Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-06-29
A CHANGE OF PURPOSE,

~ UiIHNuL vi | OilI JUL,
Two horsemeD, broad hated
and heavily armed, rode swiftly
along a dim trail that threaded a
level stretch of wild western
prairie. 1t was night, but the moon
shOne round and full from a clear
sky, giving to the PLAIN, with its
tall, breeze.swept grass, the ap-
pearance of a calm summer sea.
'Jim,' sroke one of the men,
breaking a long silence, Hre you
sure IT'S all right about that
money!
'All right bow?' the other Ques-
toned.
'Are you sure the man has gOtlIn
sure as | am that we are here,
Joe. He sold his claim yesterday
an got the cash IN hand for 1t.
There's no mistake this time sure.'
'Well, that's all right, jim. If
he's got three hundred dollars, that
means a hundred and fifty for each
of US. Pretty good pay for one
nights work, provided there amt
too much risk
Just about as much risk as
there would be in robbing' a prai,
RE lark's nest. Why, there's no.
body but a man aud a child there,
and the man don't look like he had
life enough to kill a flea. Guess
he's about dead with consumption
or something
He won't be apt to give US much
trouble thep,' Joe replied. AN
even if he shows fight We can soon
quiet him.
'Yes; bnt he WON'T show any
fight, Joe. All we'll have to Go
will be to ask for the money, an
give the chap to understand that
we are in earnest, an it'll be ours.
1t Is the sOfteSt snap l ever struck
an it's almost like pickin' that
much money out the road
There was a short silence,
broken only By the clattering of
the horses feet on the hard, dry
ground as the horsemen gallOped
on.
Away across the prairie, at the
foot of a lonely mound, adm speck
of light came into view.l
That's the place. Jim announc-
ed. That's a light in the cabin
where the settler lives. an he's
still there. l was a little afraid
be might have gene away, though
I knew it wasn't his intention to
60 before tomorrow
aud tomorrow lie won't have
much to go away with,' Joe added.
Not much,' Jim agreed.
They rode on in silence, and a
few minutes later halted in front
of a little desOlate-looking cabin.
There was saddled hcrse stand.
ing tied to post near the door.
They waited moment, listening
breathlessly, but no sound reached
them from the cabin.
81 don't know what that horse
means here jim finally remarked
in a low tone. Its queer that
anybody would be here at this
time O'Dight.'
It is,' Joe asSented; more espe-
cially as 1t amt a neighbOr.'
How do you know 1t aiu't a
neighbOrF Jim asked.
know it by the horse. There
amt a settler In this section that
owns a horse like that
That's a fact,' Jim agreed.
That's fue animal, an whoever
he belongs to, l guess it would be
a good idea for him to change
owners. DOn't it strike you So.
Joei'
Il reckon Joe replied. But the
first thing to be attended to is that
three hundred dollars.
Jim nodded bis assent to this
proposal, and thu twOrobbers stole
forward to the one
window of the cabin. There vas
a paine broken out, and they
could not only see all that was
being done within, but could hear
all that was being said.
10 one corner of the room, on
small bed lay a child with THU
sharp features and great hollow
eyes. Ga q chair near by sat
great, rugged, burly mar,
with black hair and beard, who
had buckled about his waist a pair
of huge, yilIainous looking pistols.