Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER XXI.
The Outlaws Last Stand.

In the morning the sheriff went to
the island. He reported the place de-
serted. He made many other trips.
Some times he took a deputy with
him; more often he rode unaccom-
panied. Richard Gordon lay helpless In
q burning fever. with Paul Langford in
constant and untiring attendance upon
him. George Williston was a sadly
shattered man.
II met Black on the corner west OF
Gordon's Office" he explained when
he could talk II had not been able to
sleep, and had been walking to tire
my nerves into quiet. I was coming
back to the hotel when I heard Blacks
shot and then Mary's. I ran forward
and met Black on the corner, running.
He stopped, cried out, You. too damn
YOU and that's the last I knew until
the boys picked me up"
These were the most interested
Langford. Gordon. Williston. Had they
been In the count. things might have
been different. 1t Is very probable a
posse would have been formed for i'm
mediate pursuit. But others must do
what had been better done had it not
been for those shots in the dark.
There was blood outside Gordons win
dow; yet Black had not crawled home
to die. He bad not gone home at ALL
least. that is what the sheriff said
No one had seen the convicted man
after his desperate and spectacular
exit from the courtrocm-no one Mt
least but Louise. Mary, and her faith.
err Mary's shot had not killed him. but
It had saved Richard Gordon's life.
which was a far better thing. It was
impossible to track him out Of town,
for the cattle had trampled the snow
in every direction.
| The authorities could gather no out
! side information. The outlying claims
and ranches refuted Indignantly Lny
INIT OF their having given aid or
shelter to the fugitive, or Of having
any cognizance whatsoever regarding
his possible whereabouts So the pur-
suit, at first hot and excited, gradual
~ woarled Of following false leads
Coatented itself with desultory iourr.
eys when prodded thereto by the COM
polling power of public opinion
ally ceased altogether even as 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 q court
case
Langford had ridden in from the
ranch on purpose to see Judge Dale
His clothes were spattered with mud
There had been a succession OF
storms, lasting for several days; last
night a cloud had burst ont west some
where. All the creeks were swollen.
Judge, | believe Jesse Black has
been on that island Of his all the
time"
What makes you think SO, Lang
ford?"
bttduot OII slItllL 10 louI
ing-he always was in sympathy witt
the gang. you know Besides, whore
else can Black be-"
Dale puckered his lips thoughtfully
What have you heard?" he asked
"Rumors are getting pretty thicl
that he has been seen in that neigh
borhood on several occasions. It /:
my honest belief he has never left it.
What did you think of doing abou
it, Langford?"
Il want you TO give me bench war
rant, Judge am confident that | car
get him. 1t is the shame of the coun
ty that he Is still at large"
You have to deal with one OF the
worst and most desperate outlaws IT
the United States. You must know i
will be very hazardous undertaking