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Harry Tracy and David Merrill, escaped convicts had officially jumped state lines and were in Washington. The trail was lost shortly after they crossed the Columbia. the posses in Oregon expeditiously hunting Tracy and Merrill so long as they were in the posses’ jurisdiction, once they left so did the posse’s vigor.

Shortly after getting into Washington, the two were able to steal two horses from another farmer. They had also stolen blankets, bedrolls, and a small tent. To avoid capture, the two continued to move even further North and West.

It had been well over two weeks sense the two had any run ins with posses or sheriffs. With the horses they traveled quickly. They had stopped for a few days on the outskirts Chehalis. Chehalis is where railroads met, it had a burgeoning lumber and dairy sectors. During this time, Chehalis had a population of 2,300.

The next morning, Tracy woke up, they were staying along the Chehalis river about a mile west of the town. Merrill was missing. Tracy looked up and down the river, still not finding Merrill, his horse remained and his weapons were in his blankets, but all other personal effects and himself were missing. After several minutes Tracy became nervous. Many thoughts raced through his head.

‘Was Merrill taken in by the posse? Did he turn me in? Was he just out trying to hunt for food?’ He thought.

‘I’m not waiting to go back in that cage.’ He muttered to himself while he began packing up, swearing and making a commotion while he rushed.

As he was loading up his horse, he heard rustling in the bushes. Tracy dropped what he was doing, spun around and pointed his Winchester at the noise. Merrill emerged from the reeds.

‘Will you point that thing down!?’ Merrill hollered.

‘Where did you go?’

‘I went into town, and got us this from a general store.’ Merrill stated, presenting some jerky, bills, and a pair of boots. ‘I sold one of the rifles we haven’t used for this, the one we grabbed from that posse member.’

Tracy scowled, his blood began to boil.

‘You imbecile! Now the whole state will know we’re here!’

‘No they will not! I ensured them I was a gagabout, traveling through.’ Merrill rebutted.

‘You’re a chatter-mag and a gongoozler who sticks out among that town, and I’m sure you raised suspicion, we’re going back because of you!’

‘Nobody will find us! We made it to Washington, the posse isn’t chasing us anymore, there’s nowhere to run to!’

They stood in silent rage with each other. Tracy was looking at the river, contemplating his return to a penitentiary.

‘you know, it would be nice to settle down and put all of this behind us… There’s a creamery factory and lumber yard here, both are looking for workers.’ Merrill continued.

‘You’ve lost your nerve. You’re not thinking straight. You don’t think someone in that town will recognize you?’ Tracy shouted.

‘Aren’t you tired of living in the woods and starving? Having to steal a home cooked meal!’ Merrill matched.

‘You always were scared. It kills me that they give you half the credit for the escape. You were just a scared little boy who had a sister fortunate enough to marry me!’

‘I have been carrying you this entire time with your obsession with how we look in the papers! ‘ I am Tracy!’ ‘ He mocked.

‘And your playing nice with everyone, I think you’re the one going soft and not thinking clearly!’ He continued.

‘Let’s settle it like real men then. A fifteen pace duel. The better man wins.’ Tracy said coldly, the silence that remained was just as chilling.

‘Come on now, you win, you get rid of me and can have your creamy job you long for.’ he continued to coax.

Merrill stood in silence, contemplating his next words carefully. He looked back and forth at the large rocky clearing they stood on. Merrill shook his head.

‘No. Fifteen paces each won’t work.’

‘Why not?’

‘Look at this space here, there’s no way we both make it fifteen paces, we’ll be in the water. I don’t want to be cold and wet if I live or if I’m dying.’ Merrill stated. ‘plus you’re far enough that you can just run.’

‘Are you planning on running!?’ Tracy said.

‘I’m just saying fifteen is a long ways. Let’s do eight, no, ten!’ Merrill suggested.

Tracy looked skeptically at him.

‘You said ten or eight paces?’

‘Ten.’ Merrill confirmed. Tracy nodded. They both grabbed their rifles and lined up. Merrill began his count making stiff, long steps forward. Tracy chose smaller, looser steps.

‘four, five, six,’

Tracy turned his head to see if Merrill was turning at eight.

‘seven, eight,’ Tracy spun around and took a prone position. He could see now that Merrill was an honorable, but foolish man.

‘nine,’ Tracy’s rifle spurted out a flash echoed by a loud bang, and another.

Merrill was struck twice and fell to the ground. Tracy waited in his position for what felt like an hour. After the conflict, Tracy made a fire and ate Merrill’s portion of food as well as his own, with Merrill’s body in the close background. He was shoe-less, and had his pockets turned out, his weapon now lay in his killer’s lap. Tracy left him face down in the rocks.

‘At least you’re dry!’ He laughed. ‘and now I’m free.’

The next morning, Tracy placed Merrill’s body in the brush and left the camp. Taking only what he can carry and leaving the horses.

Tracy truly was free now, free to make his own story, free to live his own life, and he wanted to go to the Puget Sound region.

Notes: This is a rendition of the events surrounding true historical facts. Please keep in mind that sights, sounds, dialogue, etc may not be an exactly historically accurate. While the author(s) do their best to depict this story as historically accurate as possible, there are some additions for entertainment value and readability.

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