Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-30

out water means one OF two thinss--a slow
pace or a dead mustang.
water the Main Problem.
And also Aivord knew that with water
the western horse can do phenomenal
things. It can lope even across this sort
Of ground all day and cover surprising dis
tances Given water. an Arizona mustang
can make an eastern thoroughbred look
like a selling platter in a twelve-hour race
Therefore on water depended the speed Of
desert horseback travel And on desert
horseback travel depended the hopes Of Al
worlds gang. 80
So Alvord thought OF water-water for HE
horses and no water for the horses NJ his
pursuers There was the problem solved "
only the arrangement could be made. Ard
the desperate fellow made the arrangement
made e so carefully and cunnngly that
there IL not the slightest doubt that the
robbers could have dstaneed their pur-
suers in the race for which liberty and
sfn0 roo were tire stakes.
with their plans comnleted. hvord Alex
ander and Wood quietly went 70 work IN
Nav and secured number NJ Ted'um-
sized beer barrels which thew cut IN hal-es
with nm industry v'o-thy ~ hector cause
and with great seerotive1rse the three r'"r
packed these half-bHrrsls on burro back
and made trim after trip on the eesert.
One NJ these trips was seventy r1iies
across the brolling desert. Several Of ther'
required from EIGHT days 10 two weeks ~
make At the end NJ eight weeks the garg
had rlanted the half barrels IN the sand ~
intervals OF ten miles apart the entire dis
lance from Mohawk summit across 70 the
Mexican line Each half barrel was an lr-
provised but perfect watering trough. COW
cred from view nv mesquite bushes thrown
over IT, The location OF each trough was
marked by a growth OF cactus or some
other natural desert sign.
To understand the magnitude OF the work
accomplished II must be kept in mind that
travelling seventy miles across a desert
without pack animals is in itself feat
worthy OF consideration. In desert eoun-
tries such as that south OF Mohawk sum
NIT II was deemed impossible. There are
no cases. A burro cannot pack sufficient
water to keep Itself alive for ten days on
the desert And Il took ten days or more
Of travel to plant the farthest Of the
troughs and then return to a watering
place.
But Alvord solved this problem as he did
the others. AS the troughs were planted
he saw that every other one was filled with
water. In this way. MS he continued going
forward on the desert, he kept open line
of supply behind him.
Trouahs mt Last Filled.
Willis Wood was given the task Of con-
tinually hauling water to the troughs. The
ones near to Mohawk summit were kept
filled with no great difficulty. Before the
farthest ones were filled the gang lost sew
| eral Of its pack animals.
ha Iov ofh L.,
place and then there was weary retrac-
ing Of steps across the desert to fill the
alternate barrels, which had not been filed.
and to replenish the always diminishing
supply in those which had been hllej. On
August 5 the thieves highway was ready
! for its purpose, On August II the load
of bullion was expected at Mohawk sum
nit
It was agreed among the robbers that in
! the flight across the desert they would
knock holes in the barrels after every
| watering, so that by no chance could the
| pursuers get any value from the highway.
! j. was also agreed to go share and share
alike on all the gold secured. Other minor
details were likewise settled and the three
despersdoes then went to Yuma to lay
low for the intervening days. They feared
that hanging around Mohawk Sumrlit
might arouse suspicion.
/ Burt Alvord's gang had repeatedly out
witted the best detectives. In their pres
ent plot they had planned with more than
their usual secrecy ana cunning But
there was one detective they didn't take
account OF. That was Detective Cupid.
| Alexander the Victim.
The little god Of love is a being Of In
finite dlsguises When 1t came to big Jim
Alexander he did not recognize It as a
sleuth. All that he saw was a mighty
| pretty, dark-eyed girl, who looked at him
| with love-lit eyes and made him forget
that he had a wife at home, He met this
girl in Denver and married her there after
two weeks courtship Then he wanted
money for silks and satins and other set
tings for his Jewel. So he bade the new
/ wife farewell and went to Arizona to plan
with Alvord and with Wood how they could
| make stake"
1t was while Alexander, with Wood and
Alvord was toiling on the desert that the
| Denver Wife learned OF the other wife
whom Alexander had deserted. The black
| eyes ceased to burn with love. Instead
they burned with hate for the man who
had deceived her. Wife No 2 got out n
| warrant for Alexander And she gave let
tiers to the police proving Alexander was in
| the neighborhood OF Yuma. And finally
she tore his picture from a heart-shapsd
| locket he had given her and turned II also
| over 10 the officers.
So all unknown to Alexander the police OF
Arizona and particularly Of the vicinity of
Yuma were on the lookout for him. In
! vesAgotion Of the tigamy charge was fol-
! lowed by charges OF robbery and countcr-
| feltlng. Alexander had become the "a rttc-
ular Juicy marsel that the territorial pe-
| lice most wanted.
Alvord and Wood with many charges