Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-04-14

,,at whore In winter he carried a part
80 h,s armament Matthews practice In draw
In, for some reason failed to benefit him. His
gun seemed to hang little In the scabbard
second later he had jerked 1t free, and stepping
behind Golfer. fred at Capt. Bill over the sner,
,ss,s r,ybt shoulder But the slight hitch spoiled
hIs ain, perhaps for the bullet missed, passing
through McDonald's overcoat collar. though the
range was so short that the powder burned his
face. - ,,.,.
The game could now be considered open Capt
min with quick movement that was between
,,n and a step got around Golfer and let go two
sbots In ouick succession at Matthews. Both OF
McDonald's bullets struck Within the space OF
Eo-cent niece lust above Matthews heart. pene
trated a thick plug of Star Navy. found a heavy
notebook behind 1t, and stopped.
With thought process which may be re-
sarded as cool for such q moment, Capt BIZ re-
allied that for some reason he could not kill
Matthews by shooting him on that side, and
shifted his aim. Matthews. meantime had
again lodged behind Golfer who now dropped
fat to the ground where 1t was quieter. Capt
Bill was bending forward at the time. trying TO
get a shot aro1nd Golfer. and as the latter
dropped. Matthews fred, the bullet striking Nc.
Donald in tho left shoulder, ranging down
through his lung to the small Of his back. trav.
cling twothirds the length OF his body for
Judgement
The Ranger was knocked backward but did
not fall Matthews quickly fired 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 Matthews other shout
der Mcdonald let go his third shot. and
Matthews fell.
Meantime the two deputy assassins had
opened FIRE, and one of them had sent two bull
lets through McDonalds left arm. To these he
gave no attention until Matthews dropped
Wheeling now he started to cock his gun, when
ba hal iuna I'm rght
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 co-murderers fled wildly
to cover behind the depot, nearly upsetting
boxcar 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.
cap how about IT."
well, think I'm dead rabbit"
They gathered him up and took him to drug
store, and they took Matthews to a drug store
across the street BY and by they carried Capt
BIZ home. and a doctor came to hunt for the
bullets.
Now. Doc" the Ranger captain said when the
operation was over, and the surplus cargo had
been removed, now, I'll get WE'LL" and Rhoda
Mcdonald, his nervy wife, who had arrived on
the scene, echoed this belief
IF Bill Jess says he'll get well, he'll do it,"
she declared.
Matthews died in a few days. He was re-
moved to Childress 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 an
swer returned, "and that hope he'll get well.
The mending of Capt. Bill was slow process
For about two months he was laid up. and then
with his wife he sojourned for time at san
tarium. After that, he was up once more. ready
and eager for action-apparently as fit ever;
though In truth, the physical repairing was
never quite complete