Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-24

| the thieves for a week, and finally
brought them to bay. But they failed
to recover their cattle, and returned,
losing three of their number.
With this example still fresh before
them, the ranchmen quailed with Cal
Smith repeated his raid as he return
I'd from Montana the following year.
But realizing that their business would
be ruined If these raids we're allowed
to continue, and that it would be use
less to appeal to such law as had at
that time been established, few of
the drawer men, with Allan Howell at
their head, crossed the sand-hills in
pursuit
The rustlers had several days the
start of their pursuers but were en-
numbered with the herd of stolen cat
tie, and must travel slowly. The stock
men went out with their luggage pack
ed on their relay horses. They thus
avoid the impeachment of camp wagon
and would move rapidly After two
days of hard riding they overlook the
outlaws
But the latter were prepared to re-
ceive them. On sighting their pur-
suers they had rushed the cattle across
the practically dry bed of the Cimar-
ron river, and punched them on a
flat" at the base of bluff Then
with guard posted to prevent them
from scattering, the gang took post
on the top of the hill. Dismounting
they rested their rifles across their
saddles and calmly waited.
1t is no discredit to the stockmen
that they halted at a respectful dist
ance. To rush into an ARRAY with
so we'll posted an enemy would have
been the height Of rashness.
"Well, I dunno" said big Mis-
sourian, after they had carefully sur
veyed the situation. II hate to be
beat out. but them cutthroats seem
to have the best Of us this time, sure. :
'It doesn't look as if fellow would
enjoy his cattle long after he got In
there after them observed another.
"But, boys said Allan Howell, you
knew when you started out what you
were coming for, and this is no time
to falter. Who will go on with me and
get those cattle?"
He was answered by an ominous
silence, which was broken by the big
voice OF Cal Smith haunting them: IF
you want these cattle, come and get
4
Howell looked in the faces of his
men and saw that while they were
brave men who would not hesitate at
fair odds, they would not deliberately
throw away their lives. He could not
blame them The odds were insur-
mountable.
Still he was unwilling to turn back
without accomplishing his mission
/ He thought moment, then turned 70
his comrades and said:
Boys, I'm going after those cattle
and want you to be ready to fight OIL
the rustlers when bring them back
Get off your horses and act as if you
were waiting for me to have talk
with them, but be ready"
To all appearances, Allan Howell
rode forward to confer with the out
laws. They evidently so explained his
action, for they allowed him to advance
unmolested to the foot of the bluff.
Here he had gained the farther side OF
the herd. He was also screened from
the outlaws by the brow Of the hill.
Looking back, he could see that his
men had obeyed his orders literally
and were sitting or standing about in
easy positions, but keeping convenient
ly near their horses. He noted, too
that the cattle were FESTIVE.
i Suddenly Howell wheeled his horse
to the right, and dashed along the base
of the bluff. Tearing his yellow slick
err from his saddle bow, he Haunted
it with one hand. while with the other
he discharged volley of pistol shots
And he yelled as only a cow-man can
YELL
Now there is nothing that will fright
en- a western range steer worse than
waving slicker, and as Howell expect
ed, pandemonium broke loose at once
: With wild snorts and a great clashine
of horns the herd rushed away.
J, The guards, dashing up, only In
! creased the stampede, and directed il
upon Howell's party, who opened theil
line to let it pass, then close up be
hind it to prevent pursuit.
} The cattle were recovered! From
the stock men there went up a great
shout Of triumph, from the bluff vel
! of rage. And the solitary horseman
galloping in the wake of the fleeing
herd became the target Of a vicious
: volley.
One bullet carried away his hat; an
: other paralyzed an arm, while third
killed the horse urder him. Down hi
went with a great crash!
To Allan Howell's horror, the animal
in falling, pinned him to the ground
: Handicapped by his wounded arm, his
; utmost efforts could not avail to draw
his leg from beneath the horse. Mean
while, the earth about him was tori
with leaden hail. More terrible still
he saw through the dust-cloud that his
, comrades, supposing that he was com
ing safely on, were hurrying after thu
cattle. Wounded and helpless, he wa'
being heedlessly abandoned by those
whose interests he had sought to serve
Then the fire ceased, and he heart
the tread of horses hoofs. Looking
up he say one of the desperadoes rid
ing up, with his pistol leveled. Thu
sickening terror of death came upol
him with the binding flash!
The next moment he realized, to hi
surprise, that he still lived! One more
bullet had entered the body of poor oil
Tom Then the man, mere boy
crunnp hin, Golf from hic saddle