The Authentic Life of Billy, The Kid by Pat Garrett

Author:Pat Garrett
Format: epub
Publisher: The Floating Press

Chapter XIV

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Nabbed Again—Handwriting on the Wall—Another Escape—Defying the Sheriff—Kills a Texas Desperado —The Kid as a Financier—Promiscuous Horse and Cattle Stealing

LEAVING LINCOLN AFTER his interview with Evans, the Kid returned to Fort Sumner, and, securing some new recruits to his service, he inaugurated a system of plunder which baffled all resistance; and a stock-owner's only course to secure immunity from loss, was to conciliate the Kid and court his friendship. The property of those he claimed as friends he held sacred.

There was an attraction in the very danger which attended the Kid's presence in Lincoln. Again in March, 1879, he, with Foliard, took a trip to that plaza. Upon this occasion they made a showing to comply with the law, and on their arrival, laid away their guns and revolvers. They were again arrested on the old warrants, and placed under guard in the house of Don Juan Patron, and handcuffed; but otherwise their confinement was not irksome. They were guarded by Deputy Sheriff T. B. Longworth, and the Kid had pledged his word to him that he would make no attempt to escape. Longworth knew him well and trusted him. They did not betray this trust until they were again placed in jail. They led a gay life at the house of Patron. Plenty to eat and drink, the best of cigars, and a game of poker with any one, friend or stranger, who chanced to visit them. The Kid was cheerful and seemingly contented. His hand was small and his wrist large. When a friend entered, he would advance, slip his hand from the irons, stretch it out to shake hands and remark: —"I don't wish to disgrace you, sir"; or, "you don't get a chance to steal my jewelry, old fellow."

On the 2ist day of March, 1879, Longworth received orders to place the two prisoners in jail—a horribly dismal hole, unfit for a dog-kennel. The Kid said: —"Tom, I've sworn I would never go inside that hole again alive."

"I don't see," said Tom, "how either you or I can help it. I don't want to put you there, I don't want to put any one there; but that's orders, and I have nothing to do but to obey. You don't want to make trouble for me?"

The Kid walked gloomily up to the jail door and, stopping, said to Longworth: —"Tom, I'm going in here because I won't have any trouble with you, but I'd give all I've got if the son-of-a-b—h that gave the order was in your boots."

He passed into the hall, his cell was pointed out to him, the door of unpainted pine was standing open, he took a pencil from his pocket and wrote on it:

William Bonney was incarcerated first time, December, 22, 1878; Second time, March, 21, 1879, and hope I never will be again.

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