Mower County transcript., 1896-05-20
the tingling q his nerves told him that


boundary between helpless fear and
courageous resolution, and, drawing his
revolver, he waited in grim silence for
the appearance of face at the opening.
While he watched, the light began to
fade, and the explanation came to him
at once. They've gone into the mine;
that's better; perhaps I can catch them
us they come out" In a few minutes
the dull glow began to return, and he !
saw the two men as they emerged from |
the gallery leading to the mine. They |
were talking in low tones, and Ring |
brand listened. :
II toll We hit was too soon, !" the one who
carried the lamp was saying; "we-all IL
jest have to wait yere spell till them
sellers get sleepy"
They passed out of Ringbrand's range
of vision, but he could still hear every
word that was said, and the reply made
him almost sorry that he had held his
| hand while he had them in sight:
They'll get sleepy bime-by. Wonder
If that thar neighbor of our'n in yon-
der's still a-snoozin' like he was when
ye plugged him?"
Eye can jest bet on hit, Buddy; low
] was some shaky, but reckon amt
missin' anything as big as man at that
thar distance"
There was little silence, and then
one of them spoke again: "Whilst
we're a-waitin' yere, jeff, ye mought 60
over what you-all's a-figurin' on fer to-.
norrer night. hain't got hit right
clear in my haid yet" =
"Jest hol' on minute. Gimme that
thar light, till see if the city feller's
whar he ort to be-"
Curiosity to know what was to be ex-
planned overcame Ringbrand's desire
for vengeance, and he crouched in the
shadow while the mountaineer made
his investigation.
"Is he thar?" asked the other voice.
"Shore; he's a-layin' right plum whar
he did las night. Don't reckon he ever
moved"
Then Ringbrand understood that the
dim light had misled them, and that the
shot had been fired at the log. He had
scarcely time to be thankful that he
had not moved the latter during the
day, before the light disappeared from
the crevice and the conversation was re-
sumed.
'Now. about that thar projec' for to-
,, 1uorrer night, Buddy, I'd figured hit jest
,, this-a-way. julie she'll light out in thA
mornin' for McNairville on the mar,
an We'll fetch the rest O. the hosses uI
r on the mounting by the Dunbar road
> endurin' the day. Then, long late in
the evenin', when ever'body's gone tc
bald, we-all II jest ride over to the
coloners, leave the hosses with Jed ir
. that thar little patch O trees front o
the house, an then you'n nell 60 smoke
'em out. When they shows up, you take
the young un an leave the colonel tt
= me. reckon I'll show him that dom
y miss the same man twicet."
"How bout the gal?"
"Needn't to mind bout her; she'l
look out for herself;" and then the sam'
voice added: II reckon Jed'd be gla'
= enough to take keer O her, if she'd 'lov
- hit"
= Even after the convincing object-les
son of the attempt upon his own life
J Ringbrand could scarcely believe th
% evidence of his senses. Could it b
- possible that these two men were calm
ly discussing a plot which pointed
- u double murder as it's object? The
~ ~ were speaking again, and he straine
N his ears to catch every word.
- "They's only one thing about h
~ that looks sort o shaky. jeff; that
10 the part about the gal. Course
" knows we-all amt fghtin' weemi1
lo but hit III be takin' right smart M
u, Il, chances if she gets sight O we-all
~ "She hain't gwine to. When the fire
10 done started, you'n me can hide in tt
y ivy bushes"
THAT III fix hit; an afterwards J
y low to ride for McNairville?"
IL "Uh-huh; we can jest bout make b
~ in time for the cyars, if we put OF
-, sort O. lively"
Is: "How about the hosses? Y'-all So
~ 'em with the place, didn't YEP"
al, II did so, an the feller can take e
OF wharsomever he's lucky enough to fl
'em, cayn't hep"
Up They were silent again, and Rim
brand smelled tobacco smoke. He sto'
~ mOC1OQlcSS III Cllc udihucsS, CIy AuS
VI think of some way in which the col
Nv blooded plot could l'e frustrated; the
ne seemed to be but one way, and his
'n' sire for vengeance cooled little as
ne thought of it, but he crept into po
on ton where he could command the wide
Tn range of space in the other chambt
to and watched for the men to cross t
he narrow field of vision ON their way ha
ne to the mine. 1t seemed hours befo
'c- they spoke again, and then the gruff
n voice said: Il don't believe that th
ne lamps gwine out, Buddy"
ry II reckon hit air, for Shore" was t
he reply; "but hit don't make no diff
lty ence; we-all can fin the way witho
MT. hit"
IN A little later the light faded and fit
n1s cred and then went out, leaving behi
Ter it darkness that was almost tangib
10 and Ringbrand's heart sank as he re
al lied that one chance of saving Heste