Arizona republican., 1911-01-02

 ! that Elkins affair"
 He told win Cowherd (referring to the Missourian who was chairman of the congressional committee six years ago) in my hearing. and he said that one day his gang of bushwhackers rounded up young Steve Elkins on a charge of harboring northerners. Elk ins folks kept tavern in Westport, which is now part of Kansas City.
 They took prisoners in the border war. but they did not keep them. The regular proceeding was :o send pris- oner to the rear. The summary pro- ceeding was to hold drumheJd court martial and order him shot. The bush Whackers' rule was to turn a prisoner over 10 a member of the party and let him shoot him some place where the brush would cover him. Young Elkins was turned over to Private Cole Young CT and the guard and prisoner left the main body. both Knowing what was expected of them.
 Tn due time Cole rejoined the com mand. and as his rifle shot had been heard and as he was alone, il was all taken for granted that there was one northern sympathizer less Cole was as mum as a mummy
 Cole had departed from the unWrit- ten articles of war, it seems. He told Mir Cowherd. in my hearing, that he liked the looks Of young Elkins. and had told Elkins to walk on up the road a piece and not to be any too durned long going The boy expected 10 be shot in the back. Cole divined that and said to him.
 Whatever you do. don't turn to look at me. Keep your shoulders square I never shot a man in the back in my life, and I never will.
 This accounted for steve Elkins running like a deer. right straight ahead till lost to view. He must have wanted to turn when he heard a rifle crack. to see what was going on. but he never stopped.
 Cole told Mr Cowherd. still in my hearing. that he thought Steve had run for thirty five years. for he never saw him again till Cole got out of the Min nesota penitentiary. partly due to Sen ator Elkins' unceasing efforts. official ly and privately. in his behalf.
 When those two men parted in the brush southeast Of Westport where Kansas City now is. they took diverg- ing paths and kept them for a long time. Elkins went 10 the United tSates senate and Cole got tangled mp with the Younger boys-meaning himself and Jim-with Quantrell. with the James gang. the Saltwater penitentiary and everybody else. including the late Col
 s~ Ts1 ought to be recollected here. He was that p6rtlv gent who. speaking m Madison Square Garden. beloved like bull when they brought him a deli cate cut glass decanter to drink from.
 Bring me a bucket. he roared. or lead me to the branch.
 Colonel Crisp and Senator Ellins got Cole Younger out Df the peniten- tiary.'
 You have not mentioned Fred shorty" said one Of the men in Pike.
 "I hate to. He was an unbendins republican" was the retOrt which brought out another bit of contempo- raneous history, this time relating to his excellency the ambassador to Aus tria. colonel Richard C. kerens. alter ego of Senator El<ins. but no acquaint- ance of cole Younger Elliins' best friend
 When I was just big enough to whip mules" said this one. Dick Kerens was freighting military beef front Fort Leavenworth to Fort smith Ark. The war was on and that meant license to rob
 To head the robbers off. the war department kept a detachment of cav airy in the field under command of Colonel Fred Schaute. Kerens hauled quartermaster's supplies for three years of the mpleasantness. nearly all the time under the personal protection of colonel Fred When the war closed Kerens stuck to his freighting. gradu- ating into mail carrying and other profitable undertakings. while the mounted escort went off into the noun tains and praires to fight Indians.
 By and by Colonel Fred was mus tered out He hooked up with Kerens. who by this time was the personal friend of Blaine and Mckinley and afterward of Hanna, and the old sol dier and old freighter shared an office. swapping stories daily of the times they had shaking trains down the COWskln river valley. along Elk creek and the Arkansas river. stopping only at inter vals to let Kerens-brevetted by this time a full colonel-run for the United States senate.
 "Kerens established. maintained and still has the reputation for standing by his friends He stood by Colonel Fred. friend of the frontier days, till he bought his first pair of plush breeches and headed for Emperor Franz JOsef's court as an ambassador. Elkins and Kerens made millions; Colonel Fred made s10O.00O. Cole stole that much but got caught.
 Tn passing l might say that Kerens' friend. Colonel Shorty. did his danGdest to overhaul Elkins' friend Cole Younger during those stirring times. All four.