The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-19
CHAPTER XII
O'Hara SAYS His Piece


The killing Of Ingram aroused public
sentiment more than any atrocity that
had taken place during the feud. If
it had occurred while the Jefferson
County war had been still in progress
there would have been a divided opin-
ion, but coming as 1t did just after
peace had been declared both factions
turned on Quantrell and his gang.
Posses secured the chaparfal, driving
the outlaws from one camp to another
None of the bandits dared show them
selves in any town. The fed into the
high hills and "holed up"
The governor of the territory had
put price of three thousand dollars
on the head of QuantreIl dead or alive.
Even Bob Quantrell, in spite of the
jaunty insouciance he assumed, was
daunted by the storm he had aroused.
1t was not so much his enemies that
he feared as those whom he was
forced to trust. From half dozen
trees at lonely crossroads he tore
down placards which described him
and announced the reward for his cap
ture.> When he rode up to a cabin
near the head of some creek, one far
from any neighbors, he could never
be sure that bullet would not greet
him before he swung from the saddle.
He watched suspiciously the nesters
who supplied him with food, and they
In turn eyed him and his followers
neryously. They sensed his mistrust
Of them and could not be sure that In
moment Of acute doubt he would not
resort to the six-shooter. Their ap-
-prehensions were increased because
they knew, two or three of them at
least, that they would have betrayed
him had they dared.
At no time could Quantrell escape
from the haunting dread of treachery.
1t was present with him when, he and
his men were camped far up in the
pines close to the jagged peaks. He
could not look into the eyes Of any
Of his fellow outlaws without seeing
the lust for that three thousand dollar
reward cleaning out Of them. He
began to get jumpy. This was a new
and disturbing condition.
One night he spread his blankets a
little way from those of his COM
panions, on the edge of the camp.
After they had gone to sleep he rose
very quietly. packed his roll, and car
ried it into the brush. He found his
hobbled horse, saddled it, and tied the
blankets back Of the saddle. Five min
utes later he was winding his way
between two of the thousand precip-
itous hills that surrounded him.
When Deever woke in the morning
he found pencil-scrawled note
weighted down by stone beside his
saddle. 1t read:
"Adios, boys. See you later. I'm
heading for Mexico. This country is
bad medicine for me. It's hotter than
hi on holiday right now.
bob QUANTRELL."
The outlaws discussed it.
"Just as WE'LL" Deever said. "He was
scared of us-scared we'd shoot him
for the reward. l could see by the
way he's been actin lately. I'm plumb
glad he's lit out"
ME, too," agreed another known as
Sandy. Sure enough Bob's been on
the hook lately-kinda mean ACTIN
an you know how good-natured he
usually is. don't aim to get into any
Jackpot with him if l can help it.
Well, l reckon the rest of us better
scatter, too. Trinidad for me. l got
a friend up thataway with a COW
ranch
II aim to be an absentee for spell
my own SELF the third man said. IF
/ amt too late I'll take a job with
a trail outfit in the Panhandle. A
friend of mines brother is foreman.
Anyways, I'll shake a hoof for Tas-
cosa, an glad to get away at that. /
been right Uneasy ever since Bob
bumped off Ingram"
So it happened that within six
weeks of the appointment of O'Hara
the Quantrell gang was dissolved and
went its several ways. The new
sheriff got some credit for this be-
cause of his activity in organizing and
directing the posses that had kept the
outlaws on the jump, but he knew he
still had to justify his selection in the
eyes of the old-timers.
This he proceeded to do. There
were other rustlers. horse thieves, and
criminals in his district. Some of
these were nesters in the hills. Others
had their headquarters at Concho.
Against these O'Hara waged contin-
uous warfare if he could prove that
they had lifted hand to overt law
lessness since the end of the, war.
Deever drifted down to Ccncho and
Joined the group of bad men who still
hung around. He relied on the fact
that there was very little definite evil
dence that he had been one of Guam
trell's men. That he had been W
them now and again he did not
but never while th0
engaged -