The new era., 1910-05-05

vervcold Can't. Bill had not entirely recovered
from the bullet wounds received In the fight with
Matthews two months before. and was bent and
debtlitated but he did not falter. With Queen
and Harwell he plunged in and waded the icy
water chin deep, to the other side. Twice more
the trail led to the river and crossed, and twice
more Mcdonald and his men waded that bitter
current
Mcdonald now made up his mind that the rob-
bers would be likely to cross a road that had
been cut through the bottoms, and head for the
Territory. He called to one Of his men-Ran-
ger Mcclure. who appeared just then. a little
distance away-to get all the force he could and
guard that road while he. Mcdonald and Queen
and Harweli. would continue to beat the brush
and search carefully through the bottoms. At
that moment Lewis and Crawford were near
enough to hear this order, and the realization
that 1t was Bill Mcdonald and his Rangers who
were on the trail gave them a sudden and more
severe chill than the icy water they had waded
They had been heading for the Territory as
Mcdonald suspected, but decided to change their
course toward creek that parallel with
the river. On their way to 1t they were obliged
to cross an open field. and though by this time
1t was night-between nine and ten o'clock
full moon had risen and they were discovered
by the men guarding the road, and fired upon.
They returned the fire as they ran. but no dam
age was done either side. Meantime, McDon-
aid and his two companions, nearly perishing
with wet and cold. having come upon house in
their search. had stopped to try for cup of hot
coffee. At the sound OF the shots they rushed
out. horse was hitched at the door and Capt
Bill leaped into the saddle and hurried in the d.
rection Of the alarm. AS he rode up, he saw
in the moonlight crowd. the local posse. gath
cred on the little hill overlooking the wheatfeld
where the robbers had crossed. The Ranger
captain fully expected to find the captured or
dead bandits in that crowd. and called out as he
came up:
Boys. where are they? Where are the rob
bers?"
Right over there. Cap. They ran in the brush
over by yonder big tree"
We'll. boys. we've got them. Well charge in
there"
They pushed rapidly into the bushes without
further parley-McDonald aiming for the tree,
McCauley and Mcclure spreading out to the
right.
Suddenly the captain found himself confront
ed by creek. and looking across saw two armed
men squatting in the weeds. They appeared to
be on the point of raising their guns to ire.
but with McDonald's appearance and his sharp
command: Hold up, there!" made from behind
his own leveled Winchester. they were unable to
complete the action. Their guns dropped into
their laps-they seemed stupefed
Throw up your hands!" was the next order
The hands went up.
Capt. Bill stepped into the creek. about three
feet deep. and. waded across. He noticed bag
doubtless containing the stolen money. and OBJ
served that the outlaws had laid their car
tridges out a log for convenient use.
McCauley and Mcclure waded across and as
sisted in searching the prisoners. purse Of
gold was found in one Of the mems pockets The
bag on the ground contained the silver.
A reward of $4,000 for the capture Of Lewis
and Crawford was paid by the two banks Of
Wichita Falls. The local posse divided 1t into
81 equal parts in which they shared pro rata
with the Rangers.