Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-11

scarcely lessened force, what you want to do
There was @ not The @ fainiest eestiop of tears
in her frightened eyes, and the suggestion that
they would shut themselves in and sleep was SO
absurd that she could almost smile at it.
Cant / stay with dad?' she pleaded.
Aleck Wiams had been active and insistent
in helping Alloway to establish a sure Jail. and
to Deuce's request he peremptorily said: "No,
sharp wits to help his own in some scheme to
escape. You nor VIII can't 60 near them till
morning"
ignoring Wiams. .'you're all making a mistake.
My dad is a gambler and he can't be called a
circumspect gentleman; but he isn't a counter
nickel except in the way Of cards Besides, he
hadn't any money, good or bad. when we got
here. You know that" and she appealed to
lit is So" viii assented earnestly. sHe had
to get a dollar from me-"
Wiams laughed viciously. He had not
known before how small an amount it had
he angrily exclaimed: 'Your worthless parent
he hadn't cent either, / suppose; but we
find his pockets full of counterfeit money Just
the same. Where did it come from. I'd like to
know?"
HE says he won it from you," said Will.
"Tell me how-in this game that never was
played-how it was that he could start into it
without cent to play with" Wiams excitedly
aBetter be off to bed, my boy" Boss Donald
said; you can't do anything tonight. of
with your
Will Brown obeyed the last emphatic com.
mand so far, at least, as to slowly quit the
spot. Deuce would have followed him, but the
hand of Donald was still on her wrist. Little
GIRL he said with abated harshness, you're
going to get right into the hammock in my
tent and stay there till daylight. can't use
my quarters tonight anyhow, and you're well
come to them"
There was force enough in his one arm to
conquer her hardest resistance and SO she made
none by either word or motion but let him lead
her to tent. which was high and square, for it
served the boss as daytime Office as well as for
sleeping quarters. 1t had no occupant until
they entered. From one endpole to the other a
hammock was strung. 1t was as high as the
mans breast, and. therefore. about level with
the girls chin. Without word he lifted her
in his arms and laid her in the suspended
couch.
what was gentleness in such man accustomed
to giving gruff orders to gangs of laborers; You
go to sleep; do you hearr' and he set the ham,
mock to swinging like cradle. Nothing shall
happen to your father before morning, nor to
you. Goodnight.
Thank you." she responded family, "good-
night"
She lay alone, gazing wide eyed and sleepless
at the canvas roof. with her mind in an abso-
lutte thoughtless condition. The blow had
stunned her, and she only slowly regained her
filled with drifting black clouds, and 1t was at
increasingly rare intervals that they let the
moon shine through At one of theee times,
following few minutes of darkness. the illu-
mlhation was SO sudden and brilliant that the
change reused her from a lethargy which
might otherwise have lulled her to sleep. An
instant of daze, OF confusion as to where she
was. and then she saw a man sharply shadowed
on the side of the tent. 1t was . startling
vivid silhouette. The figures pantomime was
that of cautious stealth, and it was her first
il was noiseless, and it disappeared as suddenly
as it had come Sne stared at the blank fabric.
Then the clouds shut off the light again, and
she was left in gloom that was almost black.
'SisstH' came to her alert ears as she dimly
saw that the entrance to the tent was being
cautiously opened. Don't be scared, and don't
make any nolse"' was whispered.
She swung her feet over the edge of the
was close to her, with his hands clasping hers
to keep her still, and she saw that he was Will
Brown. =
1--WE come to talk with you. Deuce" he said;
Il don't know why, for don't see that we can
do thing yet"
"Pm glad you've come" and she held hard to
his hands, like child not fully awakened from
nightmare. IT was lonesome-and scared"
But we can at least come to an understand,
ng about this matter-this arrest. / am sure
ny father didn't know the money was counter
'pells as circumstances permit; but never
Knew him to do a dishonest act. Thirst for
whisky would tempt him to indiscrelion, put
10 nothing so methodical or calculating as to
ieal in bogus bills. 1t isn't in him. Deuce-he
wouldn't be equal to it if he tried" He
topped with an indication that politeness pre-
',But you're thinking that my father has
brains and badness for it. What kind of an
'ath can can take, Will Brown, to make you
AXE my word for 'truthf'
Whatever you tell me-now-here-I will l
believe you"
Their hands were yet clasped together. and,
Is he stood before her, while she bent her head
n her earnestness TO see in the darkness
whether he looked serious or mocking, their |
aces almost touched.
"Then 1 tell you that my father is innocent |
dime between us when we got here He had |
ost, in an unlucky game, all the money we had |
tarted with from Omaha. That's why we |
;ame along here no better than tramps. He |
urely-surely brought no counterfeit bills. I |
I'M not saying he's what he ought to be; and |
I'M afraid it's likely he'd use bad bill if he |
lad it But, no-no-don't think he is a Grim
nal. We're very very intimate-Dad and 1; |
md he's an honorable man in his sort of way. |
We're adventures, but upon my soul we're !
lot reprobates. My mother is watching us |
! rom up yonder. you know, and she would see
If Dad was TO take me to disgrace. He |
promised her he wouldn't, and he hasn't"
She was weeping now, and when she loosed |
me hand to wipe away, the tears. Wills disen-
.aged arm encircled her protectingly 1t was 4
Wholly a caress of sympathy and faith, as she |
omehow understood, and in a moment she was [
obbing, with her face buried on his shoulder. |
'There-there-don't cry any more" he con-
ured her, and then went on with good reason |
or continued weeping: "You can't help your
ather in his predicament. and"
Don't say that" she interrupted, slipping
lown from the hammock and standing with |
very fiber tense for action. "1 must help him, |
whether can or not"
''Then let us get at the mystery of the case if
We can" Will admonished her. 80 as to know
What is best to attempt We are convinced |
hat the bogus money was won from Alex
Niams, are we not? and therefore we must |
onclude that Wiams is the real criminal. The |
f1lCer AllOWav (fOyarnmenf
of a quantity of counterfeit treasury
otes being sent into this region. He was de-
aIled to search for them. He found that they
we're being circulated along the route of this
Geographic expedition, but very sparingly |
hen he hit upon the ruse of pretending to be
on of the houdoo woman. and thar is all he
robably knows about it. He will take his pris-
ners back to Apahoque in the morning"
THAT is rough town, full of Oklahoma
oomers. We came through it three days
60"
'And Anoway spoke of the chances that an
Apahoque mob might lynch his captives,
ecause some of the bogus bills have been
assed there. He talked to Wiams about
his danger, and Wlams offered to provide
alf dozen men for posse. Hushe'
The admonition was caused by Deuce's in
autious cry of alarm. Don't you see," she
oats for himself, he will get them lynched in
tead of saving them? They'll be murdered.n
I'VE will muster force to defend them"
Better release them tonight"
"How?'
"Well, somehow-anyhow."
The girl was emboldened with her purpose,
nd her companion caught from her an ardor
f spirit uncommon to his calmer temper
ment
LET me think, :" he meditated "The guards
ant be expecting an attack from the outside |
'hey're only watching the wagon to see that its
inmates don't break out. Mightn't I take one
nawares, when the others are not too close |
y, silence and down him by throwing blanket
yer his head, and so give you a chance to slit
he canvas with knife? II we had four horses
eady. we might get away before much alarm |