Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-09


gently inclining valley which b knew from
previous description TO be horrigans zap
There we're high mountains On either hand
and much timber on their side> The valley
was bare of woots and some Of il cultivated;
he could distinguish several cabins and small
fields from where be stood. and grouped
AGAINST the clear blue horizon at the highest
elevation Of the gap. several miles distant,
were some buildings which no doubt made up
the village Of Horrigan
Nearer and nearer ratified the riders and
soon they burst into view around point sew
eral hundred yards below
There were i've Of them. and upon coming
within sight of him they refined up and came
to Q halt. they sat gazing at him for mo-
ment and then seemed to be holding con
sultation-
Hurting waited uneasily. We're they
afraid Of him, be wondered. and bad they
started out with the intention to capture or
to kill hint Surely, be thought they would
give him a chance to prove himself-f only
they would come within speaking distance.
But while he was thus questioning within
himself one Of the men discounted and Con-
rad saw that he had a gun in his hands
Tho fellow stepped out few PAGES to one
side and deliberately took aim at him At
this alarming demonstration the engineer
sprang behind his horse, as be did 50 the
mountaineer's gun cracked, the ball struck
the road. falling several rods short Of the
horse at which it was probably fired, it
glanced upward and went yeun-yeuning,
above the mans head.
He waited no longer. but sprang upon his
horse and sank his spurs in its tanks, deter
mined to lead them a race to the village,
where he hoped to find shelter, or at least
protection, until he could satisfy the people
As to his identity
That the party after him was In dead earn
est was plain enough. and that an attempt to
parley with them would only bring the peril
nearer he felt assured-therefore he piled
spur and whip, using end Of the long hol-
ter strap quirt
Hearing no more shots fired. he looked back
to see what bis pursuers were doing They
were after him fast enough, riding in single
file at the top Of their animals speed. with .
trail Of flying dust in their wake.
The poor fellow felt that his case was in
deed Desperate his unlucky likeness TO
Dave Kennedy" was likely to bring him to
peril in front, as it had upon the road behind
His horse, fortunately, was fine roadster
and had both speed and wind and after a
mile or so Conrad noted with delight that he
was drawing gradually away even from tbs
foremost of his pursuers, and that this one
was several hundred yards in advance Of the
rest.
II only they were all mounted on such old
farm horses as he had seen at the pool, be
thought it would be an easy matter to get
away from them.
He neared a small cabin by the road and
,,l oh lal ,v, - th.
door in a great fright as he shot by. A little
farther on a small corn field lay beside the
road and three men who, with q single horse
and cart, had started shocking among the
first rows, turned and gazed at him Is he
few past.
He wondered if they wouldn't get into the
cart and take after him They did not; but
farther on another cabin stood on a slight
elevation near the road, and as he neared it
Hurting saw man at one corner shading his
eyes and evidently watching both pursued
and pursuers
As he came gathering up nearly abreast Of
the cabin the man gave an excited jump,
slapped his leg with one hand, and then. dodg
ing around the corner. darted i'll at the cabin
door.
The fleeing man went by like the wind, but
looked back, expecting to SEQ the fellow come
out with a gun He was not disappointed;
out the man came and fred two shots in
quick succession after him A double bar
relied shotgun was evidently the weapon used,
for the rider was already out Of range and
saw several shots strike along the road be-
hind him, each of which knocked UP little
squirt of dirt as it hit.
Truly Dawes enemies were numerous
The engineer rode directly along the road
toward the village which he was now rapidly
gearing. His horse had done well, still kept
Ia wind, and steadily gained on those behind.
Luckily there was no one at hpme, or at
least " sien:, at the two or three cabins
winch he had still to pass before entering the
village, and he rode unannounned up 10 the
very door Of u log store which also bad y dgn
''Postoffice' printed upon q board and nailed
to one of the logs
Hastily hitching his horse TO post, he en-
tered the door, plan Of action having oc-
Cured to him while riding for his life
group OF half dozen men had already
gathered, seated upon and leaning against
the counters OF the country store
Gentlemen" burst out Hurting, some
men are after me on horses and with guns de-
termined to take my life because they fancy
look like Dave Somebody
Kennedy, trues you livei" put in ono of
them. that's what We does, mighty like
him."
That's So" said several others who got
down off the counters, in the stir which fol-
lowed, to get good look at the stranger
We'll" said Conrad, hurriedly, whoever
Dave Kennedy may be, and whatever he has
done, am not be, and if there's any one in
the store who can get me a razor, piece Of
soap and some water, | can very quickly
prove what say"
"Mebby ye ken, but I'd swar ye war Dave"
said the first speaker Of the crowd ITS no
moren far, though, tibet 70 should hev a
squar deal. Boys, is they ary razor round
hyar I the Teller ken user
I've got one," said young, smooth faced
fellow who was evidently clerk in the store.
Come back this way, stranger"
Hurting stepped to the back end Of the
store, was given razor, gourd with brush,
water and soap and shown broken mirror
which hung beside a small back window.
A curious silence reigned in the room while
he hastily made preparations to remove .
luxuriant growth Of beard
Soon a clatter Of hoofs announced tho ap-
proach Of the horsenen In pursuit
"Hyar they come said one Of the men,
its them Kirby boys jes' Is lowed 'twar.
Ill go out, boys. n tell EN- how hit air. o.
course they air nachelly boun' ter Civ the
man show"
And he went out followed by two or three
more While Con was industriously scraping
away he heard them in earnest conversation
with the fellows who had Just ridden up
Presently they all came tramping into the
store
Then for several minutes there was an
ominous silence.
Conrad finished shaving. wiped his face on
an old towel which hung on tho wall and
then faced the enemy"
There were dozen slouching fellows in the
room now and nearly all armed with rife or
revolver.
They stared hard at his face, which had.
indeed, undergone striking change Pale
and hollow checked be awaited their de-
cision-
'Shorr exclaimed one of the nearest, .'he
don't look airy bit more like Dave Kennedy nor
do Hit didn't seem to me like Dave d git
oudashus nuugu ter come projeckin round
hyar aginn
faint Dave" was the flat admission of
all OF them. and the men who had followed
him so holly looked crestfallen enough.
well, gentlemen, if you've no further
business with me ri ride ON said Hurting
Much oplsed for the use OF your razor
young man." and nolding to the clerk he
walked out while the crowd rather shame
facedly made way for him
4 didn't Gaze to inquire who Dave was or
bat kxL a-t