Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-04-30


the broad prairie lying between Drywood
and the Marmaton until dark. A sharp
watch would doubtless be kept by the
enemy, and he saw no course left but to
conceal himself i'll the bushes and wait
patiently for nightfall Having selected
a dense thicket of dogwood bushes. he
crept into it. and throwing himself among
the rank weeds that entirely covered the
ground. he prepared to wait patiently
for the coming of night. He examined
the pistol he had captured from his ad-
versary at the cabin and found that it
was of large caliber and contained six
| loads
The sight of the weapon brought forci-
| bly, to his mind the startling events that
| had taken place at the cabin in the woods.
and now for the first time he found time
to reflect on the strange things he had
overheard there 1t was all plain to his
mind now that the persons to be defraud-
ed by the two strange men who had stop
ped at the inn were none other than him
self and mother. The conversation he had
| heard at the inn and that between the
short man and the woman at the cabin
had fully convinced him of the fact.
What was he to do in the matter? How
was he to prevent the successful carry.
in-s out of the skilfully Land plan of the
! conSplrators? He felt sure that the
scheuing two whom ne had left at the
Cabin would proceed to Fort Scott as
soon us possible. ana would lose no time
| in putting their evil designs into effect
The thought of returning home to
| consult with his parents about the mat
| ter presented Itself, but after consider
ing the condition OF affairs there and
| the danger that his presence might
| bring to himself aS we'll as his parents,
he decided To adopt some other plan OF
action
ii know what I'll do" he muttered al
last; "l'll 60 directly to Fort Scott and
Inform the authorities Of what have
| heard and see what can be done in the
| matter.
Dams knowledge of the law was very
| limited, bnt he was familiar with the
plan adop.ed by those with whom he
| had 10 deal. and he felt confident of his
ability to defeat their designs, could lie
only reach Fort Scott before it was too
late.
But the worst part of the whole
| business" continued Dan, lis the fact
that they now know that their plot is
| discovered and they will not fail TO push
( the business through with the greatest
| dispatch possible. But it may be that
they will remain here with the intention
| of recapturing me-which would doubt
less he the best plan they could adopt,
| for by keeping IA close watch upon the
| prairie along both sides of the stream
they might be successful in their under
taking
The more Dan studied over the mat
! ter the greater was his anxiety as to
what would be the outcome of it all
ANY attempt To leave his hiding place
might result In again placing him in the
power of the outlaws, and his heart al
most sank within him as he reflected
upon his trying situation.
But there was nothing to be done now
but wait for night and then trust to the
chance of escaping the enemy under
cover OF darkness.
A half hour passed and then Dan heard
the sound of hurried footsteps advanc-
ing from up the stream Clutching the
revolver in his hand, he crouched low in
the weeds, his heart beating in wild
hlmult. Some one was approaching
and that it was some one of the enemy
Dan felt convinced
Presently the steps drew nearer and
the sound of voices could be heard.
Lifting his head cautiously and peering
through an opening in the thicket, Dan
saw three rough looking men approach
ing, and the first glance told him that
they We're some of the same men he had
seen in the robbers cabin the night be-
fore
Each man carried pistol in his hand,
and they were glancing eagerly about
them as they stole cautiously through
the brush
They stopped as they drew near the
thicket where the youth lay concealed.
He orter be about hyar somewhar,"
observed the foremost. Il can't see how
he's goin to escape u.s.
He can't" replied one of the others
THE men air watchin fer him on the
prairy on both sides of the crick, an if
he leaves the timber he'll be picked up
"Thar's no doubt but what Wen git
him if we haf ter search every bush on
the creek-it won't do ter let him slip
now, fer he'd spile our whole game"
Curse that drunken woman! We
orter knowed better than ter leave her
thar alone
That's the truth. but it can't be helped
now Jim, you go in this thicket an take
look fer the game an me an Hal will
iist kinder surround the place an see that
! he don't dodge US if he's in thar"