Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-08-03

play The gray dawn already revealed
our surroundings cleariy-the ash COW
cred roadway. the bushes along its
edge. the row of trees beyond. a long
tobacco shed at the left. the half open
gate almost directly in front.
As we whirled reckIessIy about the
corner. every man riding low. every
eve forward. we saw the enemy at the
edge of a grove. some kneeiing others
standing IL was merely glimpse
and then they 6red-an instant too
quick perhaps-the Irregular cracking
showing lack of discipline the cloud
of smoke hiding them again from u.s.
j felt my horse leap as if touched:
two or three in our front rank went
down. but there was no battling. My
mount caught his stride. and l drove
in the spur. yelling the charge. hear
ing the thunder of hoofs behind min
gled with an exultant cheer from the
men
We drove through the rising smoke
Ike thunderbolt and were on them.
our revolvers splitting viciously to
right and left. our horses paving at
the fleeing figures and at the dubbed
muskets with which they sought to
fight us back We went through them
as If they had been paper: some ran
for the fields. scrambling over
fence. but the main body. still
punched together. firing as rapidly as
they could reload. Dodd cursing in
the midst of them. made for the shell
ter of the grape arbor. The 1erceness
of our rush carried us through the
grove out on to the turf of the open
lawn. the men struggling with their
horc In, o~,k
from the front door sprang the four
troopers left within. running eagerly
for the riderless animals. while the
two guards from the negro cabin
came squirting madly around the cor
ner Of the house, anxious to join
their comrades Half formed. the men
squirting their frenzied horses into
some semblance of line, we swept
down upon the fleeing guerrillas. seek
ing to overtake them before they
could attain shelter. 1t was a helter-
SHELTER race. the bang of musketry
punctuated by the sharp revolver re-
ports and the shouts and yells of the
combatants. We reached the rear
runners. riding them down remorse-
lessly, but our horses swerved at the
arbor entrance. two plunging forward.
throwing their riders, the others de-
bouching sharply to the left, the troop
ers saving at the reins in vain effort
at control.
1t was fully daylight now. every
surrounding object clear to the eye,
and my little squad circled about. in
stfnctively forming themselves for
another charge l swept them with
my eyes. debating whether to try an
advance on horseback or to dismount
and endeavor on foot to dislodge the
enemy. Suddenly O'Brien swept his
hand to the east. and I perceived a
party of horsemen emerging from the
woods, brea liking into a sharp trot the
instant they attained the open ground.
The movement was plain enough
Theilen had arrived, already under
stood the situation and was pushing
his force forward to strike US in the
rear.
CLOSE up. men, By tours into Incl
Ride for the gate and the road beyond.
Corporal, take the lead, and l will
cover the rear. Don't spare your
horses"
Every man knew. realized fully. the
peril threatening US. Dodd's gang had
not yet perceived the advance of re-
endorsements and were holding their
fire. expecting US to charge. Instead.
we wheeled to the right and rode
straight at the open gate. Behind us,
but not yet within shooting distance.
we could already hear the pounding
of the hoofs of Theilen's column as
they spurred forward in pursuit A
few muskets barked from the grape
arbor. Some fellow lying hidden in
corner of the fence let drive. sending
the corporal headlong. Then we were
outside on the hard packed road. the
men riding recklessly. bent low over
their pommels. urging their horses to
the utmost
L must have been fifty feet to the rear
and. trusting to my horse. half turned
about Tn the saddle so as to watch
our pursuers- l never knew what hap.
pened, whether the animal stumbled
or fell from a wound. but everything
bIotted out In an instant as came
crashing down to earth. My last MEM
DRY was of seeing Theilen's horsemen
crowding through the gate. a hundred
yards away. yelling and shaking their
guns
i was In an invalid's chair when 1
came back to consciousness, lying as
though upon a bed. yet fully dressed
Some way as my hands CROPPED about,
telling me this. for everything was
speckled before my eyes. thought OF
Judge Dunn and of the chair in which
he sat when I last saw him 1 felt a