The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-11-26

some one,
Are those your cattle?n one of the
men said as they came up, pointing
carelessly to the herd with his whip
II have charge of them,'' Ireplied.
'.They belong to my brother"
Ahe-is4 Your bre.her9a the man
s9ked
james fIarton."
"Ah. So those are Harton's cattle.
ehoH
Yes. sir said !,
"Lets see; Harton's ranch is up to
the north, isn't it?"
Eyes. Sir"
SIS Harton Thereof
replied that he was nor.
"Will be be home this EVENING"" the
man questioned.
Yes, sir said. -------
AT what time?"
disliked the idea of being too free
with information, SO hesitated a little
in answering this last question. The
man noticed my hesitancy, and con-
tinued.
Were buying cattle and would like
to see Mr. Harton in regard to his.
ale went to town this morning." |
said. land may not get back until late.
1t will be dark at least before he re-
turns
The two men exchanged 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
righ5. you reckon2"
81 guess repli ed the other, I'VE
won't strike a better chance soon
1--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 n pack Of cowboys on our
trail in less than an hour"
That's fact" Jake admitted.
Then what's to be done about him?"
the other asked.
Jake shook his head at first, but di-
rectly came nearer to his companion,
and, sinking his voice almost to q whis-
per, said:
xiii him
I'D hate to do that. jake replied
the other. -
Yes, but it's safest, Bill"
Then the two men talked together in
low tones, and though l could not un-
derstand all they said, l knew they
were discussing the advisabilitv 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 that my life was in the
balance with the chances against me.
coult, 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 / made any attempt to
move. SO waited and watched every
movement they made. trying to read
something of their Nhoughts in their
features.
Finally, after the lapse of five min
utes, one of the men pointed to the old
well and said
How will that answer"
1.-The very trick, replied the other.
Hell be safe there, and it's better
than killing him.
'rhen leave the pony and come
with u.s. Jake commanded, turning to
me,
"Where?" / asked, teeth chatterin g
and my limbs trembling.
Never mind where, but do as !
say"
| went quietly with them and few
steps brought us to the we'll. One Of
the men took me by the arms without a
word, and giving me a quick swing
lowered me into the hole before | was
fully aware of his intentions
"Now we're al right" Jake re-
marked, for he'l never get out of there
alone and there's no danger of any
body finding him for twenty-fou
hours =
That was the last saw of the cattle
thieves, for they left me immediately,
and a little later heard the cattle re-
.reatng across the prairie to the south.
II. waited short time, then began
making efforts to extricate myself
from the hole. bus my efforts were
futile The distance Ia the top was
short, but the wall was soft and sandy
and it c, pmbled away when attempted
to climb up
"Well,a thought l., at .as. giving
up, '.here am and here ! skall die.
No one will .yer think afloo,sir.g for
me in this place. h
When the afternoon had passed. II
grew intensely dark, and the sky, ,yaa
overcast with clotds. Pretty soon
there was q low sumble, which /
i knew to be thunder Soon it was re-
peated, and for an hour it continued,
ever growing nearer AID stronger.
The lightning played overhead. Di-
rectly it began to rain; first in great
scattering drops, and then in sheets
and torrents, and for a long time it
! continued to pour down. l thought
should surely be drowned before the
rain ceased.
Think what that night must have
been to me, a helpless prisoner, away
off there on the plains, miles from any
human being. Imagine it's terrors as
You will and ron, cannot begin 10 con
ceive- what | suffered. But the worst
| Is not yet told.
| The soil in the bottom land being
loose and sandy, absorbed the water
rapidly, so that within an hour ~
! the rainfall The well began to I'LL. Az