Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-08

can stand considerable heat. and Il
guess FL stay"
1t was said OF Garrett that he could
pull and shoot In about the time It
takes fly to get from under the hand
that tries to catch 1t, and 1t seems to-
have been literally true.
Garrett gave the first demonstration
of his skill with the revolver for the
benefit of western gentleman indulg-
ing in little western saloon merri-
ment. The gentleman, one Greenfelt.
with a weakness for other mems
horses, was amusing himself in sa-
loon making couple Of men dance by
shooting at their feet. A third, whose
terpsichorean skill or bashfulness had
met the disapproval of the horse thief,
lay on the floor with bullet neon
veniently concealed in his person when
Pat Garrett casually dropped in.
"Three hands around" whooped the
horse thief, shifting his pistol toward
Garrett, and almost on the last word
he lunged forward on his face with q
bullet through his heart. The last
sound he heard In this world was Gar
rett'S drawing comment:
you're poor caller"
Gave His First Demonstration.
Garrett had a number of other adj
ventures before he finally came to the
point in his life where "Billy the Kid"
demanded his attention. But that time
finally came The bandit had just been
out on one of his usual forayS, which
terminated in saloon brawl and the
ruthless killing of man. 1t was the
outlaws twenty-first victim and his
last.
When Garrett set out for "the Kid"
he departed on no ordinary mission
even for man used to the capture
and killing of border outlaws. The
bandit was wild and lawless youth,
cunning, brave and dashing and as
clever and fast with gun as any man
that ever trod the west, even though
be was only boy in years. Billy was
both INSCRIPTIONS and culning albeit
not without a leaven of chivalry and
romance His adventures had been
numerous, and he was New MeXicos
desperate hero. but Garrett didn't mind.
When the plucky sheriff overlook the
bandit, 'the Kid took look at his OPP
ponent. whom he knew Immediately by
repute, and decided that it was better
to give up. He was tried and convicted
of murder and sentenced to death. But
the bandit was destined to die in an
other fashion than on the scaffold. Two
careless deputies were outwitted, and
he escaped
A less experienced man would have
gone out i'm pursuit while the trail was
hot. Not so Garrett, who knew the
WAYS of the desperate and willy outlaw.
instead he set out for the Maxwell
ranch. near CariZzoo. in Lincoln coun-
y, where "the Kids" sweetheart lived.
Garrett and his men lay in wait until
hey saw a man dodge into the house
lnder cover of the night. Garrett sim
lie handed slipped in after him and
,osted his men on the porch. Garrett
new Maxwell and walked to his room
ask whether the bandit had come in.
Iaxwell was asleep and had to be
Weakened. He knew nothing of 1.-The
Nid'' and wasn't expecting him, but
Jarrett was pretty certain and on
.uard. He had just turned from Max
vell's bed in the darkness when 1.-The
lid" entered the room. There was n
ense moment. The bandit advanced to
lie bed. believing to speak to Maxwell.
who are theyr he asked, noticing
he men on the porch.
In an instant he knew that Maxwell
vas not alone. The boy bandit made
quick. catlike move backward AMI
whipped out his gun with incredible
iwiftness, but he was yet too slow. A
bullet from CARROTS gun made him a
bandit no longer. Garrett filed his
own prophecy that he would die with
his boots on.
/ nIN cIaaIu ranrosto nr,sural