Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-08

Dirworth.
Don't you? Well, do you think I'm
going to work the thing all myself for
you 10 bencfit2 Not me. We stand in
this little matter all together, sink or
swim. II you're afraid, you'd better
say so, and be quick about IT,"
"Who said was afraid2" answered
Dilworth, hotly. III no one was more
afraid than me, IL would be all right"
That's all right" said Gideon
Prawle, quickly, interposing TO make
peace. There's no need 10 talk about
anyone being afraid, Jos, nor OF any
body standing out. The boss has done
us all n bad turn, and we owe him
grudge for IL, and mean TO pay him.
Now, what about that chew 10 show
Tom Roylance's hand in this2"
'I'd like that fer my part Of the bust
ness" cried Dilworth.
Itll be done all right, lad, don't
you fear" said Gideon. "There are
some Of us who don't love him bit
more than you do. We're just going TO
see that something belonging to him
Is found by the Waterman tonight in
n way that shows he must have been
hanging round the place"
"Itll take clever bit OF spinning 70
make much Of a yarn out OF bit OF
short staple stuff like that" said one
OF the men.
That's as II may be-" answered Glib.
con. But when things are In the
state OF furry and excitement thatll
come after this business, folks amt
going TO be too dainty about their sus-
picions. But now it's time we were
thinking Of moving. We'd better not
go out altogether. You four, who have
got to act as scouts, had better 90 off
two together. | shall follow you, and
Jos and Tom will come on when we
have made certain that the coast lie
clear. Have you got the tools2'
They're in the corner there. just
buried bit out OF sight" answered
Jos.
Can you manage without striking
n light2 There might be somebody
about"
yes; / can do all right, I think" he
said. II know where TO put my hand
on them"
AS he spoke, Mary, whose eyes had
grown accustomed 20 the darkness, saw
him turn in her direction, and her
heart sank within her when she heard
him moving straight toward the corner
where she was hiding.
She held her breath. and her heart
beat so loud and SO fast that she was
afraid IL might bctray her as Il
thrpbbcd and thumpcd against her ribs.
She kept rs motionlcs, as death, in
the hope that the man might be ublo
To get wha' he wanted without notic-
ing her presence.
lie CROPPED along, muttcring some
thing about the darkness, and feeling
hi, way by the side of the shed When
he was within few inches of her he
stopped, and she heard him, and al
most felt him, stoop down and begin
to clear away the hay from the ground.
not foot from where she crouchcd.
She could hear him breathe. Then
he began 10 move u little of the earth
flooring Of the shed, and some of IL
actually lay upon her dress.
lie rose for n moment, and Mary felt
him standing close to her. Then she
was conscious that lac was STOPPING
over her with his hands stretched ont
and down, and the next instant she
felt his fingers touch first her hair and
then her shoulders.
Knowing she wns discovered, she
sprung up to make u rush from the
place, while the man cried ont:
by God. lads, look ont; there's surlc
one In the she'd"
The next moment the girl fclC her
self caught 10y ~" nru, Il lirnt yds
sipdlrd, and Gibcuu prawlc, nuiding
IL over his head. glarrd into her fu,c.
while the othcr men gathered round
her with surprise fcar aud WRATH
stnmpcd upon their fu"rs,