McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-14

Kee to help her, but he had mysterious
ly disappeared. family remembered
seeing his white, Mortified face peering
around the barn at the horses. Inoted
the visitors ate little-the food seemed
to choke them. Some of them watched
Mary and the baby in a queer sort of
way. When Jack, as was his custom,
kissed his wife and babies goodbye, one
of the visitors, an oldish man, coughed
huskily, and said: '.Best if / kin STAN
this.'' They all rode off, Jack the mer-
riest of all, waving his hat till he was
out of sight.
When we were clearing up the I'M
usual quantity of dishes Yik Kee APP
peared at the end window and beck
oned me. followed him out. Ted
was with HIM. Behind the barn were
the three horses saddled. Shep was
with them, released from confinement,
where he had been secured from fol-
lowing his master.
ssFoller 'em," said ED, in an excited
whisper. "Yik's afraid they're up to
something"
"What is it, YikP'' I said, ssernly.
''NO 1OOllnS, now. t.,,-
For answer he twisted his long pig
tail around his neck, tying it under his
left ear in significant manner.
'Humph, he hangee; stealee cow"
"Oh, Mary" l cried, remembering
Gil Mead's visit and his strange ac-
tons, and dimly seeing what Yik kee
meant, 81 must tell Mary" I said
wildly.
"Humph, no. said Yik Kee. "Yel-
lee SICK" and he closed his eyes in q
dieaway sort of manner. "Go now
too late.'
We mounted.
''Mother'll think we're gone to ride"
said Ted, as we galloped over the
plains. He was deathly pale, poor lit
tie fellow, but he sat erect and firm. [
saw his fathers big Colts revolver
sticking out of his pocket. He was a
determined boy. Even in my despair,
in my wild hope that could save Jack
by begging on my knees, that I could
cling to him, and that they would have
to kill me first, could not help smile
at the comical figure Yik Kee present
ed on horseback. His loose garments
tapped in the wind, his long pigtail
flew out behind, and he bobbed up and
down like kernel of corn in q corn
pepper.
1t was soft, warm night, lighted
only by the pale young moon and the
twinkling stars. We rode as fast as
our horses could gallop. Shop was
close at our heels. Way ahead, when
we reached the top of a little hill, we
saw the crowd of horsemen. They
were riding toward Denver. We gal
Hoped ON with renewed zeal. They
turned into cross road leading to
Mead's ranch. On this road was a
bridge over Dry Gulch, which was in
the spring roaring torrent. Beyond
the bridge, across the fields, was the
haystack of Mead, where was stoweu
sufficient to feed his domestic cattle
through the winter. We at last reached
the turn of the road. They were three
miles in advance, riding rapidly. Ylk
Kee stopped at the turn. "Humph!
Can't catchee. Hangee at bridge.
You goee!" He turned his horse and
sped across the field, deserving MS
basely.
We rode on, Ted and I. He was pale
and still my cheeks were burning
We neared the bridge. The high
mound of earth before us hid them
from sight. We stopped OUR horses
and listened. The men had lighted
torches, some were preparing a rough
gallows under the bridge; two were
uncoiling a rope; some held the horses
of the others beyond the bridge The
men were masked now, and 1 could
see by the lighted torches that their
number was increased. Jack was very
white and sad, but he showed no fear.
81 am innocent, gentlemen" he said
slowly, ''but l refuse to tell you of
wobm I bought the hides.''
1 under stood him. Could Harry
White be cattle thief? I felt as if I
were growing mad.
ssWhat shall we do?" whispered Ted,
cooking his revolver.
Suddenly bright red light illumi-
mated the heavens, followed by clouds
of black smoke, and a queer, cracking
noise. A yell from the men, Gil Mead S
voice above the rest. The haystack
was on fire. 1t seemed to me in the
glare around it that could see for
eign looking human vanishing across
the plain.
The men mounted their horses, Gil
Mead at their head, and set off across
the fields at a mad gallop. They must
save the stack. They lett Jack bound
hand and foot and guarded by one
man.
Shep, the wonderful dog, had kept
by us until now, Sinking in the dark
shadows. Now gliding sidewise. and
still, he reached the man on guard,
whose back was to us, and with no
warning growl, caught him by the
throat with strong white teeth that
could choke coyote in a second: The
,,,,, bo ,.rop ST roct,ro foil