couldn't forgit the looks o. that leetle
gal. 1t seemed to me that If l could
live where | could see her sometimes
and have a chance I'd turn decent.
One day when l was near the ranch
l rode over there. That was the I'M
luckiest visit of my life. | hadn't
more IN rode in through the open gate
before the committee that was a-lookln'
for me came round a turn in the road,
and there | was caught like a rat in a
trap.
The only man on the committee that
knowed mefor shore had gone back with
a lame horse, so after they'd taken me
in on suspicion they called the leetle gal
for they knowed I'd been there
afore-and axed her if | was the man.
She looked at me, maxim believe she
was puzzled or couldn't remember or
somepin, then said:
mo"
l was hat surprised you could "a
blowed me over with a kitchen bel
lows.
''Never seen him before?" axed one
of 'em.
Not this one. The other was a bad
fellow. This man, I'm sure, Is a good
one and wouldn't hurt any one"
That was true so far as hadn't
robbed any one since l seen her.
"All right, stranger" said the leader.
you kin go. I'm sorry to have dis
turbed you"
l was walkin' forward to the door