The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-08-21
REX BEACH
ADVENTURE
S T O R l E S
The Colonel and the
Horse Thief
BY REX BEACH
Copyright BY Mcclure. philips & Co.


Yes. playing. wasn't rea
one. you know. Well. 1 s'pos
II was sort of queer game Cam,
near being my last. too. and II Blacl
Hawk hadn't been the best horse In
Texas the old colonel would we killed
me sure. He chased me six miles AS
Ii was-me with one arm full OF his
buckshot and anxious to explain and
him straining TO get In range again
and not wishing any further particu-
lars.
That was way back In the sixties.
when l was us wild lad as ever
straddled a pony.
You see. i've OF us had gone over
into the Grow Nation TO race horses
with the Indians. and 1t was on the
way back that the old man and the
bullet holes figger In the story.
At the beginning II was Jim Barrett's
plan. and II had Jest enough risk aud
devilment In 1t to suit hurum scar
um young Teller like me. SO we got
five of the boys who had good horses.
Jumped together all OF our money and
rode out to invade the reservation.
You know how an indian loves to
run horses? Well. the Crows had a
good deal of money then. and our
scheme was to 40 over there. get up
big race. back our horses with all we
had and take down the wealth.
Taking chances?. Don't you believe
II. That's where the beauty of Jlm's
plan commenced to sort Of shine
through
You see. as soon as the money was
up and the horses started every In
dian would be watching the race and
yelling at the nags; then in the con
fusion our boys was to grab the whole
pot, Indians money and ours. too. and
we'd make our getaway across the
river back into Texas.
We figured that we could get few
minutes start of EN-, and. with the
horses we had under us there wasn't
much danger OF their getting in range |
before we crossed back TO where they |
couldn't follow us.
Well. sir. | never see anything work |
out like that scheme did Them Crows
was dead anxious 10 run their ponies
and seemed skeered that we wouldn't
let 'em get all their money up.
As We was eating supper the night
before the race Donnelly says: Boys.
Tn sore that we didn't have more
coin. II we'd worked 'em right they'd
"a give us odds We could "a got s
10 3 anyhow and maybe more"
They shore have got heap of con-
hdence in them skates of their'n H."
says "Kink" Marin. Il never see
anybody so anxious TO play race In
my life II 1t wasn't all planned out
The way 1t is Id like to stick and see
which boss Is the best. I'd back Black
Hawk agin any hunk OF meat In the
erritory with the kid here In the sad
lie"
They'd ribbed II up for me to ride
Martins mare. Black Hawk. while a
little Teller named Hollis rode his own
,orse.
Donnellys part was to stay In the
addle and keep the other horses close
0 Barrett and Martin. They was to :
tfcE next TO the money and one of
I'm do the bearin' Of OF the booty
While the other made the protection
lay.
We hoped In the excitement to get I
without harming any of Uncle q
ans pets. but all three OF the boys
ad been with the rangers, and | knew y
II came to showdown they wouldn't
estate to pot" one or two In getting "
way. y
We rode out from camp the next u
corning to where we'd staked out i
lie track on the prairie. and 1t SEEM 2
l as II the whole Crow Nation was u
lere and nary white but us five. 81
They'd entered two pretty good look u
* horses and had their jockeys strip y
ID down to breechclouts. while Hol- "
and me wore our whole outfits on y
lr backs. as we didn't exactly figger
dressing after the race-leastways, 81
II on that side of the river. u
Just before we lined up Jim says: u'
low. you-all ride like-and when ~
VI git to the far turn wen let the
ms loose aud stampede the crowd. u
neI jest leave ihe track and make a W
eak fer the river everybody fer 81
mself. Wen all meet at them cot
nwoods on the other side so we can u'
and 'em of If they try TO swim =
ross after u.s. al
mat would have been sure enough
t race If we had run 1t out. for we va
four got as pretty start as ever 70
e and went down the line all to- on
Their with arranging of boots and In
IN yeils ringing In our ears. III
had begun TO work Black Hawk az
of the bunch to get clear start GU
ross the prairie at the turn when I Je'
ard the guns begin swapping like ui'
pcorn.
They've started a'readym yelled ia
'liis. and we turned the rearing ou
rses toward the river. three miles Ia