The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-11-10

enough. | was glad of an opportunity
to converse with some one.
Are those your cattle?" n of the
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 brother2" the man
asked.
James Horton"
'"Ah. 50 those are Horizons cat
tie chg"
Yes, sir" said L.
Lets see; Horizons ranch is up to
the north, isn't it,"
Yes, sir"
lis Horton there?"
I replied that he was not.
"Win he be home this EVENING"" the
mar questioned.
Yes, sir" l said.
AT what timer"
1 disliked the idea of being too free
with information, so l hesitated a little
in answering this last question. The
man noticed my hesitancy, and con
tinued:
"We're buying cattle and would like
to see Mr.. Horton in regard to his"
Went to town this morning" l
said, land may not get back until
late. It will be dark at least before
he returns"
The two men exchanged a quick
glance, smiled and nodded their heads,
and then the one who had addressed
me remarked to the other:
"What do you think, Jake! Is it
all right, you reckon?"
q guess" replied the other, eve
won't strike a better chance soon"
I'VE can get the cattle all right
enough" said the first, but what
about the boy2 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, but
directly came nearer to his compan-
ion, and, sinking his voice almost to a
whisper, said:
Kill him."
I'D hate to do that, Jake" replied
the other.
YES, but it's safest. Bill"
Then the two men talked together i'll
low tones, and though l could not
understand all they said, | knew they
were discussing the ACCESSIBILITY Of
making way with me SO they might
the cattle without the danger of
being detected. You may rest assured
my thoughts were far from pleasant
while 1 stood there, waiting in dread
full suspense for those men to settle my
fate. l realized that my life vas in
the balance with the chances against
me. | could not u away, for the
men kept their eyes on me and their
hands on their pistols, and l knew
they would shoot me if l made any
attempt to move. So I waited and
watched every movement they made,
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 answer2"
"The very trick, replied the other.
"He1l 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?" I asked, teeth chattering
and my limbs trembling.
Never mind where, but do as
1 say"
1 went quietly with them and a few
steps brought us to the well. One of
the men took me by the arms without
word, and giving me a quick swing
me into the hole before [ 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
anybody finding him for twenty four
That was the last l saw of the cattle
thieves, for they left me Immediately,
and a little later l heard the cattle
r~etreating across the prairie to the
south.
l waited a short time, then began
making efforts to extricate myself
from the hole, but my efforts were