The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-04-18

| ''' uIl'itI, toHilndHueu bIDWllbW, 4,
and one by one the men disappeared
under the arch through which the
limpcd waters had been flowing five
minutes before, Brownlow going last T..
Scarcely had the bandit chief disap-
peared than the waters resumed their
wOntcd course.
Ii was easy now to explain the ease
with which the outlaws had so effect
ually concealed themselves.
But by what strange means were the
waters of the cave switched from their
course long enough to permit the men
to crawl under the arch-way? And
where did that way lead to?
The conclusions | arrived at were
these:
The archway was simply passage
connecting the first chamber of the
cave to another in the rear.
In the inner chamber there was q
confederate of the band whose duty ii
was to answer the signals, and to apply
certain mechanism to the water which
would divert it from the archway and
then turn on the flow again, when the
robbers had passed in or out
If my conclusions were correct, /
could give the signals | heard Brown
low give, and follow them right in.
But 4 serious objection to this plan
mt once presented itself: Should all the
members OF the band be present, they
wonld know some one had discovered
the signal, and they would either pay
no attention to il, or let the man giving
it come in, and then kill him or hold
him n prisoner.
| Prudence dictated that | await until
circumstances should open the way for
my further explorations. Only | was
determined upon this-tO never let
Brownlow escape me rs long as Annie
Anderson was prisoner i'm his hands.
Fortunately, / had provisions enough
with me for n very fair supper, so eat
ing this, slipped silently ont of the
cave and hiding as closely To it as
could with safety, awaited to see what
next would turn up. Nothing disturb
ed me during the remainder Of the
night.
just before daylight climbed into n
red oak tree whose ample foliage afford
ed shelter and concealment, and q
perchi from which | could still watch
the cave. Thus passed the greater
part of the day without seeing any of
| the robbers.
Worn ont with my ceaseless vigils:
hungry and parched with thirst, was
on the point of descending the tree,
when | heard voices and soon saw the
rObber chief and his men coming ont of
their place of concealment.
| learned from their conversation
that they were going away on some i'm
portant expedition, from which they
expected to return in three days, if all
should 60 well.
One of the men, however, was to
remain behind and guard the cave: for
Brownlow could not dismiss the i'm
preston from his mind that the officers
of the law had tracked him to his lair
and suspected his hiding place.
He gave his objections t. the man he
left us sentinel in an uIdertone, but
caught this much: "Be sure you take
good keer of the gal and see she is kept
secure
watched Brownlow and his gang
until they were out of sight, and felt
had nothing more TO fear from them
for time ut least. In three days
would be prepared for them.
The fellow who had been left behind
after watching the retreating forms OF
his pals few minutes, came and sal
down at the foot of the tree i'm which
was concealed.
Here was dilemma!
How was | to get into the cave while
this brawny giant was lying there!
Certain | was that the least noise
made would disclose my hiding place
to him, and he would shoot me like 4
rat
However, must get rid of him, even
if | had to shoot him where he sat
but although did not doubt that he
deserved killing did not care to be his
eXecutiOner.
! concluded To resort to strategy.
was II proficient ventriloquist,. and
had often exercised my ventriloquial
powers to amrse friend or embarrass
an enemy.
thought | would try my skill on
my iiilllloDilc 'ttIDcluS III lHe Ioo
of the tree.
My plan was this: Get his attention
attracted from the tree to the ground
and while he was listening To som,
imaginary sufferer under the sod
spring upon him and bind him before
he could recover from his surprise
saw that he was nodding, and be
gan by uttering q loud whisper, whicl
seemed to him to come from behind th'
tree.
He jumped like he was shot, ant
bringing his gun TO Il 'ready," peereo
: cautiously around.
Then he heard another whisper a
his elbow, but behind him: ''Lool
, sharp"
My situation was too serious To admi
of laughing, though | could have roar
ed out with peal that would hav
shaken the woods. Even as it was
: enjoyed the show immensely. Tn
e fellow looked this way, then that
: swinging his gun madly about, rs mys
| terious whiSperings buzzed around hi
! ears.
a Then, 10 add still further 10 his en-
| tertainment, | caused Il deep groan
agonized and sepulchral, 10 heave n
+ from the ground ut his feet.
e 'sOh, God! oh God! He is murder
9 ing me-"
: This was too much for my audience
Il With wild yell of terror he droppe,
g his gun and dashed into the cave.
Il had not calculated on this, but
t suited me fully rs well rs anything else
:. Hastily descending from the tree fol
e lowed him. just rs | reached him h
i was giving the signal for entrance I'm
e der the archway.
!. Without Il word caught him by th
e shoulder and icrkcd him violently t.
e the ground Pressing my revolver 4
e his head said:
B., cone word and You are Il dca
man.
| He was too terrified to he capable q
: resistance, and | soon had him hom
o and gagged.
= One look ut the man : scared, sulle
v eyes, his doggcd countcnancc an
square jaws, convinced me that coul
| get no information by questioning him
= so made up my mind to leave hin
II there and attempt 10 explore the hidin
| place of Brownlow and his men III once
It Brownlow allusion to ''the gal" ha
o fired my imagination and whetted m
4 eagerness 10 begin Immediately III
p search.
: Dragging my prisoner Ia the farthes
corner of the chamber and turning hi