The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-02-14

Uncle Sam, but personal conviction
and legs proofs are far apart; so he
bided his time.
You're not drinking, stranger" said
the hospitable sport. why not?"
Not thirsty, thanks" said Cheney
with his smile.
well, by God, when + set 'em up
every one drinks or settles with me-"
In a flash it looked like a trough
house." but just hen a clatter was
heard outside and an overland caravan
pulled in, putting an end to the inn
pending trouble. The members of the
caravan fled into the saloon and were
soon washing down the Nebraska dirt
with Blue Ruin" whisky. Cheney and
his companions slipped out and short
ly afterwards retired for the night.
They were quartered In one room in
the ounflower hotel. Their bed vas
a pallet on the floor. For awhile they
talked over plans for the morrow
when they would hunt up Lem Stock
ham, the sheriff, and prepare to get
the gang; and finally tired nature as
serted itself and they slept. That is
Lonergan and Cheney did, but Guthrie
was uneasy and restless. He lay
awake for some time listening to the
sounds of the crowd outside. Occasion
ally there was a shot or two, a yell,
a ribald song, and so the night wor
on 1t was quite warm and after toss
ing about for some hours Sid got up
to go out for a breath of air. He was
gone quite awhile and walked down by
the Sycamore creek. Finding an in
viting spot he took a plunge, and just
as the first rays of dawn came up owe
the horizon he started back to town
He had been out about two miles and
it was quite light when he turned the
hill and looked down the street. He
was surprised to see a large crowd of
men standing around the door of the
hotel and in a second scented trouble.
He had seen mobs before and knew
this one was bent on mischief. Guthrie
was a believer in lunches" and
something told him this mob had
something to do with Cheney and their
work. He made his way cautiously
through the crowd, keeping his eyes
and ears open and his mouth shut.
He learned that the caravan which
stopped there for the night was from
Cincinnati and Ohio river towns. One
of the members, a boy 20 years old,
had about 1900 strapped in his money
belt on arriving. The caravan was
camped. just beyond the edge Of the
town and the boy had left his bucolio
friends after midnight to go to camp
En- route he had been waylaid and halt
killed. When he recovered conscious
ness his money was gone and he stag
gered back to town. His head was
pretty badly battered up and when he
half fell into the saloon where his
companions where making a night ot
it, he wasn't a very pleasant picture tc
behold.
In broken accents he told of the rob.
beIy, how two men had held hira up
robbed him of his money and ther
beaten him, supposedly, to death. Blu
life is very tenacious, especially in q
year old youths.
A glass of liquor revived him a lit
tie more
How many men, you say?" asked
his wagon boss.
1.-TWO are all | saw" faltered tn,
hoy. The description he gave wal
meager.
Buck Ewing and a few of his Friends
listened and the N who had wanted
every one to drink with him early II
the evening snarled out: "Ill bet /
was that chap who wouldn't drinl
with me. He and his partner left earl!
in the evening" and his befuddlet
brain forgot there were three il
Cheney's party. For once too mucl
liquor was a good thing.
In times like those just recorded rea
son is prone to give way to a desir
for revenge. OF legal law there wa
mighty little in those days. Len
! Stockham, the sheriff, was away ant
so the mob had full sway. All thi
time Cheney and Lonergan were peace
fully sleeping, and Guthrie was trying
to walk off his restlessness.
Another round of drinks was serve'
and then the mob was ready for an.
devilment. Buck Ewing and his part.
and the wagon boss led the gang.
Gould you recognize the two mel
who slugged your" asked Ewing of tn
boy.
Eyes, / think l could" the lad re
piled.
The search began and each hous
was inspected. At daylight the,
reached the Sunfiower hotel. Chene
and Lonergan must have been sleep
ing like dead men not to have bee
awakened, but the first thing the
knew their door was thrown open an
they were looking down the muzzle
of six shooters pointed at their heads
Cheney's nerve was magnificent; s
was Lonergan's. Long ago they ha
learned when a man has the drop o.
you it is better TO submit and play TO
time.
Get up" growled Ewing.
They were searched, their gun