The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-22
CHAPTER XXI.
The Outlaws Last Stand.

IuS 0utidWS Last stand.
In the morning the sheriff went to
lhe island. He reported the place de-
serted. He made many other trips.
Some times he took 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
him. George Williston was sadly
shattered man.
Il met Black on the corner west of
Gordon's Office" he explained. when
he could talk. Il had not been able to
sleep. and had been walking to tire
my nerves into quiet. | was coming
back TO the hotel when heard Black s
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
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
pSSSS WOulO nave Dceu IOEIueu lot I'LL
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 Gordon's win
dow: yet Black had not crawled home
to die. He had 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 court-room-no one at
least but Louise, Mary, and her faith
er. Mary's shot had not killed him, but
it had saved Richard Gordon's life,
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 any
hint 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.
ly wearied Of following false leads
contented itself with desultory journ-
eys when prodded thereto by the COM
polling power of public opinion.-fin-
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
1jff1p nj in fho WIN no
halfbreed lay dead across the thresh-
old. 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 court
case.
Langford had ridden in from the
ranch on purpose to see Judge Dale.
His clothes We're spattered with mud
There had been succession of
storms. lasting for several days; last
night cloud had burst out 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?"
Because our sheriff is four-fush-
ing-he always was in sympathy with
the gang. YOU know Besides, where
else can Black be?'
Dale puckered his lips thoughtfuly.
What have you heard?" he asked
Rumors are getting pretty thick
that he has been seen in that neigh
borhood on several occasions 1t is
nay honest belief he has never left it
What did you think of doing about
it. Langford?''
Il want you to give me a bench war
rant. Judge. am confident that | can
get him. 1t is the shame of the coul-
ty that he is still at large
You have TO deal with one of the
worst aad most desperate outlaws in
the United States. You must know it
Will be a very hazardous undertaking,