Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-04-09

travel as well as the passage of the mail
coach would not only be difficult. but
would be hazardous undertaking,
which might lead them into serious
trouble and bring down the United States
troops upon them before their evil de-
signs were accomplished.
This was just what they wished to
avoid, and in order to carry out success
fully their plans for wreaking vengeance
on the little garrison the following plan
had been adopted:
Two squads of men would be stationed
at the road-one to the north and one
south of the house. Whenever traveller
approached he was to be met by the men
stationed at the road, who were to inform
him that the smallpox had broken out in
the settlement and that the inn was
being used as a pesthouse. No one
would suspect but that the cattlemen
We're simply a quarantine guard, and II
would not be IA difficult matter to induce
all travellers to give the inn wide berth.
This glaring plan had been put into
execution and had been a complete suc
cess. But not knowing what means
We're being employed to keep travellers
from passing along the road. the settlers
at the Travellers Rest were greatly puz
zled at what they had witnessed.
IF We could only git word ter the set
! tiers ter the north nv us" said Ike
Baker. wed soon teach these murder
Gus rascals a lesson they'd not soon fer
git"
But don't know how the things tel
be did" replied Riggsby i'll "a troubled
tone. ut would be rs much as Il mans
life wor worth ter attempt ter git ont
NV hyar with them devils watchin fe1
| u.s..
For several moments Ike Baker was
absorbed in deep thought. Suddenly 1T
lifted his head and spo6e in quick. de
| terInined tone.
"Simon Riggsby," he said, Il ain't
goin ter stly housed up hyar like a rat
an wait fer them ilnps NV perdition tel
starve us out I'm goin ter the settle
ment in the north an bring some help"
Riggsby looked at the speaker in as
| toniShneut.
what! do ye mean ter say yer goin
ter try ter meek yer way through the
cattlemen's lines aloney' he asked
I'm goin iiSt as soon az il gifts dark
was the reply. III meek my escape
III meek my way home, git my boss an
ride ter the settlement"
Hits dangerous undertakin," de-
clared Riggsby, Ian amt III favor of
ye maxim sich a trip, but if ye go yen
find some of my hosses picketed ON the
grass about half mile west of hyar
whar we cut the grass fer hay"
Then I'll get one of 'em an ride home
after my saddle an go from thar ter the
settlement"
As soon as it was known among the
men that Ike Baker was going to make
the daring attempt to pass through the
cattlemen's lines there were many Others
who offered to take his place or accom-.
pany him, but he insisted on going-and
alone
"Tain't no use ter git more an one nv
us in the danger at time, an if | don't
git through some nv the rest NV ye car
try it," he said with laugh.
That any attempt to leave the house
would be attended by the greatest danger
all were fully aware, for the enemy
would be keeping the closest watch upor
the place, evidently anticipating some
move of that kind.
But in spite of the danger that he
knew would attend his undertaking Ike
was resolved to carry his plan into
effect, let the result be what it might.
AS soon as dusk began to settle over
the prairie it was observed that the be-
siegers commenced to scatter out and
draw nearer to the building, with the
evident purpose of preventing any one
from leaving the place.
This move served to impress the be-
sieged with full knowledge of the dan
ger that would accompany Ike's attempt
to escape from the building.
AS soon as night had settled Ike Baker
stole cautiously from the house, and
throwing himself upon his hands and
knees began to crawl slowly through
the long grass. He knew that the enemy
would be on the alert. and it would re-
quire the greatest caution and watchful-
ness on his part to enable him to pass
the lines unobserved.
In one hand he held cooked pistol.
ready for instant use. Now and then he
would pause and listen, then crawl for
ward, keeping low in the grass.
Inside the inn the settlers waited with
breathless and painful anxiety the re-
suit of lkes daring undertaking. Would
he succeed in making his way through
the lines of the enemy?
All was deathly stiffness in the inn.
and not whispered word was spoken.
while from the outside not a sound came
to the expectant listeners save the low
murmur of the night wind as it stole
through the long grass.