Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-18

near, anu SuuuGu luouSEl came TO
him that caused HIM to come to an
abrupt halt. Perhaps the inmates of
the shanty were catllelnen. and if such
should prove to be the case 1t would hs
decidedly dangerous to make his pres
ence known--for 1t was likely that they
had heard of the incident of he morning
and might readily identify him as the
youth of whom Ropes and his men were
in search.
Still the men in the cabin might sim
ply be settlers. and to satisfy himself on
this point Dan stole cautiously up to
the hut and peercd in. To his surprise
he saw fully "a dozen rough looking men
inside. They were seated about table
in the center of the room upon which
were several black bottles. and were dis
cussing some matter of great import.
That they We're not Cattlenen was evil
dent by their dress, and Dan would have
had no hesitation in pronouncing them
to be settlers who had met on some mu-
tual business had not their words con
WINGED him to the contrary.
For several moments Dan stood there
listening to the conversation going on
within. from which he learned most
startling fact. The men We're nothing less
than IA band of the most desperate out
laws. and were at that moment plotting
to commit one Of the most daring rob-
berries ever committed in the state
No sooner had Dan learned the char
acter Of the men than he turned about
for the purpose of leaving the place AS
quickly as possible, but at that very in
stant one of the men inside said:
60 out an keep guard. LiEe-ye ortei
not leave yer post, fer some one might be
sneakin around"
The next instant the door opened and
man, carrying a heavy rife III his hand.
emerged from the building. Dan had
barely time to sink down fl ~ sight in
patch Of bushes That grew close 10 the
wall when the guard passed within
yard of him and took up his station not
ten feet away.
Dan knew it would be hazardous in the
extreme to attempt to leave his place Of
conceallnent, since the slightest noise
might botray his presence to the armed
guard. There was no.ning left for him
to do now but to remain perfectly quiet
trusting that some chance Of escape
would soon present itsalf
From the cOnver.atDn going on in the
cabin Dan mad learned that an attempt
would be made to roo the army pay
master. who was to pass that way along
the Old Military road on his way to Forrs
Gibson, Sill and ArDucklc, in tho In
dian Territory, The plan was a most
daring one. for it was customary for the
paynaster to be accompanied by
heavy guard OF the military and am ;t-
tempt to rob him would doubtless re
suit i'll a desperate battle,
When Dan reflected on the daring
robbery which the inmates Of the cabin
were planning it WAS easy for him to
guess their desperate character.
From the conversation going on in the
building Dan made the discovery that
the paymaster was To pass along the Old
Military road on the evening of the next
day, and that the man inside were to be
re-enforced by fifteen others OF their
gang and the attack was to be made ut
the DryWood ford.
The regular route of the pavmaster
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po'''a,io - 9'''',V '"v"'y ~, '''''l'' "o!-
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garrlsoned at the three last named forts
on hls route.
In : hon
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