The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-03

drawing the door open cautiously again
~What has happened?"
CHAPTER XVI.
FROM BAD TO woRsh
The anxiety Of Perry and his frtehts
was soon relieved BY glimpse OF Mrs.
Cotter, who came hurriedly up the
stairs
She was pale as ghost but outward
ly calm
sOne Of the men on guard recognized
Mr.. Baker," she reported, as she reached
the door. "but he met the crisis In the
right way, knocking the fellow down
and choking him into silence and sub
mission
sWhere Is be nowp" asked Perry.
aMr. Baker has shouldered him and
carried him to the stable Don't be
anxious We shall be back IN few
minutes"
And with this she again vanished
The event proved that Mrs. Cotter's
performance was as good as her prom
ise, the carriage, with Baker on the box,
soon appearing at the front door.
"Of course Gaddler goes with us," re-
marked Perry. 1T will be quite q
feather In our caps to lodge him In
prison" e. e.. ,-'-
We need not pause upon the transfer
to the carriage, which was accomplished
with due secrecy and dispatch, but not
without some attention from Gaddler's
hirelings, who were readily silenced and
dismissed by Mrs. Cotter, the darkness
of the night being tco intense for them
to form any clear idea Of what was
transpiring.
Perry took his place beside Baker, the
ladies having possession Of the body OF
the vehicle.
&, AS to Gaddler, he had been strapped
upon the baggage-rsck at the rear Of
the carriage with as little ceremony as
If he had been case Of boots.
: The start was taken quietly enough,
30 as to avoid arousing the suspicion OF
such Of the followers Of Gaddler as were
conscious of 1t, but at the end Of few
minutes, when the carriage had reached
the level of, the plains, Baker ventured
upon an easy jog wherever the con-
!fguration of the country permitted.
, aOf course We are going straight to
the mines" was all Perry deemed 1t
necessary to say to the ladies. alf we
don't give the Skidders wholesome sur
prise In the course Of the morning.
will be greatly mistaken"
Once relieved Of all fear Of pursuit,
Baker drew up with due caution, band
ing the reins to Perry and leaping
lightly to the ground
sOf course you are not entitled to
bed Of roses, Mr.. Gaddler, he remarked,
as he stepped up to the prisoner and
proceeded to remove the gag from his
mouth. sBut we have no wish to be un-
necessarily seVere-to the contrary. II
you will be reasonable, therefore, we'll
allow you the use Of your tongue"
aCurse youl I only wish l had you
where you have me!' returned the pris-
oner. ~To think OF your turning up so
Unexpectedly at my secret retreat, when
I supposed you to be dead! And that
Mrs. Cottar07
Baker interrupted this TRADE by an
emphatic gesture.
Another word, he said: sternly, "and
I will close your mouth again, and leave
1t closed until we reach the minesl"
The prisoner comprehended, relapstng
into sulen silence.
What ride was that which succeed
ed, with its frequent routes and snail's
pace, and with the dull, drear canopy Of
an almost starless night over the travel
ers!
With the great plains. too, as varie-
gated with wood, rock and water, thus
spreading out in such tmmensities
around them
There was no sign Of dwelling, OF
even OF the presence of human being
other than their own party, in all that
solitude
No fence, no regular road, nothing to
indicate any other occupancy than that
of the thousands Of cattle which traverse
these plains occasionally, feeding o.
they go.
1t was new experience for all. that
memorable ride, even for Baker and
Mrs. Cotter.
Bound to rack, as It were, jostled
and pitched, 1t was such ride for Sam
Gaddler as he had never imagined
painful, humiliating, and seemingly
eternal
Baker cid all he could with his limited
knowledge of the country, as thus tram
meled by the darkness, to keep the car
riage in the right direction, but frequent
changes and notifications Of their course
were necessary, and 1t was only because
the parties possessed good compasses
that they did not miss their way al
together.
At last, with the first CLEANS Of the
new day, the travellers halted at brook
to water dhe1r horses and take their
bearings anew, as well as to make
hnrried breakfast. -.
They were about to resume progress
when an ominous galloping began to re-
sound in the tops of the fringe Of trees
beside them.
As they listened, this galloping grew
louder, indicating the approach Of the
unseen riders
aOur flight has been discover ed, It
seems" exclaimed Perry. "The enemy
Is coming!"
The announcement was like q new
lease of life to Sam Gaddler, who ut
tered an awful yell, with view to tell
ing his followers where he was and re-
vealing his situation.
"This way, ALL" he shouted, with the
fury of a demon. "Save mel"
Perry's hand flew to his revolver, and
his eyes blazed with fury, as he realized
what his prisoner was doing, but he did
noG shoot him, as had been MS first I'M
pulse. Instead, he gave him blow on
the head that left him temporarily sense
less
"And now to get out Of this!" he eS-
claimed, springing to his former seat on
| the box, "Let their go, Charley, for
what they are worth! It's do, or die!"
III another moment the carriage had
! pulled up the bank, gaining the level Of
| the prairie, and thus emerging into full