St. Landry democrat., 1893-02-25

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seemed stunned for minute, then, sud
denly collecting himself, he whirled
round, ran his hand in a drawer, and
whipped out revolver, but before he
got good grip on 1t, knocked it out
of his hand, straddled it on the floor, and
covering him with my own said: Come,
come Mister Fire-E Eater, none of that
That isn't what we want you to get out
of that drawer A little cash would make
it easier for both of u.s.
| Like all bullies, the fellow was a
bluff and coward. He saw we had
him and he cooled down, stand
ing sullenly by while Scott fin
ished the paper, and then ran
sacked the miscellaneous stock on the
counters and found some tacks and a
hammer, with which he fastened the
notice on the outside of the door, Then,
| rejoining me, Scott kicked the fallen
pistol under one of the counters; and
getting behind Gringo, requested him to
precede Us out of the store. This done,
he locked the door, put the key in his
pocket, and we then bade our host q
pleasant good evening. and then walked
over to the racks to get our horses.
"I don't think it would be a bad
thing for our health to get out of here as
soon as we can, Scott said. The boys
are mighty late getting in. They may
be in a skirmish somewhere.'
"We watered our horses, mounted and
rode down the main street. AS we
passed little shanty close to the road
Scott sniffled and said: That smells
like fried ham and eggs, don't it, Let's
stop and have snack
"We alighted, hitched our horses be.
hind the house in an angle made by a
shed room which served as the kitchen,
and, going inside, seated ourselves at
one of the two oil-cloth covered tables,
and gave our order to an old man, who
filled the joint and respective positions
of proprietor, cook and waiter.
"While we wer~ eating we were inter-
rupted by the entrance of girl, whom
| recognized as the customer in at Grin
go's when we first called on him. She
had an old shawl over her head, between
the close-held edges Of which her small,
intelligent, frightened face peered out
strikingly. She could not have been
more than IA years old, yet her face had
all of the shrewdness and strength of
woman's. Darting past us she made a
hasty survey of the kitchen, and turning,
asked: 'Whar's Tobe?'
Gone to the we'll, I said, thinking
she meant our host, and, half rising and
smiling, in spite of myself, Iadded after
the manner of the country town store
keeper, Can I do anything for you,
miss?'
"She came close to the table, and,
leaning on the back of SCOTS chair, she
said nervously:
"'You'ns better clar out. quick, Dad
an the boys is On your trail. He come
home to supper and raised cain Me an
maw's hide IL git it fur you'ns doin's.'
"We understood in flash that she was
warning us against Gringo.
"'Who are you, childT Scott asked
turning and taking her hand, why do
you come to save us2'
{" I amt kearin' SO much about savin'
you'ns as gettin' him TUX up she an
swered seriously. Still, l didn't want !
him to git the drap on yer--,hat amt |
fair
"She watched the door furtivelv, and |
gathered up the ends of the shawl as
hough for flight as she went on: Hes |
ny step-paw, an mcaner cuss never
iyed. Me and maw'd lef' him long
lgo, but he would kill us if he ever
up with us. The only way to do is
o git him tux up for some Nv his devil
ry, and put in the penitenshurv, whar
le can't git at us. But, honest, YOU fcl-
ers better vamoosc. You amt got no
lme to fool He's gone arter the C0wlcs
'oys, and | heard him tell Dick Sims an
hem to jine EN-, back thar, back er the
allyboose.' She pointed to the rear of
he house. Some of 'em is goin to lay
UT yer in front, and some Nv 'em is goin'
, lay fur yer benin, an yer can't git out
town no ways. You better git a move
n yer. honcstr
''She started to the door, then shrank
ack. 'Ihar's the Cowlcs boys, now.
ae 3 IS s,ss;4asclaimed. ;asc Dad amt fur off. IF
by this time Scott ana A,,,,--.
eet, and the proprietor came in with his ,
ucket OF water. His manner lei us to
hope-that there was moth
lg unusual going on in the street. Set
ng the bucket on the shelf, he wiped
IS hands on the tail of his coat. and TAX
lg plug of tobacco out of his pants !
ocket, bit off chew as he remarked, |
Usually: I reckon you fellers is been q
DIN somethin', an thar is goin' to be f
one tighten. | seen Gringo Perez and
lie CoWles boys an Dick Sims an er lot +
EN-, an they seemed to be surround ,
/ the house: Fur as | kin see, you'ns &
MT got no show. You mought jcs' as r
ell thro' up yer hans an s'rcnder.' c
Veil, as fur us | could see, this was +
le statement of an unhattering fact. f
DON'T bolt, Rice Scott said quietly. his f
ords accompanied by the rapidly re-
Diving six clicks of his pistol, the bows G
Ill be In any minute all right.' fl
" Let's get to our horses, said, and +,
AXE dash for the thickct.' 81
" Stay where you are.' he answered. b
i'd his voice had the ring of the born o
h
What are you going to do? asked, e
tiled "
4" Whip the wholc town. he replied.
ginning to barricade the back door j
tn barrels of sugar and flour. o.
"MeanwhiIe the child stood there, the p
awl dropped back from her head and al
oulders, her little white face study sc
disinterested curiosity and approba- az
N. Her heavy-lidded black eyes &c
owed with excitement, and her thin m
'hed nostrlls contracted and distcndcd to
e restive pony's.
- 1 reckon you'ns is gwine to kctch IN
NJ she said compIaccntly Just here a.
attention was diverted to Tobe whose 10
name of Hartsfeld we had not vet an
rned Goinr to y r,oL o,or ~ aSo. Dl