The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-16
TALES OF THE
LAST FRONTIER
Continued from preceding mage


count for her heavy correspondence in
this direction
Finally large letter addressed to
Williams made its appearance, the en-.
yelope of unusually thin paper. On ex.
amining it carefully it was found that
there was smaller envelope within
AID on holding it TO a strong light the
name Wylie t'ordham could be dcciph
cred. Judging from this and other evi.
oence, IT became clear that Fordham
was receiving mail somewhere in or
about PaySon and a warrant for his ar
rest was placed in my hands for service.
! left my official residence at Tucson
Tor Payson as soon. as possible. The
latter town IS located in one of the most
isolated sections OF Arizona. 100 miles
from telegraph wire Jr railroad, and
in those days telephone service was ut
terly unknown there. The nearest point
On the railway is Globe. From there
boarded stage coach, drove I'D into
the mountains, crossed Salt river al a
point called Livingston and followed
the river for several miles. 7 then con-
tlnncd up Blue CANYON and passed over
mountain which reaches an altitude of
'Vo0 1eet at It's highest point, arriving
at PavSon about D. m on the 1aV'
following my departure from Globe.
Pa1 son at that time, although called q
ioNn by courtesy. possessed only thirty
lhha aDllants and lay nesting in the
depths of Il pine forest with the moup
ialns 1rovning darkly down upon it
from all sides
From the postmaster I learned that
Williams bad been into town for mail
The day before and that he lived abont
cig:t miles southeast of Payson. | then
MADE arrangements TO secure team,
and accompanied by deputy sheriff
left for the Williams camp. NV com
panion Informed me that Williams was
q noted horse thief who with q band
or OUTLAY that regarded him as chief
dweit IN a wild region SO difficult 10
access that 1T was not thought likely
that any officers would eudeaVor to run
them down. The roughness of the trail
bore out the truth Of this assertion and
lhc Journey WAS IN exceedingly tire.
some one, 50 much so that / was heart
1ly pleased when we finally came to =
halt AT the barn OF lone ranchcT,
which my companion said was but a
laile from the Williams stronghold.
AT this polnt secured riding horse
on which TO finish my Journey I had
determined to 30 the rest of the WAY
alone, as the presence Of my companion
might have excited suspicion. whereas
a single man would find il easier 10 OK.
PLAIN his visit. The principal point Of
danger 10 my mind lay in the fact that
Fordham had met me once and, If he
were with the outlaws, might recognize
me: But / comfortcd myself With the
reflection that my quarry had been
pretty drunk ON the occasion of our
meeting and would hardly be likely TO
remember me, At all events ] was re-
solved to take the risk. aud in short
while dlsmouutcd At the outlaw camp.
There were FIVE men there-aud Ford
ham was not among them. Perhaps il
was Just as well for thev were the
tougEeat looking SET 1T had ever been
my fortune to see and had they guessed
my mission the chances would have been
strongly against my leaving their noun
was none too pleasant, for | felt that
strangers were not exactly welcome
However,, [ put bold face on the mat
fer and entered into conversation with |
Williams whose identity | guessed from
the authority he appeared TO exercise
over his companions. | informed him
tha1 ] was a mining expert and while !
up in the Mormon Lake region had heard
that former friend Of mine named
Nylie Foldham was staying at this
place, and as [ was passing through
Payson, decided TO run down and see
him + EXPLAINED also that ! had met
Fordllm IN Silver City, N. M, when
] had first GENE on: from The states rs (
a tendeyfoot arH had punched cows with |
him for several months.
Williams, who was a grim,visased |
fellow with square set Jaws and black |
piercing eyes, stared hard ut nc while !
! was speaking as though he were try |
ing to read my inmoat thoughts. / |
bore Il calm countenauce under his |
scrutiny although could not help won
derng whether ] had succeeded in de |
ceiving him, and felt the pressure Of |
my "A Colt against my belt to be my |
sole. comfort. Yet it might not have
pvailed me TO any great extent They
were five Of them. drawn close around |
nae, all armed-truly evil odds for a
single player to contend with. But at
/. last Williams spoke, and much to my
relief in mild tones.
He said that Fordbam had left the
camp with a pack animal about two
Eeeks before and was bound for Gra-
pam, adding that my old pal was wear