Wild Bills Last Trail | Page 7

dares!"
And the young man handed the stable-keeper three one hundred-dollar
greenback notes.
CHAPTER IV.
"GIVE UP THAT HORSE, OR DIE!"
Leaving the livery-stable, the young Texan went directly to the German
restaurant, and asked for Willie Pond.
He was shown up to the room, recently engaged by the traveler, and
found him engaged in cleaning a pair of fine, silver mounted
Remington revolvers.
"Getting ready, I see," said the Texan. "I have bought you a horse--the

best in this whole section; I gave three hundred dollars. There is your
change."
"Keep the two hundred to buy stores with for our trip," said Pond.
"No need of it I've laid in all the stores we need. You can buy yourself
a couple of blankets and an India-rubber for wet weather. A couple of
tin cans of pepper and salt is all that I lay in when I'm going to rough it
on the plains. The man that can't kill all the meat he needs isn't fit to go
there."
"Maybe you're right. The less we are burdened the better for our horses.
Are we likely to meet Indians on the route?"
"None that will hurt me--or you, when you're in my company. The
Sioux know me and will do me no harm."
"That is good. The Indians were my only dread."
"I've a favor to ask."
"It is granted before you ask it--what is it?"
"I want to break your horse to the saddle before you try it. You are not
so used to the saddle, I reckon, as I am. I will take a ride at sunset, and
bring him around here for you to look at."
"That is right. I am only thankful to have you ride him first, though you
may find me a better rider than you think!"
"Perhaps. But he looks wild, and I like to tame wild uns. I'll have him
here between sundown and dark."
"All right. I told you I'd see to getting arms. I had these revolvers, and
cartridges for them, but I want a light repeating rifle. Get me a good
one, with as much ammunition as you think I'll need!"
"All right. I'll get a now model Winchester. They rattle out lead faster
than any other tool I ever carried."

The Texan now left. He had not spoken of Wild Bill's desire to possess
that horse, because he had an idea that Mr. Willie Pond would weaken,
and give up the horse, rather than risk bloodshed for its possession.
And perhaps he had another idea--a mysterious one, which we do not
care to expose at this stage of the story.
This young Texan hastened from the German restaurant to a small, neat
house in the outskirts of the town. Knocking in a very peculiar manner,
he was admitted at once by a tall and strikingly beautiful young woman,
whom he addressed as if well acquainted with her.
"I'm here, Addie, and I've seen him."
"You found him all right, when you told him who sent you, did you
not?" asked the lady, leading the way to a sitting-room in the rear of the
cottage.
"Yes, ready to do anything for one you recommend."
"Poor Bill! A braver man and a truer friend never lived. He loves me,
and I fear it will be his ruin, for he will too often come within the reach
of those who would destroy him, if they only knew where and how to
reach him. Persecution and cruelty placed him on the bloody path he
has had to follow, and now--now he is an outlaw, beyond all chance for
mercy, should he ever be taken."
"He never will be taken, guarded as he is."
"You saw his guards, then?"
"Yes, forty or fifty of them, and I would rather have them as friends
than foes. He wants you to ride out with me to meet him when I go next
with some information that he needs."
"When will that be?" asked the lady.
"In the early morning, or perhaps to-night, if nothing happens to me
between now and sunset to make it unnecessary!"

"Between now and sunset? That is within two hours. Do you anticipate
any danger?"
"Not much. I have a little task before me. I have a horse to break, and a
man known as Will Bill to tame."
"Wild Bill!--the dead-shot, the desperado, who has killed at least one
man for every year of his life?"
"Yes, the same. But ask me no more questions now. After I have tamed
him I will report--or, if he has settled me, there will be no need of it."
"Do not run this risk."
"It must be done. He has, in a manner, defied me, and I accept his
defiance!"
"Surely he does not know---"
"No, he