The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-02

southern mountalneerS. Iney are game
to a man-and woman. They are the
coolest people in the face of danger one
ever saw
"Howdy, John" queried the woman
as she drew rein at the door, and as Mrs.
Hungerford appeared she added, "And
howdy, Mary
Both answered that they were well,
and John inquired:
"How are all you 'uns, SARAH"
"All able TO dig, thankee, John"
"Corn an taters turnin' out welly"
Reckon they be, what little we've
got, but barks and roots pays better.
Chilling any this fall, Nary"
Not bit, Sarah"
Haven't heard from them'uns,
reckony' queried Hungerford after a
long pause, during which the woman
tried to size me up.
"Mebbe. Who may he'un be!"
Stranger from the noth.7
"Sartin:'
I'm shore" ~''T---
"Will he back with ye-stand to your
back in case of trouble|
Haven't mentioned, but reckon"
"Well, then, they'uns is coming up to-
night to put on the hickory"
Hui Who said it?"
Heard it at the corners. It's shore.
Bassett is gwine to lead 'em. Are We pre-
pared, Jim?"
Reckon"
And Nary"
''She'un is prepared"
"Well, then, that's all I've got to say.
Hope you'll hurt they'uns till they'll be-
have themselves. Good-by, John-good-
by, Mary"
She was off with that. 1 had a dim
suspicion Of what was meant, but the
GOODNESS of the trio puzzled me. When
she was out of sight asked:
"Is it troubley'
Stranger" replied Hungerford, as he
pulled a twig off a bush and bit at it,
i've been warned away"
"How-why?'
TOOK sides with the Oldhams against
the Bassetts, and the Bassetts have
warned me TO leave"
"And as you have refused to go they
are coming to take you out and switch
your"
"Exactly-if they kim"
And are they coming tonight"
81 reckon"
"And you?"-
81 shell be ready"
We sat in silence for moment. 1
looked up at Mrs. Hungerford, but shs
was sewing away and trotting her foot
as placidly as if danger was at the other
end of the world. The children soon
began a game of tag. and the husband
softly whistled as he switched the twig
over the ground.
"Great heavens! but you take it cool
ly," exclaimed as | noted everything.
Stranger" answered Eungerford as
he turned to me, II need somebody to
back with me tonight. This amt your
fuss. You don't know the Oldhams
from the Bassetts. Deed you may have
stayed with an Oldham last night. You
don't want to mix in, and yet
81 don't want to kill or be killed, but
can't help you some other way?"
"You kin. He'un is all right. Mary,
knew he'un was"
"Glad ont" she briefly replied, not
even looking up from her knitting.
Hungerford took the whole matter as
soolly as if it was an ordinary business
transaction. There was only one way
by which his cabin could be approached.
It was arranged that | should secrete
myself in the cowshed on the one hand,
and his wife in the smoke house on the
other, and at the proper moment this
flank fire would have its effect.
Hungerfori was to hold the house, and
he was the only one who was TO shoot to
kill As he said it wasn't my fuss, but
it wasn't human nature TO leave him to
fight mob alone. When all had been
arranged we went into supper, and after
the meal double harreled shotgun was
got down and loaded for the wife. The
husband had his army musket, which he
loaded with buckshot, and / had my re-
volver as a weapon. AS we finished our
preparations and sat down on the door
step the wife csrelessly inquired of her
husband:
"Gwine to shoot to kill, Johny'
Reckon l orter," he replied.
"And mey'
That's according. Mebbe you'll have
to-"
And the stranger"
''Oh, he'll FIRE high
Pap, can't shoot" asked the eldest,
girl OF 10.
''Shet. Tilly!"
The children went off into a orrney
and rejoSed that there was going 10 b
a fout." but 6y and by grew sleepy
and went of TO bed Up TO 10 o'clock
we talked Of everything but the coming
event At that hour Hungerford said;
Reckon it's time. They'll be here
by u"
phe wife tied a shawl over her head,
picked up and examined the gun and
walked of to her station with never a
word went ever 70 the shed. took the
place picked out for me and Eve minutes
later all was darkness and silence. II
was just about IL that hesrd the low