The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-21

ND of the Missouri Western overland
No. 3, on the night of Oct. IA and ask
that he be taken into custody on that
charge"
/ couldn't make out this new move
and puzzled over it, while Judge Wilson
ordered my commitment But the next
step revealed the object, for the lawyer
then asked for a search warrant to look
for stolen property. The judge was
equally obliging and began TO fill one
out on the instant.
This made me feel pretty serious, for
the letters were in my breast pocket,
and swore at my own stupidity in not
having put them in the station safe
when / had FIRST arrived at Ash Forks
There weren't many moments in which
to think while the judge scrubbed away
az the warrant, but in what time there
was did lot CT head works without,
however, finding more than one way out
Of the snarl, and when I saw the judge
finish of his signature with flourish I
played a pretty desperate card.
You're just too late, gentlemen,
said, pointing ont the side window of
the saloon. There comes the cavalry"
The three conspirators jumped to their
feet and bolted for the window. Even
the sheriff turned to look. AS he did so
gave him a shove toward the three,
which sent them all sprawling on the
floor in pretty badly mixed up condi
ton. made q dash for the door, and
as 1 went through it / grabbed the key
and locked them in. AS ] turned to do
80 saw the lot struggling up from the
floor, and, knowing that it wouldn't
take them many seconds to find their
way out through the window, didn't
waste much time in watching them.
Camp, Baldwin and the judge had
left their horses just outside the saloon,
and there they were still patiently stand
ing, with their brides thrown over their
heads, as only western horses will stand.
It didn't take me long to have those
brides back in place. and as tossed
each over the peak Of the Mexican sad
die I gave two Of the ponies slaps which
started them off at a lope across the
railroad tracks / swung myself into
the saddle of the third and ficked him
with tho loose ends Of the bride in a
way which made him understand that I
meant business.
Ba1dwin's cowboys had most of them
scattered to the various saloons of the
place, but two of them were standing in
the doorway of a store. l acted SO quick
1y, however, that they didn't seem to
take in what 1 was about till was well
mounted Then I heard yell, and,
fearing that they might shoot-for the
cowboy does love to use his gum turn
ed sharp at the saloon corner and rode
up the side street, just in time to see
Camp climbing through the window,
with Baldwin's head in view behind
him
Before / had ridden 100 feet realiz-
ed that had done up horse under me,
and, considering that he had covered
over 40 miles that afternoon in pretty
quick time, it was not surprising that
there wasn't very much go left in him.
knew that Baldwin's cowboys could |
get new mounts in plenty without vast !
ing many minutes and that then they
would overhaul me in very short order
Clearly there was no use in my attempt
ing to escape by running. And, as
wasn't armed, my only hope was to beat
them by some finesse.
Ash Forks, like all western railroad !
towns, is one long line of buildings run
ming parallel with the railway tracks. /
Two hundred feet, therefore, brought /
me to the edge of the town, and wheel |
ed my pony and rode down behind the /
rear of the buildings In turning look |
ed back and saw half dozen mounted |
men already in pursuit but lost sight
of them the next moment. As soon as
reached a street leading back to the rail
road turned again and rode toward it,
my one thought being to get back, if
possible. to the station and put the let
tiers into the railroad agents safe.
When l reached the main street. I
saw that my hope was futile, for an
other batch of cowboys We're coming in
full gallop toward me, very thoroughly
heading me off in that direction. To es-
cape them / headed up the street away
from the station, with the pack in close
pursuit. They yelled at me to hold up.
and expected every moment to hear
the crack Of revolvers. for the poorest
shot among them would have found no
difficulty in dropping my horse at that
distance If they had wanted TO stop me.
1t isn't very nice sensation to keep
your ears pricked up in expectation of
hearing the shooting begin and to know
that any moment may be your last. 1
don't suppose / was on the ragged edge
more than 80 seconds, but they were
enough TO prove to me that to keep ones
back turned TO an enemy as one runs
away takes deal more pluck than TO
stand mp and face his gun. Fortunately
for me, my pursuers felt so sure of my
capture that not one of them drew
bead on me-
The moment saw that there was no
escape l put nv hand in my breast
pocket and took out the letters, intend
ing to tear them into 100 pieces. but az
did so / realized that to DESTROY United
States mail not merely entailed criminal
liability, but was off color morally.
faltered, balancing the outwitting of
Camp against state prison, the doing my
best for Madge against the wrong of it.
l think I'm as honest a fellow as the
average, but / have 70 confess that I
couldn't decide 10 do right till thought
that Madge wouldn't want me TO be
dishonest. even for her
turned across the railroad track and
rut IN behind some freight cars that