The state herald., 1909-08-27


and had reason to believe, until they
sighted Banks men. that their path
was open.
They halted to take counsel on the
suspicious-looking posse far below
them, and while their cruelty ex.
hausted horses rested, Du Sang, al
ways in Sinclair's absence the brains
OF the gang. planned the escape over
Deep creek at Baggs crossing. At
dusk they divided; two men lurking in
the brush along the creek rode as
close as they could, unobserved, to-
ward the crossing. while Du Sang and
the cowboy Karg, known as Flat Nose,
rode down to Baggs' ranch at the foot
of the pass.
At that point Dan Bags. an old To-
comotive engineer, had taken a home
stead, got together little bunch of
cattle, and was living alone with his
son, boy of ten years. 1t was
hard country and too close to Will
liams Cache for comfort, but Dan got
on with everybody because the tough
est man in the Cache country could
place to sleep at Bags, without
charge. when he needed it.
Ed Banks, by hard riding. got to the
crossing at five o'clock. and told Baggs
of the hold-up and the shooting of
| Oliver Sellers. The news stirred the
old engineman. and his excitement
threw him of his guard. Banks rode
straight on for the middle pass, leav-
ing word that two OF his men would be
along within half an hour to watch the
pass and the ranch crossing, and asked
Baggs to put up some kind OF fight for
the crossing until more of the posse
came up-at the least, to make sure
that nobody got any fresh horses.
The boy was cooking supper in the
kitchen. and Baggs had done his milk
ing and gone back to the corral, when
two men rode around the corner Of the
barn and asked II they could get
something to eat. Poor Baggs sold his
life in six words: why. yes: be you
Banks men,"
Du Sang answered: mo. we're from
Sheriff Coon's Office at Oroville, look
ing up a bunch OF Duck Bar steers
that's been run somewhere up Deep
creek. Can we stay here all night?"
They dismounted and 'disarmed
Baggs' suspicious, though the condi.
ton OF their horses might have warned
him had he had his senses. The un-
fortunate man had probably fixed II In
his mind that ride from Tower W TO
Deep creek In l6 hours was a physical
impossibility.
Stay here? Surel want you to
stay" said Baggs. blufiiy. Looks to
me like ! seen you down at Crawling
Stone. amt I?' he asked OF Karg.
Karg was lighting a cigarette. Il
used TO mark at the Dunning ranch,
he answered, throwing away his
match.
That's hit. Good, The boys cook.
ing supper Step up to the kitchen
and tell him TO Gu, ham for four more.
-Four"
TWO OF Ed Banks men will be here
by six o'clock. Heard about the hold.
up? They stopped Number Three at
Tower w last night and shot Ollie
Sellers. rs white boy as ever pulled
u throttle. Boys. man thatll kill u
locomotive engineer is worse'n an In.
dian: I'D help skin him"
The he'll you would" cried Du
Sang We'll. don't you want to start
In on me? | killed Sellers. Look ut
me; amt handsome? What you go.
ing TO do about IT,"
Before Baggs could think Du Sang
was shooting him down. 1t was wan.
ton. Du Sang stood In no need Of the
butchery; the escape could have been
made without H. His victim had pulled
AN engine throttle too long to show
the white feather but he was dying
by the time he had dragged revolver
from his pocket, Du Sang did the
killing alone. Al least. Flat Nose,
who alone saw all Of the murder. after.
ward maintained that he did not draw
because he had no occasion TO, and
that Baggs was dead before he. Karg.
had finished his cigarette. With his
right arm broken and two bullets
through his chest, Baggs fell on his
face. That. however. did not check
his murderer. Rising to his knees,
haggs begged for his life. For Gods
snkc! I'm helpless. gentlemen I'm
helpless, Don't XII me like n dog'"
Hut Du Sang. ompIying his pistol.
threw his rife TO his shoulder and sent
bullet after bullet crashing through
the fhnpoless form wriihlng ana
twltohina before him until he had
beaten I, In the dust soft and HAT and
stlli.
Banks men came up within an hour
to mud the ranohhouSo deserted. They
saw lantern IN the yard below. aud
near III. corral gate they found the
little boy In the darkness. screaming
beside his fathers body. The sheriiI's
men carried the old onslncman TO the
house. others OF the posse crossed tho
creek during the evening. and nt II
o'clock Whispering Smith rode down
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