St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-23

:" WZHD
''HELLO! MY PRAIRIE CHICKENw
OBrien. where might ycz have sprung
from into the middle o. things loikt
this?"
II belong to the band" says tho
youngster. as cool as you please. 81
joined two weeks ago. You mayn',
know me because I've been on q scou,
most ever since. but it's So"
recollected that some such looking
chap had joined us about that time.
but couldn't have sworn to him even
by daylight However, it made little
odds to US. and all three Of US struck of
from camp together.
(Which way did the sound come
from?" asked !. after We had gone
about fifty yards.
From the norrad." answered
O'Brien, promptly. Il does be think.
in that's the rasin we heard it SO plain.
The winds blowin' loike it came
straight from the pole. an it fetched
the scrame wild it."
Due north We steered. and after
walking q quarter OF a mile or so VIC
saw . big bowlder ahead with a rcd
blaze shining somewhere near 1t. dis
tinct from the white light around us.
.:Howly saints!" calculated O'Brien,
''that does be the place sure. Sergeant,
what's yer orders? Yez can take the
lade now"
Keep your mouth shut then. and
creep after me as easy as mice. Pull
your guns. but no firing without or
ders"
As We drew nearer, the red light
grew broader and deeper. but we could
see no fire.
Faith! an that's mighty quare en-
tirely."s whispered OBrien. whose
tongue nothing short Of gag could
have silenced. I'm thinkin' they
does be houldin' witches sabbath up
here. and that loight'll vamose as
soon's they git SENT Of u.s."
just then we made out that the light
came from the base of huge bowlder.
old Gryce hit it. A cache Of Gray
sons or some other gang; perhaps the
very gents we're been following.
Who'd have thought of looking here7'
LET me 60 on scout sergeant :"
says the boy. in mighty hurry as l
thought THAT light comes from .
cave-for Gods sake let me find the
way in. and see who's in it."
Hold on. youngster." says I. grip
ping his arm Is he was making OF.
Pears to me that you're too previous
How do / know what you're up 70?
You're stranger to me. young fellow;
you've forced yourself along with US;
for all l know you'll give us away to
whoever's hiding in that hole. You
come along with us, and il l see any
thing queer about you, it'll be the
worse for you"
The boy threw up his hands with a
gesture Of wild impotence. my
Godr' he muttered, IF they only
knewr'
This made me distrust him still
more. It was plain he was hiding
something.
Go on a step before u.s." said /. mo
tioning with my pistol toward the
light; land mind-not . word-not q
step aside-or l shall just scatter your
brains on these rocks"
That seemed to stifFen him, for he
put down his hands and went on
quietly enough. In i've minutes moro
We were opposite the mouth Of the
cave and could get . glimpse Of the
inside. Around the fire six great
bulky fellows lay stretching their lazy
length in the hot glow. It was plain
they hadn't any idea Of our neiRhbor-
hood. for they laughed and talked
loudly. and often took . swig from .
brown jug standing by. They were
. common looking lot Of border ruff
fans. and among them I recognized
Grayson and Coats, who were wanted
all over Texas for murder, train rob
bling and horse stealing.
A woman was seated on q rock
in tho full glow Of the dire. / could
mot see her face. for her elbows were
propped on her knees. and her head
buried in her hands but judged from
her figure. and the long black hair fall
ing round her like a vail. that she was
young. At sight Of her the boy ut
tered-I don't know what-it sounded
like . curse smothered in groana
The girl raised her head quickly and
looked round. What a face! never
saw its like befcrc-I never shall
again. It was the most beautiful I
ever looked at but white as the dead.
and the big black eyes stretched wide