The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
CHAPTER XII.

IQe approaching uolsemeu Cdmo ou
so rapidly that they encountered the
Colonel as soon as he had crossed the
little bridge leading to his dwelling.
At their head rode Sam Gadder, the
suitor of Daisy Skidder, and the super.
intendent of the mining operations
which had been carried on IN Perry's
name by her father.
He not only realized the description
Daisy had given of him, in her converse.
tion with her father, but he was even
more formidable than one would have
been led to suppose from Ter remarks,
his height being six feet two, and his
shoulders and chest being unusually
massive.
@Ah, there you are, Co!onel!" he cried,
without the least salutation or prelimin-
ary. "Have you seen anything Of
horscman who came this way rather
rapidly only few moments ago?"
@Here's the tracks Of the fellow now,
SAM" suddenly spoke up one of the
men by whom Gaddler was accompa-
MED, pointing them out. @You see that
they lead directly over the bridge to the
Coloneps dwelling"
"Sure enough" exclaimed Gaddler, his
face beaming with delight. ave are on
the right track, 1t seems"
Turning to Colonel Whipsaw, he con-
tinued:
sYou see, therefore, Colonel Whipsaw,
that 1t will not be of the least use for
you to deny that you have seen the man
in question"
aHave made any attempt at denial?"
returned the Colonel, quietly enough,
xlr lH1 In
eyes that might have served his ques-
tioners as warning.
ITO be sure-no, you haven't" Cad
dler avowed frankly. sThen you mean
to say that you have seen him?"
II do?"
GWhere is he?"
aHe is Just now under the shelter Of
my roof"
"Out of my path, then," enjoined
Gaddler. @You cannot keep US parley-
ing here while the rascal escapes We
must have him!"
sYou won't have him till you have told
q what he has done," remarked the
Clio lel, as quietly as before. @What do
you want of him?"
"Want? We propose to kill him!"
"What 10r?"
because he has been sent out here
from Chicago to interfere with me-" de.
clared Gaddler, with the air Of finding 1t
serious task to restrain his impatience.
AIN a word, he's sneaking, meddling
spy"
aHe's nothing of the sort" affirmed
the Colonel ale is an honorable man,
who was sent out here by another honor
able man, to learn what you are doing
with valuable property to which you
and Jerry Skidder do not have the slight
est claim! l may add that he has found
out all he desires to know. and that he
and his employer will soon put an end to
the lawlcss career you and your intended
father-in-law have been running in this
region!"
Sam Gaddler sat glaring at the Colonel
as If at loss to find words in which to
express his anger.
$50 you dare to champion this man, do
you?" he at length demanded.
II do, sir, and must now ask you to
vacate these premises, they being mine.
You'll advance another step In this d.
rection at your PERIL"
The reader can readily imagine what
sort Of tumult was occasioned by this
unexpected resistance.
kill him." cried one.
SRide him down." shouted another.
sect off this bridge, all of you," COM
manded the Colonel, retreat!ng quietly
across it, as he brandished his axe warn
fngly. "Not step more"
aOh, we sham worry about you, Colo
nel," interrupted Gaddler, putting spurs
to his horse. "Well not only have our
man but we'll take you with him, II
necessary, and have you both as make
weights from the same limb"
"Hold!" shouted the Colonel, flourish
ing his axe again "You cannot cross
this BRIDGE"
"And why can't we?" asked Gaddler
because it has been keyed and braced
in such way that one blow from this axe
will suffice to tumble it into the river"
explained Whipsaw. "If you take an
other step. therefore"
SHead him off. Gilly," interrupted
Sam Gaddler, addressing one OF his fol-
lowers, with significant gesture.
Too late!
The blow from the Colonel''s axe de.