Part 19 (1/2)

When Mr Forbush's mule was put up at auction I cah the crowd of bidders

The packer saw et away, but I seized hiuess, o with me Make any resistance and I'll shoot you on the spot!”

To the auctioneer and an inquisitive officer I showed my commission as a United States detective With Farley and Green, ere close at hand, I took my prisoner three an preparations to hang our prisoner to a limb We infor us where his partner was hidden

He at first denied having any partner, but e gave him five minutes to live unless he told the truth, he said his pal was in an unoccupied house three miles farther down the river

We took up our journey, and, co near it As we rode to the door, another of our old packers, whonized as Bill Bevins, stepped to the front door I instantly covered him with my rifle and ordered him to throw up his hands before he could draw his revolver

Looking through the house, we found saddles, pack-saddles, lariats, blankets, overcoats, and two Henry rifles We returned with the whole outfit to Denver, where we lodged Williams and Bevins in jail The next day we tied each man to a mule and started on the return journey

At the hotel where we had stopped beforethe arrests, ere joined by our ht we camped on Cherry Creek, seventeen miles from Denver

It was April, and the weather was cold and stor-place in the bend of the creek We made our beds in a row--feet to the fire The prisoners had thus far been docile and I did not think it necessary to hobble theed that souard About one o'clock in theShortly before three, Jack Farley, as on guard, and sitting at the foot of the bed with his back to the prisoners, was kicked into the fire by Williaot hold of his shoes, sprang up, jumped over the fire, and started away on the run

As soon as I was enough awake to co on I sent a shot after him Williams attempted to follow Bevins, but as he did so I knocked him doith the butt of ot out of the fire Green had started after Bevins, firing at him as he ran, but the thief ht, unfortunately for hi Willia Doc,” the man with the packthrough the brush, but, knowing it would be useless to try to follow him on foot, ent back and saddled two of the fastest horses At daylight we struck out on his trail, which was plainly visible in the snow

Though he had an hour and a half's start his track lay through a country covered with prickly pear We knew that with a bare foot he couldju excellent time Soon the trail became spotted with blood, where the thorns of the prickly pear had pierced his shoeless foot

After a run of twelve e twothe divide toward the South Platte, which at this point was very deep and swift

If he got across the streaood chance of escape We pushed our horses as fast as possible, and e got within range I told hiood shot, and coolly sat down to wait for us

”Bevins, you gave us a good chase,” I said, as we rode up

”Yes,” he returned calot across the Platte you'd never have caught ht was the most remarkable feat of its kind I have ever heard of A h a prickly-pear patch was surely a ”tough one” When I looked at thefoot I really felt sorry for hi the thorns out of his foot with its sharp point I consider hiamest man I ever met

I could not suffer a man with such a foot to walk, so I dismounted, and he rode my horse back to camp, while Green and I rode the other horse by turns We kept a close watch on our prisoner We had had plenty of proof that he needed it His injured foot must have pained him fearfully, but never a word of co we resumed our journey We had no further trouble till we reached the Arkansas River, where we found a vacant cabin and took possession of it for the night

There was no fear that Bevins would try to escape His foot ollen to a great size, and was useless Believing that Williaet away from the cabin, we unbound hihted by the fire We left ”Long Doc” on guard and went to sleep

At one o'clock Williams asked ”Doc” to allow him to step to the door for a minute ”Doc” had his revolver in hand, and did not think it necessary to waken us He granted the request With ”Doc,” revolver in hand, watching hie of the floor

Suddenly he ht in the black darkness before his guard could even raise his revolver

”Doc” leaped after hi just as he rounded the corner of the cabin The report brought us all to our feet I at once covered Bevins withthat he could barely stir, I lowered it

Then in ca that Williaather our horses close to the cabin and stand guard the rest of the night to prevent the possibility of our late prisoner sneaking in and getting aith one of them

This was the last I ever saw or heard of Williah we had lost one of our prisoners, General Carr complimented us on the success of our trip The next day we took Bevins to Bogg's Ranch, on Picket Wire Creek, where he was to await trial But he never was tried He made his escape, as I had expected he would do