Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-10-27

nau become warmed, and after III
long, fatiguing tramp, he ate hearth
ly.
After the meal they engaged il
conversation, and Harvey explained
to them what he was doing in tina
part of the country, and they on thei
part told him they were prospecting
for silver
There were two rooms to the cabin
among the three men told Harve,
that he could occupy the smaller one
alone, where he would find plenty o
blankets to keep him warm and tina
they would sleep before the fire. IL
i this he readily assented, and soon af-
ter retired to the room pointed out tC
him by one of the men. But his
mind was filled with a strange fore
boding of evil. lie was satisfied that
these men were not what they pre-
tended to be, and, much as he dislik-
ed to play the spy, he determined to
do SO on this occasion, and, if posi-
BILE, overhear some of their converse
tion
He knew that if these men had
anything of Importance to consult
about they would make sure that he
was asleep before beginning to do so.
Accordingly he partially disrobed and
retired, holding his trusty revolver
under the blankets.
Nearly an hour passed, and he
had commenced to believe that his
fears were groundless, when the door
between the two rooms was pushed
gently open and one of the men en-
tered the room. Morris watched him
closely while pretending to be asleep,
and the man, after satisfying himself
that their visitor was really sleeping,
to the outer room. Slipping
from his bunk, Harvey approached
the rude door and leaned his ear
against one of the cracks ia it and
listened. The first words that reach
ed his ears were these ''He's sleep
ing like log, boys; we've nothin' to
fear from him.
"Glad of it; now we can talk"
"What d'you think of him, Hank ?"
said another voice.
''Think of him? Why, [ think he's
IN Internal detective. The big re-
ward offered by the express company
'or the fellers that robbed that car
Up at Salt Creek has led the cops to
ook In every place for US and in ev
,ry kind of disguise. He may be
ust who he says he is, and he may
lave stumbled on our camp by acct
lent, but | don't believe it,
"Neither do l." said a third voice
Even if he isn't an officer it would
Jay to put him out of the way for
he watch he carries
'That it would" replied Hank.
And then if he isn't detective he'll
low about seeing our gang here and
veil have all the cops in the Terrific
y after u.s.
eyes, he must be done up Fifty
thousand dollars is too big a stake to
un any chances of losin' to say moth
A. about our necks,' said one of the
len.
sWell, it is settled fact that he
hall die. Now, who is to do the
ob?" asked Hank.
"Draw CUTS replied the leader.
Three small sticks were quickly
repaired of different lengths. The
ne who drew the shortest stick was
} do the work, and the lot fell on
[ank, who assumed the responsible
Y without a murmur.
"We'll fix him about midnight.
Ie'll be sleepin' soundest then, and
knife thrust will settle the bust
ess," said Hank, brutality.
Morris sbivered as he heard the
ords. :
1t was only little after ten o'clock, (
} he had nearly two hours to pre- {
are for their attack or make his es- /
ape if possible. But even if he did ;
ave the cabin an almost certain
cath awaited him outside in the
;orm. He knew from their CONVEX
ltion that they were men who had {
committed a $4,000 ex-
ress robbery, and for whom there )
ere rewards aggregating over S1O,-
DO offered.
He looked and felt carefully around
lie room and found that the only |
cans of egress was the one door s
aiding out into the room where his
lemies sat. He soon came to the de-
not only to fight for his |
fe, but to exterminate or capture
/ of the outlaws or perish in the at
mpt.
There was a heavy wooden stool
the room, "a blow from which would
III an OK. He decided to strike
own his would-be assassin with the |
DOL and use his revolver to over
,me the other two.
He peeped through a crack in the
Dor into the outer room. Two of {
lie outlaws lay wrapped in blankets
sfore the fire, while the man select
| as his executioner sat before the '
.e smoking an old clay pipe. /
An hour of horrible suspense to I
-orris passed. Once or twice he al !
ost determined to sally out and be-
n the attack, but he restrained him. b