The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-06-25
Trapping a
Horse Thief
BY WILLARD BRAKEMAN


Colorado. The canyon came to an end
few hundred yards above them in a
pocket, from which there appeared to
be no egress, the sides being perpen-
dicular
Suddenly the men came to little
cabin perched on ledge overhanging
the boiling mountain stream zigzagging
down the canyon. A woman. slat-
ternly. i'll favored creature with t0us-
sled hair. was standing beside board
supported by stakes driven into the
ground just outside the door washing
dishes.
lis this Jaycox's cabin?" asked the
sheriff.
Eyes. What dye want with him3"
"We're prospectors and have heard
that he has struck paying dirt in
hole hereabout. We wouldn't mind
putting up some cash to work it if it
looks we'll"
Better have nothin' to do with Bill
Jaycox. He'd get yer money, and you
wouldn't get anything"
The sheriff pricked up his ears at
this, wondering if the woman could be
used to help him land a man wanted
tor horse stealing.
ooh, that's the kind Of a 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 l
come yere to live with him. AS soon
as l gifts these dishes washed I'm goip'
to dig out and leave him to git on
alone. There's nothin' mean about me.
I'll leave things to rights"
whats 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 bruse.
then pulling her dress down over her
shoulder and showing another bruise
on her back. "What dye think Of
that?' .
Up to this moment the sheriff feared
that the woman was playing part,
with a view to aiding Jaycox to get
away from them, but this evidence
that the man and the woman were 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 trea tment she had received, and
an appeal to her cupidity as well would
help the matter. The relationship be-
tween Jaycox and the woman was
common one among certain rough per
sons who inhabited the mOuntairs 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 it. If you'll turn
Jaycox over to us I'll give you ten Of
these; they're IS each.'
''I'm powerful bad of for money"
replied the woman thoughtfully. II
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
mo. I wouldn't like to do that, but
II You agree I'll give you one Of 'em to
bind the bargain"
The woman held 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 he?"
cup there" motioning In the direc-
ton Of the pocket.
SIS there any outlet?'
Zone. Only he and me knows it."
Suppose you so to him, pretend to
make up your quarrel with him and
bring him back. Well hide and take
him in.'
It don't know as kin find him."
"Oh, yes, you can. Just as soon as
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
NAV nave EOIlc OOWu II ~ uPS anu
If don't find him I'll 60 down. Any
way. I'll git him for you"
Putting the dishes in the cabin, she
started of. Most of the time she was
hidden from their view, but at tires
they could see her climbing over a
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 hall
ed her, but instead Of replying she
simply waved her hand to them and
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
a stone smoking a cob pipe. They
called on him to surrender. which he
did.
'sBy thunder" exclaimed one Of the
Il AV~< kH<N~