Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-15

got by accident, ms you call IL? Won
say you're not u spy?'
"l'in no spy" answered Mary.
"lut you overheard this plan Of
ours?"
yes"
III you'd got away unseen you meant
to make use OF the information by try
ing to bnlk the plano
YES"
"Wcll. then, II you get away now
you've been seen, how are you going
tousc the information you've got?'
81 didn't say was going u usc 1t at
all"
Don't chop your words with mr,
girl" said the inan, f,rccly Answer
the question: do you mean to 20 and
tell anyone what you've heard, or don
you? out with the truth
THAT depends" answered Mary,
looking him boldly In tho fncc.
At this reply some ~ the other
made threatening gestures anil rapp,l
out an oath or tw" In their excitement.
"Dapends on whnt?' asked the nam.
"On whether You intend 10 try ANA
carry ont the plan. II nothing done,
shnll say nothing; II anything hap
J~ns. shall ray what | have heard
and seen tonight
"Thc devil you will"' cried the man
fcrcrly. Then wen have to take
steps to prevent you. that's nll;' and
with that he went away, am. drawing
the others round him. recommended
the private consultation.
Il was now evident to her that the
man who had been questioning her
was trying IT, impress some opinion or
plan upon the rest. One or two Others
were seemingly reluctant toacccpt the
counsel he offered, and cNpostulatcd
viii. him. Among these was tiibcon
Prnwle. The argument Increased In
strength as the vchcmencc L: III"
speakers grew.
Then Gibccn Prawlc broke away
from the others went tc the girl and
spoke 20 her.
"Mary, will you promise never to
breathe word of what has passed to-
night, II, as you say, the whole plan Is
dropped?"
"ies, promise YOU uaid Mary. 81
promise IN my honor"
You hear that, inates?' hc asked,
turning to them.
"oh. aye; we hear IL. lIut who the
devil can trust a wonan's tongue"
growlcd Jack Dilwprth. I'm for Jos
lIamcr's plan. There's only one sort
OF silence you can depend on; and
like something more to trust to than
lass tongue"
80 do l." answered another Of
them; "but don't see how you're go
ing 10 get IL ia this case. Beside,
don't nee that she can do much harm
even II she does loose her tongue"
"Thcn you're fool. that's ALL"
broke In the man ljamcr. "In the
irst place she could get the whole lot
of us prosecuted, and IL you don't know
what the cursed judges think Of u con
spirncy to wreck and destroy mill, !
do. You'd think the internal works
were built of human lives when these
devils on the bench come 10 sentencing
u man for touching 'cm. knew what
tho business meant when began with
IT, and was ready 10 risk II. I'm
ready to risk IL now and take
the silcncing of that wench yondcr
on my own shoulders as we'll. | tel.
you this" he said ficrccly, with vol
nble oath. "I'm not going TO gaol To
save lass like that from u squeeze on
the throat or knock on the skull,
You can do what you like; but mean
what ! say"
As one determined and resolute man
Al a IL a
carry others with him, so IL was now,
This decisive tone Influenced the
waverers.
"What do you propose to do, them"
asked Gideon Prawle, his voice some
what hoarse with nervousness at the
others manner, and ut the desperate
course which he knew undcrlay II,
''Why, give the girl tap on the skull
and leave her here alone with the fuse
There won't be much loft to tell tales,
warrant YOU" and the man laughed
q short, callous, brutal laugh.
"You mean 20 murder her, do your"
said Gideon; and more than ono OF tho
men shrank at the word
II don't mean going TO gaol for her.
You can call II what you like" an
swered llamer, please yourself"
"Well. I'm not going to be party to
It." said Gideon. ~ don't like II, and
I'm not going 10 do It,"
Then take your hook cut Of this,
and leave moro room for men who
haven't got white livers and chicken
heartsl Cut IT," growled INmer
Aercely.
mo, I'm not going away, either,
answered Gideon. sullenly al yet half
frightened. "or, II ! go and anything
happens, shall make a clean breast Of
a."
you snesking houndl" cried Iamer
and before any of them could inter
fere he rushed at Gideon, struck hin
TO the ground, and bound him hand
and foot.
you shall stop now, and have q
share OF the treat you didn't expect,
he said, as he rose TO his feet "Looh
here, mates, we'ro In this business
together, sink or swim one with an
other. You understand that?" he
said, pausing and looking from one Il
the other.
'Yes," they said, cowed by his man
ner and his violence, though not relish
ing the position at all.
"Then you agree to stand by me Ant
do what I sayP"
Yes" said the men again.
The whole conversation, except ons
or two Of the fercer sentences between
Gideon and Hnmer, had taken place II
tones too low 10 reach Mays ears
although the little she had heard has
been enough TO friQhten her sxeeed