San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-23


have any time tomorrow, cause the pro-
fessorll get back then. You know, he
went to Jimtown Tuesday. Can't you
do somethin', Mr.. Barlow?"
"The law won't uphold them, Miss'-
She snapped her fingers.
"That for tho lawi tell you these
felles sha'n't get into the professors
shack II can help it."
She drew herself together like an an
cry Amazon, and her eyes were twin
Goals of fire.
81 beg Of you don't be rash, Miss Will
Jams. Remember"-
There came q chorus OF yells from
Spangler's. Nance Williams listened a
moment
"Hear that" she said harshly; "they're
gettin' ready to go. It's time was mov-
in. You mark, my words, Mr.. Barlow,
the professors claim Is safe - Nance
Williams says so."
She rushed out of the store and away
into the night. A few minutes after
horse came past at lightning speed, with
Madcap Nance crouching low in the sad.
die and speeding away on her hair
Drained mission.
Shouts and yells came from Spangler's,
and not long after Nance had gone
drunken rabble rode by the store in the
direction she had taken. l felt certain
something of serious nature was threat
ened, so, as soon as 1 could leave the
store, saddled my horse and followed.
The moon had come out of the purple
sky overhead. In her light the land
scape was brought out with startling dis
tlncuness, Tor DaKoJa moons are norea
for their intense brilliancy. Tom Jenh-
ms gang had half hour the start Of me,
and put my horse to the run in order
that might be on hand with as little de-
lay rs possible. AS my horse clattered
over the bridge that spanned the Pipe
stem, heard succession of faint rifle
shots from the direction of the profes
sor's claim.
my Godr' I cried, "the girl will be
killed" and I lashed my horse to greater
speed.
1t had never occurred to me that
would be helpless in an encounter with
the drunken rabble. / had thought Of
nothing but getting upon the ground in
the quickest possible time, for 1t was
more than probable that Nance Will
Jams would be alone at the mercy of the
crowd. AS I drew nearer and nearer
my destination heard cries from time
to time, and my nerves were all a-trem-
BILE with excitement and apprehension.
When came close to the professors
claim shanty, however, l realized that
Nance Williams was in no immediate
danger, for the men, some ten or twelve
in number, stood counseling together.
From their loud talk CLEANED that they
had met with disappointment-they
had thought that the professor was in
Jimtown, while they had found him in
the shack. on hand to protect his prop
erty.
"What's the matter, boys?" inquired,
springing from my horse.
"It's Barlow" said Tom Jenkins to
his associates in q low and not very de-
lighted voice. Then, advancing toward
me, he asked: "What do you want, Ike
BarlowT'
"To see fair play" said promptly;
"what are you fellows here for?'
"'Tain't nothin' to you. You go back
to town an leave us alone"
While was haranguing Tom Jenkins,
Rice Fielding, his partner, tried to steal
barely half way, however, when rifle
was thrust through partly open win
dow and fired in his direction. The
bullet whistled uncomfortably near him,
and Rice retreated with more haste than
gracefulness.
mo use, Rice" said Tom Jenkins;
''the fellow means business. There's
only one way to get at him, an that's TO
burn him out"
"Look here" cried excitedly; "have
you men any idea of the crime you are
This outrage
There were several derisive yells from
he crowd, and could see they were
90 much bent upon mischief to be iDflu-
,nced by me. |
Say, Barlow, you know as well as / ;
10 that Charley Atwood hadn't no right
o jump that claim In the first place.
That there place belongs to me an Tom,
m the rest of the fellers are goin' to
lelp me get it back, 30 you just keep I
mum an get out o the way" =
All, that was the ideal 1t was fact I
he quarter had originally been filed on a
y Rice Fielding, but he never went near Il
and made no pretension of living up q
o the law, consequently it became jump l
BILE and Charley Atwood had taken ad- r
antage Of this fact. All the while At I,
'ood held the place, Fielding had made n
o move TO get it back, but now that the Il
rofessor had bought it fancied wrong o
ankled in Fielding's breast. a
In this view of the case thought best
ot to tell the men they were battling
gainst a-woman. The chances were
ley would consider her more easily i'm s
osed upon than tho professor, and, II
ushing to greater extremities, the affair "
light be made infinitely worse. de- p
ded to draw one side and watch the "
fair passively, and then, when IL 8
.ached climax, / would do my utmost X
protect Nance Williams. y
Going 10 the rear Of the house where b
lere were no windows or doors through q
hich a rifle could be fired, preparations pl
ere made to burn the building. a billet n
wood was saturated with the oil Of u
nterD oneof the men had brought, and. 4
yhting this torch and taking an arInful al
straw, Rice Fielding approached 10 y
I'm the professors shack. Before he IL
uld put his plan into operation, how m
er, figure appeared on the roof of the b
use. Standing Aloft. stern and un- pI
united. upon the fat roof, Nance Will di
ne covered Rice Fielding with her rife. on
Not another step" she cried warn be