Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-10-29
CHAPTER XVI.

stairs
She was pale as a ghost, but outward
ly calm
~One Of the men on guard recognized
Mr.. Baker, she reported, as she reached
the door, ~but he met the crisis in the
right way, knocking the fellow down
and choking him into silence and sub
mission
@Where is he now?" asked Perry.
~Mr. Baker has shouldered him and
carried him to the stable. Don't be
anxious. We shall be back in a few
minutes.
And with this she again vanished
The event proved that Mrs. COtter's
performance was as good as her prom
Use, the carriage, with Baker on the box,
soon appearing at the front door.
~Of course Gaddler goes with us, re-
marked Perry. at will be quite a
feather in our caps TO lodge him in
prison"
We need not pause upon the transfer
to the carriage, which was accomplished
with due secrecy and dispatch, but not
without some attention from Gaddler's
hirelings, who were readily silenced and
dismissed by Mrs. Cotter, the darkness
OF the night being too intense for them
to form any clear idea of what was
Transporting.
Perry took his place beside Baker, the
ladies having possession of the body Of
the vehicle.
AS to Gaddler, he had been strapped
upon the baggage-rack at the rear Of
the carriage with as little ceremony as
If he had been case OF boots.
The start was taken quietly enough,
so as to avoid arousing the suspicion OF
such Of the followers of Gaddler as were
conscious of il, but at the end Of a few
minutes, when the carriage had reached
the level of the plains. Baker ventured
upon an easy Jog wherever the con-
iguratiOn of the country permitted
~Of course we are going straight to
the Mines" was all Perry deemed it
necessary TO say to the ladies. @If we
don't give the Skidders wholesome sur
prise In the course OF the morning,
Yill be greatly mistaken"
Once relieved OF all fear of pursuit,
Baker drew up with due caution, hand
ing the reins to Perry and leaping
lightly to the ground.
"Of course you are not entitled to a
bed of roses, Mr.. Gaddler, he remarked,
as he stepped up to the prisoner and
proceeded to remove the gag from his
mouth. ~But We have no wish to be I'M
necessarily severe-to the contrary. If
you will be reasonable, therefore, we II
allow you the use of your tongue"
Course you'll 1 only wish I had you
where you have mel" returned the pris-
oner. "To think OF your turning up so
unexpectedly at my secret retreat, when
I supposed you to abe dead! And that
Mrs. Cotter-"
Baker interrupted this TRADE by an
emphatic gesture.
another word, " he said, sternly, @and
I will close your mouth again, and leave
it closed until we reach the minesi"
The prisoner comprehended, relapsing
into sullen silence.
What ride was that which succeed
ed, with its frequent routes and snail's
pace, and with the dull, drear canopy of
an almost starless night over the travel
ers!
With the great plains, too, as varle-
gated with wood, rock and water, thus
spreading out in such immensities
around them
There was no sign of a dwelling, OF
even of the presence of a human being
other than their own party, in all that
solitude.
No fence, no regular road, nothing to
indicate any other occupancy than that
of the thousands of cattle which traverse
these plains occasionally, feeding as
they go.
It was new experience for all. that
memorable ride, even for Baker and
Mrs COtter.
Bound to a rack, as it were, jostled
and pitched, it was such a ride for Sam
Gaddler as he had never imagined
painful humiliating, and seemingly
eternal.
Baker did all he could with his limited
knowledge OF the country, as thus tram
meled by the darkness, to keep the car
riage in the right direction, but frequent
changes and notifications of their course
were necessary, and it was only because
the parties possessed good compasses
that they did not miss their way al
together.
At last. with the first CLEANS of the
new day, the travellers halted at a brook
to water Gheir horses and take their
bearings anew, as well as to make a
hnrried breakfast.
when an ominous galloping began TO re-
sound in the tops of the fringe of trees
beside them.
As they listened, this galloDing grew
louder, indicating the approach of the
unseen riders
Then arose a yell that was only too
suggestive
@Our flight has been discovered, it
seems, exclaimed Perry. The enemy
is comingi"
The announcement was like a new
lease OF life TO Sam Gaddler, who ut
tered an awful yell, with view to tell
ing his followers where he was and re-
vealing his situation.
This way, ALL" he shouted, with the
fury Of a demon. ~Save mel"
Perry's hand flew to his revolver, and
his eyes blaZed with fury, as he realized
what his prisoner was doing, but he did
not shoot him, as had been his first i'm
pulse. Instead, he gave him blow on
the head that left him temporarily sense
less
aAnd now to get out of thisl" he ex-
claimed, springing to his former seat on
the box. %Let then go, Charley, for
what they are worth It's do, or die"
In another moment the carriage had
pulled up the bank, gaining the level of
the prairie, and thus emerging into full
view of the pursuers, who greeted il
with yells of the widest rejoicing.
There are about a dozen of them, "
muttered Baker, plying his whip. "A
their head is that chap who recognized
me as l descended the stairs with Mrs
Cotter."
They're well mounted, of course, re-
turned Perry, regarding the approach
ing hOrsemen with critical eye. @But
they'll not find US so easy prey as they
imagine"
No one could hope, Of course, that the
carriage could distance the fleet-footed
horses of the pursuers, but the prairie
presented a weli-defined descent as far
as the eye could reach, and Perry knew
that the chase would not end with the
first mile or the second. He felt, too.
that he could sell his life dearly with
the aid of the three rifles which lay in
the carriage behind him.
@Pass them up here. please, he said,
with a gesture to Mrs Cotter, while
Baker gave all his attention to getting
the carriage under full Roadway, @and
have no fear. The form of Gaddler IS
between us and his people, and they'll