Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-09-18

ilS oHt oDJtcl was w Sdlh tjiHt. Ilc
now believed that the boy had merely
turned the horses loose. That Angus
had disabled two strong men without
a sound of a struggle did not enter his
mind. With Il ~sullenly "Oho!'' he be-
gan: $50 you're the imp that's been
playin' the mischief with the bosses.
Come, my young cockcrel, don't yer
Git ycrself and fulks inter trouble with
that shootin' iron. Yer'd better listen
ter reason and keep "A house over
yer
''DIcp your weapons or III shoot"
the boy again shouted.
Indeed hr would have fired at once
had not the cunning villain stood il y
line with Mrs. McIntire.
Stand aside, MOTHER cried An
gus.
Ella, now that her brother appeared,
was momentarily off her guard, and
the wary eye OF the Tory observed the
fact. With a singularly quick move
ment he struck her arm a blow which
sent the pistol a flying from her hand,
than threw his arms around her and
held her in front Of him before the
boys leveled weapon. Now shoot eff
you dare, yer blasted Wing brat" he
snarlcd, and then shouted: Lem, Bill.
here quick. Knock this boy on the
head. I'll put my knife inter yer sis
ter eff yer don't clar out with that
gun"
C%rouching behind Angus was the
great black dog. and now the boy
stood aside and said: lin and at him.
Wolf
The huge dog sprang forward with a
savage growl; the Tory tried for one
bewildered moment to keep the girl in
front of him, but the dog seized him by
the arm and Ella broke away. Wolf
then leapcd for his throat, but the Tory
sprang backward and was about to
strike the animal with his knife, when
there was a flash, n loud report, and
the room was full of smoke, As it
cleared a little they saw the dog shak-
ing the Tory's ~lifeless body
Mrs. Mclntire rushed to her sons
arms, and shrieked. The other men
Will tOlit dut MIL you,
mo, mother" he said. grimlv,
I've settled with them. too, but must
make sure of it. Stop your screaming,
children; there's no more danger.
Come. Wolf"
There was a sound of galloping
horses in the lane, and Burton's wills
tie revived Ella. who was almost faint
ed. A moment later she was sobbing
in her lovers arms.
'Merciful heaven. Gus, what's hap
pened?" cried George riding to the yer.
anda steps and looking within.
We'll" said the boy, b%rokenly, and
sitting down, II reckon You may well
speak Of merciful heaven. If you hadn',
come | could have held out a little lon
ger, but-you must give me time and
he sank exhausted and faint on tn
steps.
Mrs. McIntire was at his side in ;
! moment with a glass of wine. ''Hav'
!, patience, George" she said. ''Ther'
l were two other men. What Angu
= could have done to them
D There, there" said the boy, ''Itl
| pass in a moment. Why the mischie
do | have to act like a baby at sue
/, times! Get a light and sec what yon'l
find by the tree yonder."
The two unconscious Tories wer
0 found barely breathing. for the boy ha,
brought down the heavy club with al
the strength which terror inspires. TX
plantations were soon given and tn
whole band gathered around Angu
!, with the heartiest %plaudits.
Oh! shut up" said the boy irrit
+ ably, IL can't stand any more tonight
q Mother and the girls are safe ant
that's enough"
!, Here, George" cried Burton, ..le
!. us pitch this carrion out" indicatin;
the Tory's body.
. .'Why, it's Rufe Hackett, one of tn
D bloodiest Tories in the state"
Hold On, Burton said George OK
I citedly, 'Hackett, did you say? Why
he was with Ferguson. AS | live | be
4 lieve he was sem with dispatches t.
1 CORVALLIS because ne knew the coun
try so well. Here, two of you men
carry him out on the veranda wher,
Mrs. McIntire and the girls can't SCI
, him, for he must be searched thor
oughly."
Georges surmise was correct. Dis
patches of vital importance were founo
stitched in the lining of his shirt. Fer
guson had writ n plainly IF the hostlI,
t forces closing upon him and of bis ur
gent need of help. 1t need not be sale
: that CORVALLIS never received thos'
, dispatches, and that the essential Il {
was never sent. How the hardy noun
taineers smote the British and the Tor,
horde and killed their leader is one o.
the best known chapters Of southern
history. The British commander die
hear of the overwhelming disaster anC
was not long in deciding that he hac
better leave the ..hornets nest O.
, Charlotte and its vicinity alone.
Mrs. McIntire, her household and
mel brave partisan friends quoted
down in time and obtained sorely need.
rG rest. The two prisoners whom An.
gus had disabled recovered eventually,
and were then tried by a rude secret
court martial. condemned and shot,
GOOrpe and others Sayinp stnrnly. ..W,