Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-05

upbraided the governor for the apparent
breach of compact, but was reassurcd.
They reached no agreement, and subsc
quently General Wallace told Garrett to
get him." and those two simple words
meant much.
One Life or the other.
To an easterner, i'm this age 1t seems
strange to think of two men, each ready to
shoot on sight, and probably less disturbed
about it than is the average man worried
about his business. The explanation may
be in the realm of psychology, for living
in the atmosphere of danger and strife men
seem to adapt themselves to the exgencies
of the situation At any rate, Garrett and
Billy the Kid knew that 1t had to be one
life or the other Garrett had captured
him once. but the Kid escaped after being
lodged in safe keeping and now it was
war to the death.
Garretts own story of the killing. as he
told it to Emerson Hough. is set forth in
"The Story of the outlaw" In brief, Gar
rett said he knew that he would have to
kill the Kid, and he followed the youth to
Summer, where. in the old Maxwell house,
the deed was accomplished. Garrett had
two deputies. Poe and Mckinney. These
men were stationed OUTSIDE Htle MtAWell =
house. while Garrett went inside. They
thought that Billy the Kid was in the
neighborhood. Garrett said that the Kid
way lying in the house of an old Mexican,
not far from Maxwell's door. The most
common story is that the outlaw came into
the Maxwell house to see a Mexican girl
but Garrett is authority for the statement
that he came over to cut some meat from
g.f I.,
Maxwell was in bed ands Garrett was
speaking Spanish to him in the darkness.
The Kid had seen the two companions of
Garrett in the moonlight, and backed into
the room. coming up to the bed. The sher-
iff said that he had six-shooter in his
hand and. motioning toward him. asked
Maxwell: "Quien esp CWho is itO. Gar
rett's own words are:
There flashed over my mind at once one
thought, and It was that l had to shoot
and shoot at once, and that my shot must
get to the mark the first time. | knew the
Kid would kill me in flash If did not
kin him. Just as he spoke and motoned
toward me- | dropped over to the left and
rather down, going after my gun with my
right hand as ] did so. As l fired, the Kid
dropped back. | had caught him Just above
the heart. His pistol already pointed to-
ward me. went off as he fell but he fired
high. As I sprang up. l fired once more,
but did not hit him. and did not need to.
for he was dead
Effective Bravery.
There are varities of bravery; nut per-
haps none is more effective that that dis
played by such men as Garrett and his as
sociates, One of his deputies is now living
at Silver City, n, NJ Some time ago, when
employed on Lincoln county ranch, word
came in at nightfal that a Mexican set
tier not far away had some of the COM
pany's calves in his possession. Quietly
taking his Winchester and pony this deputy
rode alone TO the MeXicans corral, and,
entering, examined the calves. Any one
who is familiar with night upon the plains,
with its atmosphere Of loneliness. win read
fly appreciate the courage of the man.
Every moment he was in grave danger at
any instance the Mexican's shot might have
flashed in the darkness, yet to him it was