The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-03
AN INDIAN DETECTIVE.
Spotted Horse Thief With the Help
Of His Sharp Eyes.

Holmes story" said an oldtimer, puff
ing q freshly rolled cigarette. Il lived
at the Ponca agencies in the eighties
when Jew persons except government
inspectors and cowboys ever came.
Occasionally a stranger stopped on
his way through to buy. chuck at
the traders store. The Poncas wore
blankets in those days. and were
much better Indians than now.
1t was high noon one spring day.
and the agency was as quiet as a
graveyard. Four Indian policemen
sat browsing on a bench. the usual
loafing place. against the agency
building. Summer was in the air and
the praries and timber in the river
bottom looked fresh and green. In
the agency Office hung the siN-shoot-
erS and ammunition belts Of the four
policemen. and nearby was stock
OF rifles. ready for quick use. Desper-
ADDE'S were in the country, scouting
between Kansas and Indian Territory,
and the agency employees were always
on the alert. The Ponca pony herds
often were raided. and the policemen
kept close watch for the horse
thieves
The iour policemen on the bench
were disturbed by the sound Of
horses feet The horse, a fine one,
was ridden by stranger who dis
mounted at a traders store and dis
appeared inside. The first policeman
rubbed his eyes moment, said ugh,
and the second, third and fourth did
likewise. One after the other they
went quickly into the agency Office
and came back with their belts and
pistols.
They made a dash for the traders
store, but the stranger saw them COM
ing and ran out OF the back door to-
ward the timber on Salt Fork. The
four policemen began firing in vol
leyS. The stranger shot as he ran,
and escaped into the heavy growth
OF trees without a scratch. The four
policemen were in fighting trim. and
kept up the chase.
The noise Of the firing awoke the
sleepy agency like cannonade. Men
and women ran out doors to learn the
cause of the uproar. Little clouds of
smoke that hung in the air, and occa-
sional shot in the timber showed that
the fight was still on, but no one
could tell why or how it began.
The stranger ran to the river,
sprang into a skiff and was on his way
down stream when the four police
men drew up opposite and command
ed him 10 come to shore and surrend-
er or be killed. The stranger refused
and bullets began striking the water
near the skitf. He changed his mind
quickly and gave up.
He was marched before the agent,
who asked the four policemen:
Whats the matter: who is this
man.
Him horse thiei.'
Do YOU know him.
No. we never see him
Do YOU know his horse?'
No: never see him horse before.
We'll. how in thunder do YOU
know this man is horse thief de-
manded the agent. who was growing
angry AT the idea that the policemen
had suddenly jumped up, half asleep,
and began shooting to kill at a pos
sible inoffensive stranger.
The chief OF the four policemen
curved a hand around each eye and
said: White man ride with 'blinders'
or bride And that was his only ex-
planation.
His evidence. however. was strong
enough 10 convict in that part Of the
country. The Indian knew that any
stranger riding on horse back so far
from civilization would have a regu-
lation OUTFIT for his horse. and that a
stranger with a good horse and a
bride with blinds in all probabil