The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-20

! tdtlO4le' anu uIpNe OIL u DuHtu u Hlly
odd ponies which an Indian boy was
hcrding on Short Pine Creek.
"They wouldn't have dared attempt
so bold theft II either or the mis-.
slonary. Mr.. Williams. had been on the
reservation. But as it was. they only
had to drive these ponies to the near.
est railroad town and sell them at $40
or SO each. and the complaints OF the
Indians would avail nothing. Such
robDeries Of the Sioux were frequent in
those days. and kept even the friend
liest of them IN q state of hostile feel
ing.
Il don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared to follow the ras.
Gals If they hadn't run off four OF my
ponies in tho bunch they stampeded.
But l had left him in charge OF my
property, and when a runner came in
with news of the loss he again locked
the store. and leaving some Indians On
guard, mounted his pony and followed
the rustlers. He was careful. after
striking their trail not to come in sight
OF them until after dark.
about two hours after sunset he
came up with them in the coulce Of
Chapeau Crock. They had just made
camp, having run the stock more than
forty miles over an unsettled district.
Martin saw them without being seen.
He plcketed his pony beyond ear.shot,
and then crept close to their camp.
hiding in some bushes where lie could
keep an eye on every movement.
''The three men were sitting about
small fire, eating their supper. Their
ponies We're plclleted close By, and
their guns, two Winchesters belonging
to the cow-men and an old shotgun
which Kosky carried, lay against their
saddles within their reach.
The moon was shining brightly into
the coulee, and just below the rustlers
Martin saw the pony herd in close
bunch, most of them lying at rest.
The Indian settled himself to wait.
and presently Big Kosiy got up.
saddled his horse. took his gun and
went to look after the herd. while tLc
others unrolled their blankets, laid
their Winchesters beside them. ccd
stretched themselves ut their fire.
They had been talking together and
laughing, and were evidently pretty
we'll contented with their catch: they
seemed to feel pretty sure about get.
ting off with the herd. Martin watched
the fellows like lynx, and when they
We're sound asleep and Kosky was out
OF sight looking after the herd. lie
crawled into their camp and got both
their guns. Then he crawied away
again.
THE guns he carried NJ the crces
and strapped to his pony's saddle. Then
he came back just as slyly to look after
Big Kosky and the ponies. SO far
everything had gone to his liking, and
now to get rid OF that rascally herher
"kosky kept the horses in close
bunch. riding about them with his gun
across his saddle and Martins pros.
pect for running off any OF them looked
pretty poor. Whatever he did must he
done before tse fellows in camp were
awakened, for the discovery of the loss
OF their guns would alarm them at
once.
THE ponies. however. themselves
settled Martins plan of action. They'd
been watered at Lame Mans Greek
some miles back. and toward midnight
they began 10 want drink, and to drOp
into the bed of the Chapeau TO look for
1t. The creek was dry. with only q
pool here and there in dips of the chan.
mel; and Kosky, to quiet their uneasi.
ness, worked the bunch along up to one
of the sunken ponds some two hundred
yards above his rustlers camp.
Martin followed closely. kcepin-
: out of sight in the dry channel Very
soon he heard the ponies slipping down
steep bank into the pond: and peer
Ing out of the cover of tall grass. he
saw Kosky ride his own horse down TO
drink. Martin could Just see the
horses rump as the animal stood. hall
on end. and the mans head and shorl.
ders. as he sat braced in his saddle.
| There was the. boys opportunity.
, and he took 1t rs quick rs lightning.
He crawled slyly out OF the grass and
J got directly behind the rnstler. Then.
using the stock of his carbine as n bat.
tering-ram, he made a running jump,
! striking the man squarely between the
: shoulders.
I "Kosky was hurled as if kicked by n
) mule. He struck the water with n
splash and sank like q sack of sand.
Martin landed behind his saddle. and
the rustler's horse slid into the water.
e where he founGered over his breath.
r less master.
e The ponies We're startled into snort.
! ing little, but they We're too thirsty
0 to run, and Martin kept his seat and
5 rode out upon the bank. He tied his
. captured horse TO some willows. and
Y then waded In and dragged Kosky oui
4 into the dry bed Of the creek. There
he turned the man upon his face and
t slapped his back until he began to
y show signs of life: then he tied him
!. hands and feet. and left him there to
@ come to and reflect upon the uncertain,
d ties OF rustling.
D THE ponies were now grazing quiet
n ly. and Martin moved them upstream
}. to where his horse was tied, and theu
/ drove them rapidly home.
THAT experience settled the accounts
+ OF Big Kosky In these parts. I reckon
;. the whole business was rather mys
h terlous to him. He never came On tho
S reservation again. TO Dur knowledge
and soon after abandoned his claim