The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-06
Bandits Shoot Sheriff


A man dismounted before a large frame build
ing on which hung a sign reading Jacks Sa-
loom" Unnoticed, he entered through the swing
ing doors and sat at a table in the shadow cast by
a pillar.
Although not late. the bar-room was already
filled with the usual Saturday night crowd of
men-of every description. A lucky strike had
been made by one of the townsfolk, and the pros
pector, because of his good fortune, was making
it a general holiday. Free drinks for all were on
him.
He stood at the bar with a rough-1ooking
stranger, telling just how he did it. Though the
stranger was listening attentively, his shifty eyes
closely surveyed the prospector, seeking for a
hidden gun.
With a strident laugh, the stranger asked,
"What're you going to do with your dust?"
The unsuspecting prospector con6ded. "Well,
I reckon I'll see the world soon as I get it
changed into regular United States money. Pres
ent it's deep down in mother earth. No thieves
will get it there" he boosted. The prospector
laughed until his knee-caps shook in merriment
at the thought of where he had his dust.
The others eyes glinted. Underneath his
beard, his lips curled into a sheer as his mind
formed a sinister plan. He looked down the bar
at hive hard-faced characters, drinking at one end
of the bar. Simple indeed! All they had to do
was demand the dust and if the prospector re-
fused to give it to them-shoot.
Easy" he murnured as he winked at one of
his gang and walked to a table where his pal soon
Joined him. The rest, later taking the cue, drifted
IQeIes OLQer CduOuQdSe OF a POKER game, the
chief laid his plans before his followers, who
readily fell in with them.
SURPRISE ATTACK
Half an hour later, the six men rose and start
ed for the door. The leader, who had talked be-
fore with the prospector, dropped back, drew his
gun and, jerking the drunken prospector after
him, started for the door.
The sheriff, seeing the outlaws movement,
drew his guns and shouted, Hands up, you
coyote. Hands off that mani"
For reply, the five men, who had reached the
swinging doors, drew guns and opened fire at the
men nearest, while their leader pulled the pros
pector before him across the floor to his gang.
The sheria's gun flew to the floor as the chief
to finish off the sheriff, he himself fell, beneath
the silver bullets coming from the guns of the
man who, up to now, had been quietly sitting
unnoticed, to all intents asleep at a nearby table:
wounded, turned and fled. Grabbing the nearest
horses, they headed for the great open spaces,
as behind them a volley of shots was fired.
For hours they urged their horses along at
| top speed. The five half-dead horses with their
human cargo made their way to a rocky hollow,
| where they prepared camp. The five bandits did
not talk much, but rested for a hard nights ride
they contemplated taking, to reach the border
before they were too well known.
FLYING HOOFBEATS
In the middle of the afternoon, one man arose
and left the enclosure. An hour later he stag
gered back, carrying a baby buffalo on his Shout
der. "Killed him about twenty minutes ago" he
announced to his grinning companions.
"How come we never heard the shot7" asked
one bandit.
Never needed to shoot. He broke his front
legs in a rt and all I had to do was give him a
couple of jabs with my knife" chuckled Joe, as
he skinned the dead animal. He licked his chops
as he cut luscious strips of bison steak and laid
them over a hot stone, beneath which another
had built a fire.
Dusk shaded the heavens and twilight faded
quickly into night. The outlaws were saddling
up when they heard the flying hoofs of a horse
coming closer and closer. Within a hundred feet
Of them it passed, and the keenest eyes among
the outlaws could just make out the form OF a
man on a horse as he swept by.
"The way that mans riding, he must be scared
of ghosts" softly laughed one.
yeah? He probably got the scent of your
hide going the other way" sneered one of his
companions.
Continued in this PAPER nest Tuesday. Cut out each
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