Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-04-02

NG
81 reckon ,ce'u soon sho,o ye acho tce dtrl"
Dan Riggsby's heart sank within him
as he went down among the tangled vines
and heard the footsteps and eXclamations
of the outlaws as they rushed upon him.
He staggered to his feet just as the
strong hand of one of his pursuers was
laid upon his shoulder and gruff voice
said in his ear:
Don't ye tempt to git away, er yen
| git blowed to worm feed!'
Dan realized at once that he was
in a most desperate situation, and he
saw the necessity of bringing all his wits
into service.
who are you, and what do you mean
by treating me in this manner? he de-
manded. turning to confront his cap
tors.
81 reckon we'll soon show ye who we
air!" retorted the first speaker, pulling
the youth back toward the cabin. "Jist
come inside an Well see what ye look
/ like"
Without Offering the slightest resist
ance Dan suffered himself to be led back
to the cabin. He was conducted to the
inside of the building, followed by the
outlaws who held their pistols in their
hands ready for instant use
Dan knew that he was suspected of
being a spy, and should he be unable to
convince his captors of their mistake
they would show him no mercy. These
thoughts caused him to feel the greatest
alarm, and he set his wits busily to
work to answer the questions that he
knew they would ask him.
Now, my young feller," said one Of
the outlaws, who appeared to be the
leader, Il want ye ter explain what ye
air prowlin around hyar at this time O
night fer?'
Dan had been thinking rapidly, and he
/ had now decided ON the course he would
pursue. His plan was to first endeavor
to impress the outlaws that he believed
| them to be settlers who had come to-
gether to discuss the trouble that the
cattlemen were then making in that part
of the country. If he could succeed in
doing this he felt that strong point in
| his favor would be gained.
II haven't been prowling around" he
answered with all the GOODNESS he could
command. Il was sent ON an errand by
my father-on business which ought to
interest you as well as all the settlers in
this section"
WHO is yer father, an what is yer er-
rent?" asked the outlaw.
My father is Simon Riggsby: he keeps
the inn on the road several miles south Of
here, and he sent me to warn the settlers
that there was going to be serious trouble
with the cattlemen and for them to come
to his house as soon as possible to see
what could be done"
! The outlaws exchanged significant
/ glances, while the leader looked search
ingly at the youth.
"How does it come, then. that ye air
afoot SO fer from homer asked the leader,
eying Dan keenly.
II lost my horse in fight with one Of
the cowboys who tried to whip me with
his cattle whip" truthfully replied Dan.
"How did it happen, then, that ye
didn't go back an git another hoss before
goin on?"
In few brief words Dan related his
encounter with Bud Ropes; of the at
tempt of the latter to shoot him and of
the accidental shooting of his adversary.
Then he explained how the combat had
been witnessed by the youths father and
some other cattlemen, who had chased
him into the timber, bent on vengeance,
and how he had escaped them and start
ed to the Marnaton settlement and fin
! ally arrived at the cabin in the woods.
where he had been attracted by a light
and approached. to be captured by the
inmates.
81 thought you were cattlemen at
first" said Dan, in conclusion, land |
would have got away if | could, but now
that have discovered my mistake ask
you to let me go, for hope you are con-
vinced that | am not cowboy spying
around settlers cabins to see what | can
find out"
1t was evident that Dams story had
made favorable impression upon the
outlaws. He had explained the cause of
his presence there on foot. and of his at
tempt to escape from them when they
came out of the cabin, which had so
aroused their suspicious; he had led them
to believe that he took them for cattle
men.
His story, which was in fact the truth,
seemed to convince his auditors that he
was what he represented himself to be,
yet they were not going to act with un-
due haste.
Motioning several of the outlaws to
follow him. the leader went out of the
cabin. where consultation was held.
IL reckon he's jist what he sez he is,
said the outlaw leader, IAN / can't see