Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-09-27

IL
&A.MSS
Supposing that Nc ,oas doad, LIN Moor
laid him dorm.
Ny siI companions. who had been
feeling q bit nervous, overheard the
girl. Min Mcneil. A soon - abe had
gasped out her warning. the men stood
10 hor-e. expecting 10 hear the order %
mount Hugh Mcneil was evidently
the leader Of the men now In or coming
" his cabin. and u was 10 me very Ger.
tain that 20 attempt 20 avoid trouble by
. flight through the wooded hills In the
night, leaving these guerrillAs free In
the rear. would be TO give them the al.
vantage. Mcneil knew every trail. and
be and his men could travel faster on
foot than we could on horseback. Once
In our front thess fellows would bush
whack u. nor give " any chance 10
rr-ist.
Min having put M on our guard wa
about 10 dee hack to the cabin. when ]
restrained her long enough 10 whisper;
Don't blame mo u carry Oh your
father tonight"
Tote him es fur es you uns please.
and ef you uns tote him 80 fur he can't
never como hack 10 that cabin up thar.
hii won't make me cry no icAhs.-
There WAS . sob In the girls voice -
she pressed my hand and DISAPPEARED In
the darkness II did not take me half
minute 20 outline my plans 10 the men
aud 20 impress them with the imypr-
tance of taking the papers from my
breast pocket In the event % my being
killed or even severely wounded. and
getting them through TO Mitchell. siil
OF Segley.
Hitching the horses hack frvm the
stream and leaving two men 90 guarl
them. with orders 10 permit no one 10
approach till we returned. took the re-
naming four men and wen, quietly up
the slope 10 the cabin. Loud laughter
AMI the boisierous voices Of many men
talking at once convinced me while We
wer. yet hfty yards away that Hugh
Mcneil had received e-enforccments.
AT this distance va halted. and I sent
one of my men 20 thu cabin to tell Hugh
Mcneil that wanted TO go him for q
few minutes
Against the shaft of light from the
cabin door We could ses our comrade
and the burly form of Mcneil approach.
Ing. The mountain-er expected 10 hnd
me down at the creek. but ! well knew
that TO surprise such man was TO make
him physically powerlcss and mentally
incompetent for the time.
Hugh Mcneil. you are my prisoner!
n you utter q whisper OF move an inch
without my order you are dead mAn!''
The four cooked carbines pressed
against his body convinced him that he
mus, obey. As ltcok OF his hat and
tiei his hands behind him with picket
roIs brought up for the purIp~e. could
hear the quick. heavy breathing. and
the gritting of the teeth that told the
Effort with which the fellow was re
straining himself. II required another
threat. after he had been bound. 10
make him lie down. but he quickly r--
alfred that we were In . hurry and
meant business. One OF the men was
detailed 20 watch Mcneil, which left
only -four. including myself. 10 deal
with the gang In the cabin. but the al.
vantage was on our side.
AudAciiy and judicious surprise are
the strongest allies of the trooper. There
were eight men smoking inside the cab
In. all iank. desperate looking fellows,
with powder horns and pullet pouches
slung from their shoulders or waist
belts. and their heavy hunting nnes
within reach.
"shoot the hnt mAn who lifts .
hAndr
The men In the cabin heard this, and
they turned To the door 10 see three
troopers covering them with their car.
bines.
what in hi does you uns mean!
asked tho man Peet, whom have msn.
toned before.
lit means that you fellows are pris
oners! Don't move!"
The mountaineers were thoroughly
frightened. and the brav-st offered nc
resistance while their rifles were being
carried out and they were being divest-
sd Of their ammunition. belts. pistols
and knives
In the darkest corner Of the cabin ]
coul. see Min Mcneil. her Tine ey~s
sglow and her breast hcaving with eI'
element ! called 10 her 10 leave the
place aud abe instantly ob-yed. Then
told the mountaineers that ] would sta.
ton my men about the cabin, and that
the first one Of them that attempted 70
leave till I had talk with them again
In the morning must take the conse'
QuenceS
My men were moved hack. and W.
made . bonfire Of the woodpile which
we found about 6fty feet In front Of the
cabin door. Into this fire was built the
arms, ammunition and belts We had
taken from the mountaineers, the object
being to destroy the stun. which was Of
no uss to M. and ct the same time Il
keep up the impression Of our presence
on the prisonen till daylight
Al we were hurrying back TO wher,
we left Hugh Mcneil the girl stopped
me. ard drawing me aside asked, I'll
you uns gwine TO kill dady
"No,"l replied. "but Wen carry hin
with us. may rslsass him after th'
danger u over"
"Dont kill him, To- even though
hain't got no heart TO- him. he's m,
dad" she ssid. with . sob
assured her that ] had no such pur
pose. bat st the same time tried TO Inn
pres her with the tact that . human
life. particularly that Of IN enemy. ws
Of no account compared with the sue
cess Of our entsrprise.
"If 20 BE-" shs continued. "you nm
could kinder tote him Oh till the wahi
ovah. and Lin Moore kin come back :,
keer TO- mo and Hen, q he'll b might!
glad TO do. hit'd b kindnsss 70 We uns
ken make out Ill alone By myssr d
he's ksp' a-kinder premsr. with u
chance 10 drinh whisky."
IAN rieht, Mn" rsplied, and