The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-06-05

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leaned far out, and saw thore WINS not an
Inch left between the heavy logon which the
structure restedand the edge of the precipice:
and then I turned away with the full convic-
don thai IL escape must be made,it certainly
you'd not be in that direction. There was
uothing especially strange in this; there were
many houses 80 constructedI had seen one
or two mysef-and yet when l drew back
dusky face, I felt that danger, quick and
deadly, was lowering in the air.
Without speaking, I went 10 my saddle
bags and got out my pistols--a superb pair of
long double rifles, that I knew to be accurate
anywhere under q hundred yards.
'Darl denis what l likes to seel" ex-
claimed Bose, as he Owed down into his own
bag, and fshed out the old horse-pistol that
had belongedto my grandfather, and which 1
knew was loaded to the muzzle withNumber
One buckshot 1t was n terrible weapon at
close quarters.
The stables in which our horses were feed
ing could be watched, and by events trans
piring In that locality We would shape our
actions. / found the door could be locked
from the inside, and, in addition to this, i
improvised a bar by means of o chair leg
wrenched of, and thrust through o heavy iron
staple that had been driven into the wall. Its
fellow on the opposite side was missing.
We then lifted the heavy clothes-press
before the window, leaving just room enough
on one side TO clearly see, and, II necessary,
fire through; dragged the bureau against the
door with as little noise as possible, and felt
that everything hal was possible had been
done.
A deathlike silence reiened over the place,
broken only once by the voice OF the colored
EirI QinUipU M aha rroaaa1 fba ufnh1a- vorI
i had fallen into a hnlf-doze, seated In q
chair near the window facing the stables,
whore Bose was on watch, when Suddenly I
felt q light touch upon myarm, and the voice
Of the faithful sentinel In my car
wake up Mars Ralph; dey's foolin' bout
dc stable doc artoD de horses, shuah,"
brought me wide awake TO my feet.
Cautiously peeping out, ! saw at q glance
that Bosewas right In his conjectures. There
were two Of them-one, standing out in the
clear moonlight, evidently watching my
window, while the othor-and l fancied II
was tho lnndlord-was In the shadow near
tho door, which at that moment slowly swung
open.
Al theman disappearedwithin thebuilding,
q low, keen whistle cut tho air, and Of the
same Instant l heard the knob Of my door
cautiously tried.
The thing was now plain. While those
below were securing Tho horses, those above
were either attempting TO gain access with
intent, or else IN guard TO prevent
my coming 70 the rescue Of my property.
A low hiss fromyBose brought me TO his
side from tho door whore I had been listen
ing.
'Dsy's got de hosses u in do yard, " he
whispered, ~ he drew aside 10 let me look
out through tho broken pane.
'TAke tho door," / said, ''and fro through
II they attack / am going to shoot that
fellow holding the horses"
"Lordy, Mars Ralph, It's do tavern keeper!
He aint no count. Drop do big man !" was
tho sensible advice, which I determined to
ndopt.
Noislessly drawingasido thecnrtain, rested
the muzzle Of my pistol upon the sash where
the Light had been broken away, and drew.a
bead upon the tallest of the two men who
stood holding three horses, out In the bright
moonlight.
Thesharp crack of the weapon wasinstantly
followed by ayen Of pain, and Isaw the rufian
fall backward, and measure his length upon
the earth, and 'then from the main building
there rang out
'.Murderi murderil oh, helpi"
Like lightning II flashed across my mind
there were three horses out In the open lot I
there was, then, another traveller besides
ourselvasl
Aheavy blow descended upon thedoor, and
O voice reared
"Quicki Burst the informal thing open,
and lot me get at himi The scoundrel has
killed Davel"
Let them have 1t, Bosp,"I whispered,
rapidly r~eloading my pistol. There, tho
second panel"
With a steady hand the plucky fellow lev
elled the hugeweapon, andpulled the trigger.
A deafening report followed, and again a
shrin cryof mortal anguishtold that the shot
had not been wasted.
''Sabe usl how lido kick !'exclaimed Bose,
under his breath.
The blow had fallen like an unexpected
thunderbolt upon tho bandits, anda moment
later we heard theirretreating foo~tstepsdown
the corridor.
Mars Ralph" said Bose, with an ominous
shake Of tho head. aspects deseb'longs to
q band, and, ef dey comes, an we still heah,
we gone 'coons for suah."
This view of he case WINS new TO me; but
! felt the forceof it. Iknewthat such bunds
did exist In these mountains.
A hasty glance through the window from
which ] had just fired showed me that escape
in that direction was impossible. 1 looked
put and saw q man with n rifle in his hand
lodge round the corner of the stable. He
on guard, and then I knewtaey had sent
of for reinforcements.
Stunned for a moment, 7 ~turnedround and
stared heiplessly ut Bose for he, brave fell
that he WINS, never lost his head for an
Bound toleab here, Mars Ralph" he said,
An dar ain I no way gwine
cept tro dat winder !" andh he pointed to the
me overlooking the cliff.
/ merely shook my head, and turned to
witch again, hoping to get a shot at the ras-
,al on guard.
Bose, left to his own devices, at once went
work. / heard him fussing about the bed
Tor some time, but never looked to see what
was after until he spoke.
Now den fur de rope" / heard him say,
In an instant 1 had caught his meaning.
He had stripped the bed of its covering,
ragged off the heavy tick, and the stout
rope with which It was CORDED"
In five minutes he hal drawn tho rope
its many turnipgs, and then, gather
ng the coil in his hands, he threw up the
ash, and prepared to take soundings.
II failed to touch bottom; but, nowise dis
leartened, he seized the cotton coverlet, and
pliced on. This succeeded, and the cord
yas drnwn up preparatory to knotting It il
Of cross-pieces.
In the meanwhile tho silence without had
'een broken more than once. A shrill, keen
whistle, such as 1 had heardbefore, was given
y the manon witch, and replied to by some
me seemingly a littleway of. Then heard
o~otsteps-soft, cat-like ones-on the veran-
outside, showing that the robbers were
IN the alert ut all points.
AT length Bose announced tho 'Tadder'
It was again lowered from the win.
low, and the end We held was made fast to-
he bed we had dragged over for the pur.