Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-04-25

"l'll not spoil our chances, sir, Ior
can bet on that And the Zig suspect
Stnlked away with the light Of lovel
in his black eyes and the spring OF
young fervor in his tread,
But when he had ridden away, the
Captain summoned Tomklns and said;
Tommy, ! don't like the idea OF
spolting one Of my own men, but
I'll watch him like hawk, sir"
anticipated the bowlegged bully.
But not Il word to anyone, Tom,
And promise me-"
Yes, Captain"
Ell It turns out that Holiday is al
right youll stop this hackcnpplng and
make friends with him."
"I'll go you better, sir. III beg his
pardon"
"Ie has leave ill midnight. So have
you"
And Tomkins. grinning maiciouSly,
got on his pony and trailcd away
toward the river And nll that day
like n stcalthy shadow Tomkins stalkcd
his man.
At s O'Clock from his hiding place in
n doorway Tomkins saw the dude
come out of Wah Lees restaurant
mount his pony ana lOpr lclsurcly
away toward the west. A mile from
town he turned toward the river, and
riding in the shallow water so rs to
leave no trail, went pacing slowly down
stream toward the low wooden bridge
which SpAnncd the shallow river be-
tween old Paso del Nortr and the
American town. Tomkins, riding out
of sight and hearing. in parallel with
his quarry, saw Holiday stop like Il
blacker shadow in the shelter OF the
bridge. his pony's head almost on II
level with the low floor OF the central
span. TOmkinS crossed the approach
and driving his pony down into the
Oozc of the eastern side dlsmOuntcd
ana tied it among the willows. Then
he crept into the yellow shadows till
he was opposite Holiday, raised him
self into the low tmbers of the bridge,
and peered up and down the viaduct
in search of the woman. or WAS it Pan
handle Pete he should see at this lone
ly rendezvous? Even as he watched
he saw the outlaw skulking along the
western sidewalk of the bridge. lie
lOitcred, scanned the American APP
proach turned his back upon the little
mule car which passed, and then. with
Il light spring, sat upon the top rail Of
the fence-ikr guard and began to make
Il cigarette. He was lighting it when
suddenly from the opposite side Tom
kins heard the whistle of Il lariat. \
woman screamed, Run, Pete. run"
ana the bulky body of the outlaw fell
backward into the water. The watcher
dropped down into the sand, got out
his revolver, mounted his pony and
scrambled out of the black shadows
toward the shore. AS he reached tic
level he saw n horSeman strcakinG
eastward in Il long cloud of dust that
rose high into the moonlight and as
he gained the bridge approach Tom
kns saw the scared woman standing
under street lamp looking wildly
after the vanishing cloud.
Captain Revere was smoking III the
moonlight before his tent when he
heard the clatter of horses hOof$ conf
ing loud on the rocks and duh on the
sand. "Kelly'S drunk again" he
guessed, as he walked toward lie cor
raj. But there he found Holiday dis.
mounting. The men came running, hut
the dude" laughed in their faces and
said:
I've got him. fellows. There at the
end of my rope
Tomkins, all befuddlcd with his vain
stalking, gallopcd up as they stopped
over the hound outlaw. They carried
the limp prisoner into Il tent and
searched him, and in his greasy pocket
they found a letter which read: