Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-10-23

y
men said as they came up, pointing
carelessly to the herd with his whip.
Il have charge of them," I replied.
''They belong to my brother
"Who is your brother?" the man
asked.
James Harton."
'Ah. So those are Harton's cattle,
eh?"
''Yes, sir" said 1.
Lets see; Harton's ranch is up to
the north, isn't it?"
'Yes, sir
''Is Harton there?'
Ireplied that he was not.
evil he be home this EVENING"" the
man questioned.
Eyes, sir" said.
"At what time?"
disliked the idea of being too free
with information, SO hesitated little
in answering this last question. The
man noticed my hesitarcy, and con-
tinued
"We're buying cattle and would like
to see Mr.. Harton in regard to his"
"He went to town this morning"
said, ''and may not get back until late.
1t will be dark at least before he re-
turns"
The two men exchanged a quick
glance, smiled and nodded their heads,
and then the one who had addressed
me remarked to the other;
'FWhat do you think, Jake? Is it all
right, you reckon?"
81 guess" replied the other, 1--WE
won't strike better chance soon."
"We can get the cattle all right
enough" said the first, ''but what
about the boy? 1t won't do to let him
go, for he'd report us at the ranches
and have a pack Of cowboys on our
trail in less than an hour"
"That's a fact" Jake admitted.
''Then what's to be done about him?"
the other asked.
Jake shook his head at first bat di-
rectly came nearer to his companion,
and, sinking his voice almost to whis-
per, said:
"KilI him"
"I'd hate to do that. jake" replied
the other.
eyes, but it's safest, Bill"
Then the two men talked together in
low tones, and though l could not un-
derstand all they said, | knew they
were discussing the advisability Of
making way with me SO they might
steal the cattle without the danger of
being detected You may rest assured
my thoughts were far from pleasant
while stood there, waiting in dread
full suspense for those men to settle my
fate. / realized thatmy life was in the
balance with the chances against me.
I could not run away, for the men kept
their eyes on me and their hands on
their pistols and I knew they would
shoot me if I made any attempt to
move. So l waited and watched every
movement they made, trying to read
something of their thoughts in their
features.
Finally, after the lapse of five min.
utes, one of the men pointed to the old
we'll and said:
"How will that answer?"
"The very trick" replied the other.
HELL be safe there, and it's better
than killing him"
"Then leave the pony and come
with u.s." Jake commanded, turning to
me.
"Where?" l asked, teeth chatterin g
and my limbs trembling.
"Never mind where, but do as
say"
1 went quietly with them and few
steps brought us to the we'll One Of
the men took me by the arms without q
word, and giving me quick swing
lowered me into the hole before l was
fully aware of his intentions.
"Now we're all right" Jake re-
marked, 'for he'll never get out of there
alone and there's no danger of any
body finding him for twenty-four
hours"
That was the last saw of the cattle
thieves, for they left me Immediately,
and little later heard the cattle re-
treating across the prairie to the south.
/ waited short time, then began
making efforts to extricate myself
from the hole. but my efforts were
futile. The distance to the top was
short, but the wall was soft and sandy
and it crumbled away when / attempted
TO climb up.
"Well," thought /, at last giving
up, ''here ] am and here l shall die.