The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-02-06

they threw open the door and ushercd in,
Big Jim Perdue and the rest of the
ssboys" found themselves looking into
the muzzle of repeating rifle held by q
stern faced man who stood behind the
table.
"Up with yer hands," cried Big Jim
stcrnly, as he burst across the threshold.
There were cxclamations of surprise rs
the gang recognized the holder of the
Hfe.
"What dye mean, Sigsby2 What are
you doin' yere?' demanded Big Jim.
"Nuthin'," returned old man Sigsby,
doggedly.
"Whur's the cuss2"
"Thar!" answered Sigsby, moving to
one side that the light might fall on the
sick man. "Thar, an thar he's goin' to
stay"
'Mountain fever!" some one said, at
sight of the delirium-hushed face.
Big Jim and the gang glared at old
man Sigsby and the rifle muzzle that
stared them in the face.
"What does all this meana" Big Jim
demanded with an oath.
"Nuthin'!" the old man replied.
"Yere's his orders from headquarters, an
I'm a-carryin' them out"
He tipped the letter toward the group
and Big jim picked it up. When the
big man had silently spelled out its con-
tents, he handed it to the next man.
From one to another it passed till all
had read Bessie's letter.
No one made any remark, but there
was dimness before the eyes of several
that made the muzzle of old man Sigs-
by's repeating rifle looking less formida-
BILE.
"Wal9" questioned Sigsby.
"Wal," Big Jim returned in an accent
less voice.
sPrays fer him every day." the old
man said, as if addressing himself.
cam faint no good prayin' fer dead
men," Jim returned, in the same accent
less voice. "Hunting us! Wall,mount-
ain fever'll do the work if"
"Bill," he said, suddenly, interrupting
himself, "didn't you low you seed fell
Ter sneakin' round the storehouse as we
come bys"
"Bili'' replied promptly that he had
"'lowed" so, and several eager voices
chimed in with the information that it
was dangerous to allow the "feller" in
question to continue to "sneak."
II reckon that thar's the detective" "
Big Jim hazardcd.
There was a unanimous expression of
belief that such was the case. Then, led
by Big Jim, the gang filed out into the
darkness.
sole man," said Big Jim, slowly, as
he turned to 60, "if you need any help
'tendin' to any sick men anywhere around
yere, send fer me-"
can mel" cried several voices.
can if he gifts we'll, tell him story
bout little gals letter that saved
feller's life. If you do, mebby his sick
ness'll sorto make him fergit all about
what's happened in this section an that
on Gov'ment land"
"I've heerd NV sech cases." answered
old man sigsby.
When they had gone, sigsby stood for
many minutes staring at the letter before
him.
"Der papa" it read, "mama and me
has been looking for letter from you
for awful many days. We are fraid your
sick an we want to see you awful much.
Ole Bose is dead. I pray for you night
an mornin. A hundred kisses from
"BEssIE."
"Name's Bessie" old man Sigsby NUT
tered. Minds me wv"
His voice died away, and, for long
time, he seemed wrapped in thought.
Only the faint moan of the sick man
broke the silence at the shanty up the
"draw."
A month later little Bessie's heart was
gladdened by the coming of the papa
for whom she had prayed night and
No report of illegal timber cutting in
the region round about the cabin up the
"draw" reached headquarters. Perhaps
his severe illness had impaired the de-
tective's memory.-Ntw York. Mercury.