The new era., 1910-04-21

,ta+ where in winter he carried part
~ ~. armament Matthews practice IN draw
ing for some reason failed 70 csnen. Sn..s III,
nm seemed to hang little in the scaooaro. a
esaand iater he had jerked 1t free. and stepping
hsh,rd Coffer fred at Capt Bill over the snet.
;N.. right shoulder. But the slight nitcn sponeo
~. aim. perhaps, for the bullet missed pass.ns
throuxh McDonalds overcoat coilar. .nousn ne a.s
tnto1e- e:. % abort that the powder burned his
face. .s.-.n AVIAN can't
p.n v;th a quick movement that was between
.tir and a step, got around Coner and let 20 t"o
shots in quick succession at Mat'ns"s. Dou "
McDonald's bullets struck within the space OF
sn cont niece. Just above Matthew'S heart pene-
trated thick plug Of Star Navy. founo q neaVy
Notebook behind 1t. and stopped
win a thought process which may be re-
garded as cool for such moment CAPT bni re, re,
Matthews BY shooting him on that side. ana
.hifted his aim. Matthews meantime had
again lodged behind Golfer. who now dropped
nat to the ground where 1t was Quieter. Capt
Bill was bending forward at the time, trying 70
get a shot around Golfer, and as the latter
dropped, Matthews hred. the bullet striking NC
nonald in the left shoulder. ranging down
through his lung to the small OF his Dack. uav'
cling twothirds the length OF his body Tor
Judgement
not fall Matthews quickly fred again. but Nc
Donald was near enough now to knock the gun
aside with his own, and the ball passed through
his hat brim. Aiming at Matthew'S other shoul.
der, Mcdonald let go his third shot. and
Matthews fell
opened fire. and one OF them had sent two bull
lets through McDonald's left arm To these he
gave no attention until Matthews dropped.
Wheeling now, he started to cock his gun when
he received another ball. this time in his right
shoulder, along which it travelled to his neck.
thence around the windpipe to the left side. His
fingers were paralyzed by this wound and he
made an effort to cock his gun with his teeth:
but there was no further need for with the col
lapse of Matthews his comurderers ned wildly
to cover behind the depot, nearly upsetting q
box-car in their hurry.
Capt Bill walked few steps to the sidewalk
There was post there. and holding to this he
eased himself to sitting position. man ran
up to him.
Gap, how about 1T"
well, think I'm dead rabbit"
They gathered him up and took him to a DRUG
store and they took Matthews to q drug store
across the street. BY and by they carried Capt
Bill home. and doctor came to hunt for the
bullets.
Now. Doc" the Ranger captain said when the
operation was over. aud the surplus cargo had
been removed. now. I'll get well;" and Rhoda
Mcdonald his nervy wife. who had arrived on
the scene. echoed this belief.
"1f Bill Jess says he'll get well. he'll do It'll"
she declared.
Matthews died In few days He was re-
moved to Chidress and died there. Before his
death he sent word to Mcdonald:
You acted the man all through" was his mes
sage. I'm only sorry that can't see you and
apologize"
Tell him that I'm doing all right" was the
swer returned, "and that hope he'll get we'll"
The mending OF Capt. Bill was slow process
For about two months he was laid up, and then
with his wife he sotourned for time at q sani.
tarium. After that, he was up once more, ready
and eager for action-apparently a. at as ever:
though. in truth, the physical repairing was
never quite complete.