Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-19

Whenever we would see anyone on
the road Cook would swing around and
with Hawkins take the lead and we
would follow. On this day Cook set
the prairie on fire. and II soon got out
OF bounds and was roaring when we
left. He did this just for fun. and while
we were all watching the flames leap
Ing across the plain Cook told US what
he figured on doing in Sumner He
said: That ID place has never been
stuck up yet. and those Sumner chaps
are always Dragging about Il. Well.
well just show them what we can do
In the way OF sticking up their fay
town Hawkins. Nell and Potter said:
Sure. we'l take them In. They ought
to get It. and get II good. Just for
blowing about it Isbell and I didn't
fancy the notion, and said so. II
looked like a pretty tough proposition
10 TAX or sticking up = whole town.
especially in part OF the country
where there were plenty OF good gun.
fighters. And Sumner had a name for
holding a number OF them. There was
hot argument but Cook and Haw.
kins were bound 20 have their way.
smith sided in with them and Cook
laughed when Isbell and I finally gave
In and said we were willing to take
the chance.
We could hold up hell n neces-
sary.' said Cook. with a grin that made
him look more fiendIsh than ever
This man Cook was part Indian. you
know. and | don't believe there ever
was one OF the redskin race at their
worst that could Guido him for sheer
devilishness once he got his mind
set on doing anything At four o'clock
IN the afternoon We were some TWEEN.
" miles from Sumner We halted 70
talk things over. smoke a few cigar
cites and arrange our plans. Cook
and Hawkins figured out the location
or the entrance 90 the store which we
proposed 70 stick up. and which also
contained the post office. II was ar.
ranged TO go into the store two nv
two. while one man remained outside
and held the horses. Cook said that
the first man that attempted TO show
night or resist our orders In any wav
must be shot down on the instant os
that would throw bad scare into tho
rest and we probably wouldn't have
TO Kill more than one or two butters-in
before the rest would be glad 20 leave
Us alone
We started for Sumner about half
past seven. 10 was dark then We
drove 20 within two miles OF the town
when Cook and Hawkins paired ms nm
the way they wanted us to ride into
the town and told us 10 go straight
into the store the way we were riding
First We're Potter and Hawkins. newt
came Cook and Smith. and following
them We're Neil and Isbel while I
brought up the rear. Not over ten
steps from the store we dismounted I
held Hawkins horse and the other
six men went into the store. 7 could
partly see what was going on inside
as they had left the door open.
Hawkins and Potter threw their
guns on those In the store. and the
other boys followed in, two at a time
with their Wholesalers leveued. Soy
eral men who lived In Sumner went
into the store while was holding the
horses, and as fast as they poked their
noses inside the door the BOYS would
was at the door. and part of the time
Potter. AT one time four horsemen
rode up to the doAr and Nell. when
he spied them. thought they were OF.
hcers. He called out TO Cook: There's
going to be some trouble here. George
four officers have Just showed IN
"On hearing this. Cook and Hawkins
ran outside. leaving Smith and Potter
TO take care OF the folks inside the
store, and turning their guns on the
four horsemen ordered them TO throw
up their hands. They did so without
trying 70 show fight. and were told 70
dismount Then Cook marched them
inside the store. where each one OF
them was searched and stripped OF All
valuables- The boys ransacked the
store thoroughly including the nost
Office end. and helped themselves 70
whatever they happened to fancy. n
would have been wiser in my opinion
TO have cut out the post office mart If
the racket. for that brought US into
the notice OF the United States govern
ment And Uncle Sam is apout the
meanest cuSs for a gentleman OF the
ADNA@ ~ hNNA w aEAAuHA lllAt YOU can
think Of Once get the federal Of
ficCrs after a fellow and the outlook
is pretty blue for him. He can't get
away by Just crossing the line from
one state into another, and even II he
gets out Of the country altogether the
betting is good that they will follow
him 20 the worlds end II necessary.
and extradite him no matter where
he has found a cover
u had been outside about an hour
and a half when Hawkins came out
and told me to come in and get some
chop feed. which / did, Hawkins rip
ping open sack and pouring out a
portion on the floor. took the feed
out and put II on the horse. In the
meantime the boys went through the
stock Of clothing in the store and
brought a lot OF SUN out, ali OF which
1 also loaded on the horss s. After we
had got everything packed up snug
and were ready To move along. Cook
stood at the docr. and gave us the
word TO mount our horses. We did so.
and he waved IS hand 20 the people
-2side tAe acre. yelling sood-by to