This stranger began asking questions about the soldiers’ camp, where the camp-fires blazed brilliantly in the pitchy darkness.
Finally the stranger gave a shrill whistle, and soon a companion rode into camp, out of the bed of the creek.
This second visitor was a slender, boyish young man, who seemed anxious to learn all about the soldiers’ camp.
In a few moments three negro soldiers strolled into camp and chatted awhile. When they left to return to their quarters, the two strangers bade Tipton and his companion goodnight, and rode down the bed of the creek.
At noon next day, Mr. Roberts returned from Roswell. On meeting young Tipton, he remarked: “You boys had ‘Billy the Kid’ as a visitor last night.” He then told of meeting the “Kid” and his band of “warriors” that morning, and of how the “Kid” told of his visit to the McBroom camp. He told Will Tipton that the small young man was the “Kid.”
“Billy the Kid” had told Roberts that they had planned to make a charge into the soldiers’ camp and liberate the prisoners, who were friends of theirs, but finding that Mrs. Roberts and the children were alone, and that the soldiers’ camp was so near the Roberts home, they gave up the proposed battle, knowing that the shooting would disturb Mrs. Roberts and the family.
Mr. Roberts explained to Mr. Tipton that he had always fed the “Kid” and his “warriors” when they happened by his place, hence their friendship for him.
Now the “Kid” and his party rode to Lincoln to use their influence in a peaceful way to liberate their friends, whom Capt. Hooker intended to turn over to the new sheriff of Lincoln County.
In Lincoln the “Kid” met his former chum, Jesse Evans, and they started out to celebrate the meeting. With Jesse Evans was a desperado named William Campbell.
One night a lawyer named Chapman, who had been sent from Las Vegas to settle up the McSween estate, was in the saloon, when Campbell shot at his feet to make him dance. The lawyer protested indignantly and was shot dead by Campbell.