The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-03-30
A SHERlFF'S STORY
why didn't you tell me beforeF
~ didn't think of telling you


without another word ] ran to the
barn and got out Kate. saddled her,
mounted and was about to ride away
when Susie came up pantfn'. She put
her arms about Hates neck and said,
Kate, dear take him in time to save
him-for my sake-and IN love you
forever
Not wishin' to lose time, broke
away from her. seen blood on her
lips. and l knowed the excitement or
the runnin' to the barn or both had
brought on hemorrhage.
Don't kill Kate heard Susie say.
and that was the last, for then | was
out O. hearin'
II leaned down on the mares neck
and patted her and said, Yer dom
this for Susie, and / know you'll do
yer best
II reckon she understood, for she jist
got down to steady gait that she
could keep all day and reel off the.
miles while she was a-doin' it.
knowed Walcott's life depended on my
gittin' there as soon as Stiggs, fer
didn't reckon Stiggs would give his en-
envy any advantage. His way was to
ride up behind a man, make a show
O. givin' him chanel by calm out to
him and shoot him before he could
turn.
''Stiggs had got good start o. me,
and he never rode a poor horse. But
he didn't know any one was after him.
Nevertheless 1t would be nip and tuck
with me to overhaul him. Kate kept
her steady gait till We got within about
five mics O. the Walcott ranch, when
across the grain ground | saw Stiggs
ridin' along at a good pace. Then
said to my mare:
"'Now or never, Kate. Remember
what Susie said to you.
"She knowed what l was a-sayin',
and she got over the ground like a
greyhound. We was within a mile o.
the ranch when, strikin' soft bit o.
ground, the mare stumbled and fell.
shootin' me over her head. tried to
pull her up, but it was no use. Her
left foreleg was broke.
II used my own legs the rest O. the
way. l neared the ranch in time to
see Stiggs lettin' down the bars to
go in. AS bad luck would have 1t.
there was Walcott standin' with his
back to Jim, watchin' a man who was
putin a horse through his PAGES. |
seen Stiggs remount and ride up to-
ward the man in the yard, DRAWN his
revolver at the same time.
Before startin, thinkin' there might
be occasion for long range shot.
Id hooked a Winchester to my sad
die and brought it from where Kate
fell. Stiggs must "a been 200 to
1900 yards away, but l knew Wal
colts life depended on my bringin' his
good aim, fired. and Stiggs tumbled
off'n his horse"
The narrator paused to light a pipe.
81 suppose" | said, this is the kill
, ing you referred to that has always
troubled you. You excused the man
because he acted from love"
ME troubled about KILN Jim Stiggs!
. Not much. It's another KILN that
, bothers me. AS soon as ! seen Stiggs
, drop l went back to Kate. She had
saved the man Susie loved, and Susie
had told me not to kill her. But there
was Kate lynn on her side with bro
) ken leg There's but Que thing to do
with horse in that condition-shoot
him. Kate when she saw me comm
whinnied, and when | reached her
there was n mighty sad look in her
) eyes. She was an intelligent animal
: and knowed that it was all up with
her
81 TUX my revolver from it's case
Kate glanced Mt it and at me. IL ever
!! a horse said in plain language Dom
Y Kill Kate that horse said 1t. Or was
/, it because | was seem the little cir
standin' there with the drop of bloot
ION her lip-the death MARYLAND heard
her say it ag'in?
I II scarcely think I'm the kind o
t man to be chicken hearted. Least
8 aways | wouldn't mind cuttin' deer's
throat after shootin' it when it look.
: appealin'-like outer its soft eyes, but
: showed the white feather at shootin
C Kate. And never could tell whether
! 1t was most because | loved Kate o.
f whether | was conscience struck a
havin' to go back on the little gal tina
tole me not to XIII her. | walked ava!
J fer few rods, then turned and come
i back. When | did that l could "A
d blowed her head off. put the muzzl,
Is o. my revolver to her brain, pulled tn,
trigger and fired. All the while sht
y was lookin' at me as much as to sa.
u Much obleeged.'
ST walked four miles to a house, Dor
ryed a spade, went back and burie,
: Fate. Then / walked all the wa,
buck to the Courtney ranch. ] WASH
in hurry to git there neither. Least
aways l wouldn't "a been il 1t WASH
to tell Susie that the man she love,