The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-10-31
rapping a
Horse Thief
By WILLARD BLAKEMAN

pocket, from which there appeared tC
dicular
Suddenly the men came to little
cabin perched on ledge overhanging
the boiling mountain stream zigzaggins
down the canyon. A woman, a slat-
ternly, i'll favored creature with tous-
sled hair, was standing beside board
supported by stakes driven into the
ground just outside the door washing
dishes.
ais this Jaycox's cabin!" asked the
sheriff.
Eyes. What dye want with himf"
We're prospectors and have heard
that he has struck paying dirt in a
hole hereabout We wouldn't mind
putting up some cash to work it If IL
looks we'll"
Better have nothin' to do with BIZ
Jaycox. He'd get yer money, and you
wouldn't get anything"
The sheriff pricked up his ears al
this. wondering if the woman could be
used to help him land a man wanted
for horse stealing.
"Oh, that's the kind OF 4 man be is.
Is it?'
There hain't no meaner galoOt than
Bill JaycOx on this side Of the divide.
He's treated me brutal ever since
come yere to live with him. AS soon
as gifts these dishes washed I'm goin'
20 dig out and leave him to git on
alone. There's nOthin' mean about me.
I'll leave things to rights"
What's he been doin' to yOu!"
Look a-here," said the woman. pull
Ing up the sleeves Of her dress and
showing on her arm recent bruise.
then pulling her dress down over her
shoulder anG showing another bruise
On her back. What dye think OF
that?'
Up TO this moment the sheriff feared
that the woman was playing q part.
with a view TO aiding JaycoX to get
away from them. but this evidence
that the man and the woman We're not
living happily together convinced him
that he had found her at an opportune
moment to make her useful. Doubt
less she wished to be revenged for the
brutal treatment she had received. and
an appeal to her cupidity as well would
help the matter. The relationship be-
tween Jaycox and the woman was a
common one among certain rough per-
sons who Inhabited the mountains at
that day. A woman. usually Of very
low grade. would take up with des-
perado, live with him as long as she
could stand his cruelty. then leave him.
do you want to ma Ike some money!"
asked the sheriff. pulling handful Of
glittering gold pieces from his pocket
and exhibiting them temptingly. He
was watching the woman's eye and
saw cOvetOusness in II. IF you'll turn
JaycoX over to US III give you ten OF
these: they're So each.''
I'm powerful bad of for money!"
replied the woman thoughtfully .i
dunno where I'm goin to get bite to
eat when | leave yere. and there's
nothin' to take with me. / suppose
You wouldn't pay before you git Jay
cox. would yep
"No. l wouldn't like to do that. but
il you agree I'll give you one Of 'em to
bind the bargain"
The woman held q yellow dish in her
hands, wiping it and thinking "Ef he
hadn't said what he did to me before
he went away wouldn't do it." ~
"Where is hep
up there" motioning in the direc-
ton of the pocket.
''1s there any outlet?"
"One. Only he and me knows it,
Suppose you 60 to him. pretend to
make up your quarrel with him and
bring him back. Well hide and take
him in" q
II don't know rs l kin find him.
"Oh, yes, you can. Just as soon aa
we git him I'll give you the rest Of the
money"
The mention Of the gold appeared to
decide the woman.
"He may be up the canyon. and he
may have gone down. $ll 90 up. gnd
If don't find him III go down. Any.
way, I'll git him for you
Putting the dishes in the cabin, she
started off. Most Of the time she was
hidden from their view, but at TRIES
they could see her climbing over
rock. Half an hour passed and She
did not return. From the cabin they
could see any one who moved out Of
the canyon, and one Of the party was
deputed to watch. Presently they saw
the woman passing down. They hail
M her, but instead Of replying She
simply waved her hand. to them dnd
passed on.
An hour passed, and the sheriff. be-
coming impatient. started with his men
up the canyon. There was no egress
When they had gone as far as pos
sible they saw their quarry sitting on
stone smoking cob pipe. They
called on him to surrender. which he
did.
"By thunder" exclaimed ono Of the
men who had approached the horse
thief with pair Of handouts. Its tho
woman
And so 1t was. She had exchanged
clothes with Jaycox. and it was he who
had passed down the canyon.