San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-14
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
BY JAMES T. M'KAY.


hands at the stove.
"-evenin', Broom" said Bath.
He beckoned and passed through to the
back store. Prent followed and shut the
door behind him.
Broom" says Bath, 'you've got to
take that money along with you, an all l
got to say is the sooner you get shet of it,
the better for you"
"Why, what's to pay now, Bath"
asked Prent.
at Jim Crickett's last night. They come
by different trains, didn't know each
other at all, at first, but got very thick
afore the night was out. The first one
gave his name as William PaddleboX, and
when the other fellow saw it on the book,
he put his'n down James NJ. Walking
beam. Last week, too, there was u fell
low in here pretended he was agent for a
Bellamy tobacco company. l asked him
some quizZing questions that showed he
wasn't up to the tobacco trade at ell, I'd
be swore. | saw him examine the lock of
the north door, and walk all around the
building when he went out. I'm mighty
mistaken if somebody amt broke into
before long. Leastways, You must take
i '
changed off the small money for you and
got it into as small bulk as l could And,
look here, Broom, ~ he added, "the money
being in our safes been talked of over to
Wimble's, and it's no more'n right you to
drop in there and happen to mention its
been took out"
"Wel," said Broom, elf You say so. I
don't want you to run any risk by me-"
Thee were one or two persons in the
store as he passed through, took the
package from Bath, and buttoned it under
his coat.
''You ought to be armed, Broom" Bath
whispered
Prent opened his coat little way; the
butt of pistol showed on his left breast.
He stepped over to Wimble's hotel, bought
a cigar at the bar Wimble came up.
How do, Broom? Comm over t. the
rattle tomorrow Lem me git you a
ticket, only dollar?'
"No, guess not, ;" says Prent. Got to
go t. the city"
''Going to take them ten thousan' Ben
Baths got in his safe o. your'n?'
bath hasn't no ten thousand nor ten
cents of NINE" said Broom.
He went out and started on. The sun
was set He had nineteen miles to do yet.
He kept Driver going smartly, though he
began to lag little with his long days
tramp. The road lay north, through level,
waste plain lands, covered with stunted
pines, scrub oak, and smaller matted under
growth. The road is a single wagon track
cut down through the thin surface soil
into the white, fetlock deep sand under
meath. 1t was a dreary ride enough.
Broom kept his horse at a steady pace,
urging him now and then little faster.
Nell would be looking for him now, and
eighteen miles with tired horse between
them yet. Four miles of the same mo-
notonous waste; then, far away across the
level, he caught sight of the buildings of
Camarack station on the line of the rail-
way. He heard the whistle of a train
coming west, and presently saw it roll in
and stop. 1t moved off, Kissing and clang-
ing, just as he came up. Crossing the
track, he was hailed by a man he knew.
''Hello, Brooml hold on
He stopped and the man came out.
''Look here, Broom" he said; ''half an
hour ago l got this telegram. What the
deuce does it mean?" 1t was dated,
Half past six, Brammerley," ten miles
west on the line. 1t was addressed to
Henry Tarlow, and read thus:
''Prentiss Broom will pass through
c. about 7. Tell him this: Don't go
beyond Brame's tonight"
1t was signed "a Friend.'
81 don't know what it means. Good
night, Tarlow, I've got fourteen miles be-
fore me-"
He rode on, keeping Driver we'll up to
his work. 1t was five miles to Squire
Brame's tavern; five miles of the same
dreary waste around and the same clog
ging sand under foot. The road bent
more to the west now; it was fast growing
dark
Two miles short of Brame's he caught
sight of wagon also going north. He
pushed tie brown ahead to overtake it,
and coming up recognized the sturdy per-
son and gray hair of the stout old squire
himself The squire was fast friend of
Prents, and he was glad enough to see
him jogging home
Hold up, square, " he called. what's
your hurryg'
whoa Bill. " answered the SQUIRE. in