The herald., 1894-12-18

seen the transaction, no one OBJECTED,
and Wilson, after hesitating moment,
came back to me. In language more en-
phatic than polite L told him to 20 up
to his room. Dick looked surpr ise,i, and
when Wilson had gone asked if he was
one of our party. l replied in the af-
firmative and gave the circumstances
of Wilson's connection with us. Dick
studied a moment and then asked,
"Are you going to let him lose that
money without making kick?" 1 told
him did not see any other way to do,
as to make a row in that place would
be foolish. He wanted to know what
would give him to get the coin back,
and replied that he could have the
whole, as we had lost our claim.
"Will you back me up, and has your
friend (meaning Bob got any sand?"
said Dick.
was very much worked up over the
whole affair, and although don t be-
lieve in getting into row unless it is
forced upon man it goes against one's
grain to see such barefaced robbery as
Wilson's, 80 said, "Yes,' although 1
did not really believe that he was in
earnest-in fact, could not imagine
how he would go about a recovery.
was soon to learn.
We had remained in the barroom an
hour after Wilson s retirement, and the
place had gradually become deserted
until there were but half dozenspeo-
pie besides the barkeeper and ourselves
remaining, and several of these were
sleepy drunk. The harkeeper, Though
he glanced now and then in our direo-
tion, paid us no other attention. He
seemed to have forgotten the geld epi-
sode. had given up any idea that
Dicks suggestions were coming to a
point, and was thinking of retiring,
when he got up, sauntered, over tothe
bar in an easy manner, and, quick as a
flash, covered the barkeeper with his re-
volver, and asked him to ''return that
money" Bob and myself atonce cover
ed the remainder of the party, who pro.
tested, however, that they had no in
tention of interfering. The barkeeper
saw his predicament and sullenly hand
ed out $40 goldpiece. The only re-.
mark he made was, you'll wish you
was burning before you ever started
for L. L.. and if you thinky you,are
going to come it on us SO easy you are
making -- big mistake
Dick did not reply, and soon we an
went up to Wilson s room. As we went
up stairs we could distinguish among
the babble of cries the words, ~That's
a plucky ouss, - "Are you going to let
those tenderfeet beat you?' Geo. Bill,
you've been held up. You've got to
treat. ''It won't do for those fellows
to boast that they didup L-L-n and
then Bills deep voice: Sand Ithey
won't either. I'lr get my innings be-
fore they leave, you mark me.
We found Wilson barrioading e1he
door Of the room with bureau and wash
stand. We held council Of war. We
could hear the men talking below us.
Wilson's room was directly over the
bar, and by cutting a hole through the
flooring we left only the ceiling between
them and US, SO we could hear distinct
ly everything they said. Fortunately
the affair occurred too late to bring out
big crowd, and only few of the near
neighbors, attracted by the report, had
come in. They decided that we swere
too we'll armed to ASSAULT us in our
rooms, especially as we were. on 'our
guard, but thought the best ideaswould
be to attack us when we came down, as
we would have to do or starve., With
this idea, one of them commenced tbor-
ing holes in the stairway casing pre-
sumably to shoot through. Naturally
we prepared to go out the window.
The bed was one Of the>old fashioned
roped kind, and removing the rope from
this and blowing out our light we aaid
the bedclothes on the roof, removed
our boots and carefully crawled'to4h
far end of the piazza. The noise in the
barroom seemed to have drowned any
noise we made, and our only fear was
of some one coming out. Tying our RI
fes and other things into two bundles,
Dick lowered them, and then ivwe all
slid down the corner post and put for
the woods. There we finished dressing,
and Dick and then went to the, stable
for our horses. The clouds had been
breaking awayfor some time, and the
moonlight madesus 30 conspicuous that
we had to watch the SHADOWS as we
lodged ACROSS. the open space. Weshad
little trouble in finding our horses, and
startedt out, each leading two, Iin-ad.
vance, AS my head horse approached
the threshold of the door his sharp
hoofs came down upon fiat'stone with
loud clatter. I expected every mo-
ment to see the hotel door open, but
they either did not hearior rthough ghttitsa
common noise in the stable.
Fearing a repetition Of the alarm,
ripped up an old blanket, and smufiing
the horses hoofs we led them oui
where the others were waiting, trying
to account for our long delay. Then al
commenced arranging their thingsaor
their saddles. l finished first, an6
mounting my horse, with smy rifle yon
my knee, placed myself as q scoutto
watch the hotel. 1 confess that ther
felt comfortable for the first time that
night. It was we'll did, foruo sooner
had mounted and my horse movedis
few steps away than one of the otl1el
horses sounded neigh that roused' all
the occupants Of the house we had left.
Flinging open the door SO that the light
fell full upon me. some one yelled,
'They are getting awayP' and emptied
bis revolver at us. We could hear the
bullets sing about us, but no damage
was done, and as the others were ready
Bob called to me to pull out" This I