Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-11-06

was POo0AO1C AdN O6CA uOACs
A deathlike stiffness reigned over the
place, broken only once by the voice OF
the colored girl singing as she crossed
the stable yard.
I had fallen into q half doze, seated
in q chair near the windows facing the
stables, where Bose was IN the watch,
when suddenly I felt slight touch upon
my arm and the voice Of the faithful
sentinel in my ear.
"Wake up, Mars Ralph; dey's foolin'
bout the stable doc AFTER de horses,
shuah," brought me wide awake to my
feet.
Cautiously peeping out, I saw at q
glance that Bose vas right in his conjec-
ture-there were two of them lone
standing out in the clear moonlight, ev-
identity watching my window, while the
other-and / fancied it wa the landlord
was in the shadow near the door, which
at that moment slowly swung open.
Az the man disappeared within the
building, q low, keen whistle cut the
air, and at the same instant l heard the
knob of my door cautiously tried.
A low hiss from Bose brought me to
his side, from the door where l had been
listening.
"Dey's got de horses out in de yard u
he whispered, as he drew aside to let mt
look out through the broken pane.
take the door," l said, "and tire
through if they attack. I am going tc
shoot that fellow with the horses"
"Lordy, Mars Ralph, it's de tavern
keeper, he aim no count. Drop de big
man" was the sensi lie advice, which I
determined to adopt.
Noiselessly drawing aside the curtain
l rested the muzzle Of my pistol on the
sash where the light had been broken
away; and drew a bead upon the tallest
of the two men who stood holding the
three horses, out in the bright moon.
light.
The sharp crack of the weapon wasin.
stantly followed by a yell of pain, and !
saw the ruf6an reel backward and mea.
sure his length upon the earth, and then
from the main building there rang out:
"Murderl murder! Oh, help!"
Like lightning it flashed across my
mind. There were three horses out in
the open lot! There was, then, another
traveller besides ourselves.
A heavy blow descended upon the
door, and 4 voice roared:
"Quick! Burst the Internal thing
open, and let me get him. The scoun-
drel has killed Dave!"
"Let them have it, Bose," 1 whispered,
rapidly relosding my pistol. "There,
second panel"
With q steady hand the plucky fellow
leveled the huge weapon and pulled the
trigger.
A ~deafening report followed, and
again q shill cry of mortal anguish told
them the shot had not been wasted.
"Sabe us! how it do kick!" exclaimed
Bose under his breath.
The blow had fallen like an uuex-
pected thunderbolt upon the bandits,
and q moment later we heard their re.
treating footsteps down the corridor.
"Dar'll be more of 'em heah fore
long, Mars Ralph" said Bose, with an
ominous shake of the head. II 'spects
desc blongs to a band, and if they comes
an We still heah, we gone coons for
shuar."
This view of the case was new to me:
but l felt the force of it. l know that
such bands do exist in these mountains.
Stunned for a moment, I turned round
and stared hopelessly at Bose; but he,
brave fellow that he was, never lost his
head for an instant.
"Bound to Leah here, Mars Ralph,"
he said, quite confidently. "An' dar
amt no way gwine 'cept tro dat win
dow" aud he pointed to the one over
looking the cliff.
! merely shook my head, and turned
to watch again, hoping to get a shot at
to rascal on guard.
Bose, left to his own devices, at once
went to work. l heard him fussing
around the bed for some time, but never
looked to see what he w&s after until he
spoke.
"Now den for de rope" I heard him
say, and in an instant l caught bis
meaning.
He had stripped the bed of its cover
ing, dragged off the heavy tick and the
stout hempen rope with which it was
"corded."
In five minutes he had drawn the rope
through its many turnings, and then
gathering the coil in his hands, he drew
up the sash and reappeared to take
soundings.
It failed to touch the bottom; but
nowise disheartened, he seized the cotton
coverlet and spliced on. This succeeded.
and the cord was drawn up preparatory
to knotting it in place of c~ross.pieces.
In the meantime the silence without
had been broken once. A shrill, keen
whistle, such as we had heard before.
was given by the man on the watch, and
replied to by some n seemingly q little
way of. Then l heard footsteps soft,
cat-like ones-on the verandah outside.
showing that robbers were on the alert
at all points,
At length Bose announced the lad.
del" ready. It was again lowered from
the window. and the end was held and
made fast to the bed we had dragged
over for the purpose.
Snow, den, Mas'r Ralph, I'll 20 down
fuet, and see if nm strong enough to bar
u.s." -.
And he was half way out of the win.
dow before I could speak.
mo, Bose, you shall not" I answered,
firmly, drawing him back into the room.
"You must"
The words were lost in the din of q
furious and totally unexpected attack
upon the door.
The dull heavy strokes of the AZ were
intermiugled with the sharp quick clat.
ter Of hAtchets ~ they cut away at the
barrier, and once in 4 whileI could hear
deep 0aths as though they had been rem
dered doubly savage By q resistance.
:. Here, Boo your pistol Quickl"I
whispered viii and the heayy charge went