Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-05-23
As Man
to Man
en-
By STEVE M'HENRY
(Copyright)

(copyrisht)
While the north-bound limited was
allaylng the thirst Of its painting en-
CINE at the sun-baked depot that morn
ing, the WellsFargo guard said some
thing to one Of my deputies about In
dams being on rampage. He was
trying to add details when the shout Of
an Rutoerauc conductor cut short his
efforts and started tho long train
northward.
Later in the day, old Jim Carmich-
ael, who runs several herds under his
own brand In the foothills Of the Tres
Hermanas, dropped into my office and
RECALLED me with narrowing tale Of
pillage and murder. It was conveyed
to him, he said, over the long-distance
telephone. by one of his line riders.
Jim declared that, Judging from the
mans choice Of comparatively moder-
ate words, he must have gone to the
telephone booth before going to the
Oriental, to be refreshed with that par
ticular brand which its thrifty pro-
prietor is wont to keep on tap for the
cowmen Of the region. Thus he placed
some credence in the report
He said that some half-dozen saw
ages, drunk with temporary freedom,
and led by half-breed more cunning
than his followers, were travelling in
this direction, avoiding towns, but
swooplng down on isolated ranches,
ready to murder their occupants and
drive of their stock. Having heard
nothing from neighboring sheriffs, l
took little stock in the story.
Probably one harmless red-skin,
filled with frewater, strayed from the
reservation, and is whooping things up
until somebody corrais him." I told my
deputies.
At any rate, because show Of off,
cial interest was desirable, promised
the old man to let him know IL any
thing happened, and I asked the boys
to stay around the Office that night.
Shortly before ten o'clock, I turned
up a vastly promising poker hand
when the telephone bell rang.
"Halloi Sheriff's office" bawled q
nervous voice at the other end
There's been shooting scrape here
One mans dead-er-both drunk,
reckon-want you to come out, you
know. The other fellow got away, but
he amt got much Of start on you,
If"
interrupted the mans incoherent
account by roaring into the receiver:
stop talking long enough to tell me
who, and where you arel"
"Thls is Maloney's-just across the
ditch. 1t was 0ne-Eye Pete"
"All right" yelled back. "Tll be
out right away. Leave things as they
are"
Hanging up the instrument, told
the boys about 1t, adding:
"You fellows stick around. Should
anything turn up, Montgomery here
will take charge. So long"
Indicating the undersherlf, left
the room.
Near the edge of town, crossed the
white stretch Of road which leads
straight to my ranch. was tempted
for a moment to turn of and run In on
the wife and little one before attending
to the business on hand. Five minutes
more brought me to the saloon, which
I entered through the rear door.
In the far corner, covered with q
horse blanket, lay form.
Removing the covering, l saw that
the right hand still held a pistol. It's
barrel was pointed In an Indifferent
way, toward the mirror behind the bar.
On looking closer, I discovered that
the weapon was fully loaded and cock
ed.
SO gently let down the hammer, re-
fiecting that 1t was by but small mar
gin that fate had decided which one
should die.
"The undertaken will take care of
this" I said, stepping to the bar. 1--WE
got other work to do. Who saw this
shootingT
Two or three men shifted uneasily,
for 1t is not Western wisdom to tell
tales Of killings. SO, looking at the
proprietor, casually remarked:
"Come on, Maloney, you might as
well now as later. Who did thisT
"Him they call one-Eye Pete" he re-
piled; "and he ought to hang for 1t
Come butting into the talk here when
the other fellow began some kind of
yarn about a girl what pounds the
piano in dance hall down In Tucson |"
I'm not so sure about that neither"
drawled a tall Texan.
Tim tried to fll his hand on him,
but he warn't quick enough. ! deem
1t an even break for being guilty, with
Pete shade the better of II. Didn't
you all notice how the sheriff here had
to let down the hammer of Tins Runf
It may teach some Of you shorthorns
to go kind Of slow and easy like when
women Is the subject Of your CONVEX
sation."
At that turned to the southernsr,
and asked:
"Dld you happen to notice which way
this Pete wentT
Sheriff." he replied, this Pete,
which that amt his name nohow, start
ed for Bear Greek, where he's got
friends. You'll know him II you cross
up with him, by his one eye and the
limp in his walk, being one leg is two
inches shorter than its mate. He's
got almost three-quarters of an hour
the start Of you, but his cayuse Ia play
ed out. I'm telling you this because
/ voted for you but don't hope you'll