The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-25

| rifle was, believing MIN 20 be Williams.
The same voice, same hair and bristles-it
was he or his brother!
"'What's the natter Lost yer power
o. answering a civil question: continued
the man, appearing somewhat put out at
our Observation-Disclosures having the
same feeling.
I-I-thought you were some one
some one elseP / replied, finding my voice
at last.
"'Ha! ha! How can be some one else
and still be Dan Greeng' laughed the man
the same ugh! ughP which Williams
had uttered. But you ar from Detroit,
s'pose, an l calkerlate that you mean you
want to stay all night
II replied that we so desired, and he
went to door and called to Jane to get
supper ready for two. He then threw an
other log on the fire, took drink Of whisky
and went out, saying that the woman
would call US when the meal was pre-
pared.
That's the same man who met US at
noonP whispered CGmstock, his hand
! shaking as he laid it on my arm.
~ thought so at first, but he is not
replied. This an has a scar across his
! forehead, while the other had none
when the man had drank from the
! cup he pushed mp his cap, and had caught
| sight of the scar. had also observed that
| he was shorter and stouter than Williams,
and felt certain that he had a separate iden-
| tity. However, had made up my mind
| that the pair were brothers. No two men
not of the same blood could look so near
/ alike and have voices so singularly brutal
| and unpleasant. l did not dare to tell
| Comstock of this opinion, as I saw that he
was already badly frightened. Anything
| further, feared, would completely upset
! him.
II was doing my best to reassurs my
| friend, when the woman called US to sup
per. The fare consisted of corn coffee,
| Johnny cake and salt pork, and the ap-
pearance Of the room was in keeping with
it. The woman was tall and stout, her
hair cut short, her eyes black and ugly,
and did not like her looks in the least.
She watched us covertly while we ate, and
did not so much as utter word.
During the meal | made up my mind
that we would settle for our supper, and
leave the house for night in the woods.
feeling that we should be as safe with the
wild beasts as with such evil looking peo-
pie But as we walked TO the door / saw
to fall, and the fire felt so comfortable that
/ did not breach 10y plan TO Comstock
Perhaps we were too suspicious, and, being
unused to the way of the pioneers, had
wronged the people about u.s. | was pur.
suing this train of thought when the land
lord came in, repIenished the fire, and
chatted so civilly about the country, the
people, the chances, etc, that / quite for
got my former suspicious.
1T came to be o'clock almost before |
knew it One or two Indians had come
and gone, theatmosphere had grown colder,
the fire felt more and more comfortable,
and | was ready to doze as the landlord
went to see about our bed. He had just
stepped out when ComstOck gave cry of
alarm, his face blanched:
look there! Look at that face against
the Window
Il turned quickly about, but could see
no face-only the panes wet with the rain.
EITHER the landlord or the man who
met US in the woods was looking through
that Window said Comstock, as l turned
again to the fire.
Il was about TO ask for further informa-
ton when the landlord came back and an
nounced that we could turn in. He also
stock to sleep down stairs, while was to
go up stairs; but my friend at once pro-
tested 50 strongly against this that we were
both allowed to mount the rough ladder to
the loft over the barroom, where some
skins and quits had been spread.
eve shall both be murdered before
morning. whispered my friend, as soon as
the landlord had retired.
"He then informed me further in regard
to the face at the window, and was so sure
he had seen Williams that finally agreed
with him that there might be danger, and
told him of the relationship which l be-
lieved existed between the two men. We
were in for it in any case, and the most we
could do was TO prepare for what might
happen We looked TO orr pistols, saw
that they were in order, and then agreed to
take turns in watching, so that the villains
could not surprise US if they meant us
harm. Neither of us was to uudress but,
if not disturbed, we could manage to catch
a little sleep as we were. Purposely or 9TH
erwise. the landlord had given rs not more
than an inch of candle, and this burned out
while we were talking.
'The floor was a loose affair, ana the
light from the baTroom fire shone up
through a dozen cracks. The ladder led
from the kitchen, was placed about twenty
feet from our bed, and there was no door
above, nothing whatever to prevent any
one from making the ascent.
LAS was to take the first watch Com
stock removed his gold from his bosom,
laid II on the skins and then lay down. /
crawIeI carefully over the floor until l
found a crack large enough to allow me to
have quite a view Of the room below, and
then set myself TO watch and listen.
The landlord sat for while before the
fire An Indian came in, got some whisky
and went out and after another hour the
tavern keeper covered up the fire and went
into the other room.
Long before this, despite his alarm,
Comstock had fallen sOundly asleep. |
maintained my place for another hour
without hearing the least noise, and then
crawled over on the bed
Two bOurs more went by, and then, be-
lieving that we had been unreaSOnably
frightened. and that we should not be dis
turbed, | woke up my friend, told him
that everything was quiet, and consulted
him as to whether we should not both go
20 sleea. Fsconcluccd 20 watch for an hour
at least, e.nd got under the blanket and
left him sitting up, bis pistol in his hand.
We had few words Of conversation, con-
graduating ourselves that we would safely
pass the night, AID then l went 70 sleep. l
did not intend TO. I meant in my mind to
remain awake, feeling that be was the
weaker one, but was tired and worn and I
could not resist nature. The last | remem-
Der was of feeling the man crawling to- I
ward the head of the ladder from of the
bed.