San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-19

door in a great fright as he shot by. A little
farther on q small corn field lay beside the
road and three men who, with a single horse
and cart, had started shocking among the
first rows, turned and gazed at him as 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 in at the cabin
door
The fleeing man went by like the wind, but
looked back, expecting to see the fellow come
out with q 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
saT 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 nunicTousi
The engineer rode directly along the road
toward the village which he was now rapidly
nearing. His horse had dono well, still kept
is wind and steadily gained on those behind.
Luckily there was ne one at home, or Of
lca7s il sight, Ct tho two or three cabins
which he had still to pass before entering, the
village, and he rode unannounced up to the
very door of a log store which also had a sign
"Postoffice" printed upon a 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.
A group of half a 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, true's you ivew put in one of
them, that's what ye 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 he, and if there's any one in
the store who can get me a razor, piece of
soap ana some wafer, CAL NSTy tulChly
prove what say"
"Mebby We ken, but I'd swar We war Dave"
said the first speaker of the crowd. Its no
more'n far, though, tibet We should hev
squar deal. Boys, is they airy razor round
hyar t the Teller kenuse"
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 a razor, gOurd with brush,
water and soap and shown, a broken mirror
which hung beside a small back window.
A curious silence reigned in the room while
he hastily made preparations to remove
luXuriaut growth of beard.
Soon a clatter Of boots announced the ap-
proach Of the horsemen in pursuit.
"Hyar they come" said one of the men,
tits them Kirby boys jes' es lowed 'twar.
III go Out, boys, n tell 'em how hit air. o.
course they air nachelly boun' ter Civ the
man a show"
And be 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 jest ridden up.
Presently they all came tramping into the
store
Then for several minutes there was an
eminous silence
Conrad finished shaving, wiped his face on
an old towel which hung on the vail and
then faced the enemy"
There were dozen slouching fellows in the
room now, and nearly all armed with rifle or
revolver.
They stared hard at his face, which had,
indeed, undergone striking change. Pale
ILL zI.ztl l. Al 1.
cision.
'Sho!" exclaimed one of the nearest, che
don't look airy bit morelike Dave Kennedy nor
| do. Hit didn't seem to me like Dave d git
oudasbus 'nough ter come projeckin round
hyar agin."
"'Taint Dave" was the fiat admission of
all of them, and the men who had followed
him so hotly looked crestfallen enough.
well, gentlemen, if you've no further
business with me III ride on" said Hurting
Much obliged for the use of your razor,
young man." and nodding to the clerk he
walked out while the crowd rather shame
facedly made way for him.
Il didn't care to inquire who Dave was or
what he had done" said my friend. II had
had quite enough OF those fellows and !
wanted them to know it."
He received generous hospitality from most
of the people whom he met on the long jour
ney which followed, and though he had many
other adventures, he was never in so much
peril as on this occasion. when, as he puts it,
he was saved by losing his beard. Frank
w. Calliins in Youths Companion.
Cat at Meeting.
In the course of prayer meeting in the
vestry of a New Bedford church a pleasant