Barbour County index., 1910-03-02


lN&AlWIIID in the immediate neighborhood
MINElsTIllI broken up their work became
ulINNlllIIIllI less deliberate. They harbOred
- now farther away-in the remoter
places of the Panhandle, in the
Cherokee Strip and in the Businesses of No
mans Land.
Noman's Land was set down on the map
a part of Indian territory. but really be-
longed to nobody at all. Different ones of the
surrounding states claimed 1t and the outlaws
owned it by possession and force of arms.
There was no law and few law-abdng citi-
zens. 1t was fine, slightly land-with good
grass and plenty of water-level land, some
of It, though there was rough country there.
too-with good places for outlaws to hide.
Here they built their dugouts or cabins, estab-
lished their households and herded their stolen
stock Some of the cattle they butchered,
peddling the meat in Kansas the Panhandle
1t was necessary that Noman's land should
be reclaimed and it partly for this pur
pose that U. s. Marshal George A. Knight had
commissioned Bill Mcdonald his deputy. Thus
far all statutory law has been disregarded in
No-man's Land-all officers had been def1ed
1t had been demonstrated that Bill Mcdonald
had a convincing way with his words and
movements and that he had nose for locat
ing cow thieves So, when the Brookens and
other established dealers of the range" had
been evicted from Hardeman and adjoining
No-Man's Land crusade.
He was working over in the Panhandle in
1887 when he learned of horse that had been
stolen somewhere below and he set out in pur-
suit of the thief. Such trail as he could find
led straight for Noman's Land and he knew
that he was bound at last for that lawless
locality where U. S. deputy marshals were
favorite victims.
He was alone but this fact did not disturb
him. There was less chance of frightening
the game. When he reached Hutchinson
county, which is in the second tier from the
north Texas line he stopped at Turkey Track
ranch and borrowed a blackboard in which to
bring home his catch.
1t was a long, tiresome drive across
Hutchinson and Hansford counties and up
through No-mans Land to the waters of Bea-
yer creek. The trail was not very difficult
here, for the thief probably did not expect to
be followed. 1t was toward the end of the
second or third day, at last that the trail be-
came very fresh and the man in the buck
board came to halt and set out on foot to
locate his game. AS silently and cautiously
as an Indian he crept through the brush until
ne reached a place where, peering through he
located, some distance away on the river bank
a camp consisting of four men and the same
number of horses. His man had found COM
rades that was evident, and it was likely thew
would join in his Defense Mcdonald Law in
the brush, watching them, as long as II was
light and then crept closer. trying to identify
the horse he was after and which Of the men
bad him in charge. He had no intention of
beginning operations that night
He was obliged to wait until daylight be-
fore he could be of his ground: then
awake and watching, he saw the different men
go to look after their horses. He located a
bay horse that answered the description of the
stolen animal and identified the man who had
him In charge. He crept back to his buck
board now. got in and drove up leisurely to
the outlaw camp, looking as inoffensive and
Buileless any other fly with a horse and
ouckboard driving straight into the SPIDERS
aen.
Good morning. boys" he said pleasantly.
you-all look mighty comfortable with that fire
going. / lost my way and laid out last night
Mebbe you-all can tell me something about the
rails around here. TIL don't seem to be none
that can find"
They invited him cordially to sit down and
warm himself and said they would show him
he trail Mcdonald stepped out and walked
Jver to the fire. still talking about the conn
Ty and the weather, working over close to
he man he wanted. The deputy wore a short
wercoat and he had pair of handouts in the
eft side pocket. He got Just in front Of bis
nan at last and reached out his right hand
IS II to shake hands with him. Instinctivelv
he man extended his own right hand and at
hat instant McDonald's left with the omen
tanucuHS was OUT IKE naSh-there was q
quick snap, sudden movements sleight Of
Iand movement it was-then another onick
map and the horse thief. dazed and half stu
'ehed, stood gazing down at the manacles ON
ais wrists. while Bill Mcdonald, gun in each
sand, quietly regarded the other three men,
ers of the camp
The captive was first TO break the silence
Boys" he said what does this mean?"
One of the men turned to Mcdonald
Wee h.oe oil ssxr,h,
re you and what you going to do with
1at man?"
I'm Deputy United States Marshal McDon.
Id of Texas" was the cheerful reply "and
m going to take this man back with me and
ut him in Jail"
What for?"
For stealing that bay horse out there"
The outlaw advanced step
"sDc you'll just about 1laY hell doing it,"