Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-04-02
Lan;gford
of the
8. Bars.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Outlaws Last Stand.

= t"e SedaWo Laut otaHo.
IN the morning the sheriff went to
90 island. He reported the place de.
ssrted. He made many other trips.
Some times he took q deputy with
him: more often he rode unaccom.
panied. Richard Gordon lay helpless In
. burning fever. with Paul Langford In
constant and untiring attendance upon
hin. George Williston was a sadly
shattered man
Il met Black on the corner west Of
0ordon's ONCE" he explained. when
hs could talk. II had not been able to
sleep. and had been walking to tire
nv nerves into quiet. i was coming
hack 10 the hotel when heard Blacks
shot and then Mary's. ran forward
and met Black on the-corner. running.
he stopped. cried out. You. too. damn
you and that's the last knew until
ths boys picked me up"
These were the most Interested
Langford. Gordon. Williston. Had they
bssn In the count, things might have
been different. It In very probable
POSSE would have been formed for i'm.
nsdiate pursuit. But others must do
What had been better done had II not
been for those shots in the dark.
There was blood outside Gordon's win.
dow: yet Black had not crawled home
70 die. He had not gone home at ALL
Q least, that is what the sheriff said.
Ne one had seen tho convicted man
after his desperate and spectacular
exit from the court-room-no one at
beast but Louise. Mary. and her faith
G. Mary's shot had not killed him, but
~ had saved Ri4e~eA--Sordon's life.
which was far bettalmes r.r.ss> It was
impossible TO track him out of town,
Cor the cattle had trampled the snow
n every direction.
The authorities could gather no out
side information. The outlying claims
and ranches refuted Indignantly any
hint Of their having given aid or
shelter to the fugitive. or OF having
sny cogniSance whatsoever regarding
his possible whereabouts. So the pur-
suit, ut nrst hot and excited, gradual
" wearied of following false leads
oontented itself with desultory journ-
sys when prodded thereto by the COM
polling power of public opinion.-hn-
ally ceased altogether even as a pre-
tence..
One Of the first things done follow
ing the Dramatic day in court had
been to send the officers out to the
little shanty in the valley where the
half.breed lay dead across the thresh-
old. A watch was also set upon this
place: but no one ever came there.
August had come again, and Judge
Dale was In Kemah to hear a court
case.
Landlord had ridden in from the
ranch on purpose to see Judge Dale.
His clothes were spattered with mud.
There had been q succession OF
storms, lasting for several days; last
uixht.a cloud had burst cut west some
where. An the creeks were swollen.
.yudge. I believe Jesse Black has
heen on that island Of his all the
time.-.
~What makes you think SO. Lang
sord?"
because our sheriff IL four-hush-
ine-he always was in sympathy with
he gang, you know. Besides, where
els can Black bel"
Dale puckered his lips thoughtfully.
@What have you heard" he asked.
~Rnmors are getting pretty thick
NAT h has been seen In that neigh
hood on several occasions. 1t Is
- honest belief he has never left It."
eWnsi did you think Of doing about
4.nn9fords -
= want you to give me 4 bench war
49,. 1nlx3. / am confident that I can
- <;r. r i the shame Of the coun-
hsl ks i 6liD At large"
@X1e have "a deal with one Of the
r-1l md most desperate outlaws In
~ IIt,ie6 nfktes. You must know II
81 s. fory hszardous undertaking.
-..,,br your surmises to DO correct
F.r rI1nrht With grave peril for some
s. n61hsstnhd that fully
-Ikla 1ntf - anothsr's, not yours"
tD1f dat other Il incompetent
,.s.v 6ear fellow" said the Judge.
t'1Ihr ana laying HIS hand on Lang.