The Opelousas courier., 1897-05-15

were riding along down the road to
wards the home of Sarey. Neither o
them had uttered a word for som
tine. At length Bob broke the 81
lence, speaking without turning hi
eyes froma direction straight ahea'
cfhim.
"Alf, you Dir the man."
"I'm the man."
"Yes, you air the man for sarey.
"What do you mean, Bob?"
tI mean that Sarey loves you bet
tern airy 'nuther mar on the ridge.
"You don't say? How'd you fine
eut?"
Garter you left the still house tina
night, Sarey was thar"
"She WASP"
eyes, and she was q cryin' about
the d~isgraceful doin's o Tom /; and
end, ALI, l axed her if thar warn't airy
'nutber Teller she liked jest as well as
she did Tom; and she lowed she
alters liked you jest as we'll, but you
never seemed to like her. Now I've
told you, ALI, and I want to know if
you love her"
81 alters have, Bob; but I stood
back for Tom; and arter what you
said t other night, l was gwine to
stand back for you"
Again that sensation as of the heart
rising into the throat came to Bob,
and the two men rode On in silence.
The sun was swiftly dropping to-
wards the crests of the western hills
when Bob and ALI stopped in front of
old Jerry Mauldin's long, double
cabin. Sarey was sitting in the open
hallway, Smelling beans; bat she arose
and came out to the road when the
two men had dismounted.
"Tom's been seed a foolin' around
Long Creek to-day" said Sarey, "and
l meant to send you ans word afore
now, bat pap's been ailin' all day, and
I couldn't leave him."
owe amt much afeared of him."
said Aft. Hes been a keepin' quiet
q sight longer'n I 'spected, though"
"We've been a lookin' for him to
come down on us at the still house
afore now" added Bob.
"Sarey, have you got any cider?"
asked ALI. "We're kinder thirsty"
"Loss of it. One of GU hold the
horses while t'other one toes with me
to the, spring house, aAaTeIl fetch
up the jus>end gourd."
"IIi holdEsm," said Bobsdreamily.
Alf and Sal ey turned away along the
path which LEM Soundtg house, and
wese lost to view. BOB stood between
tins heads of the horses with his chin
against his breast. He was thinking
of the treachery Of Tom Drake, and of
the jewel he had lost in the love of
Sarey Mauldin.
For one Bob allowed himself to re-
lax bis watchfulness. About thirty
yards beyond the house the road bent
suddenly to the right, and turned
abruptly down the hill toward a little
stream that wound its way along the
case of the ridge. Bob's ear, usually
sensitive to the slightest sound, did
not hear the approach of hoof beats up
;he little hill behind the shrubbery
the horseman had reached the
bend in the road. Bob's hand flew to
lis revolver as he looked up; but he
vas too late. he was under cover OF q
Weapon in the hands of Tom Drake.
81 guess you are NINE" said Tom,
IS he rode up.
"Yes; like a fool I went to sleep
md got ketched. What's wanted?"
"You air gwine with me to WAL
lalla JAIL"
"rom, you air o measly, low down
"No, I've just now got to be q gen.
and I'm a gwine to make gen.
lemen out'n all you fellers."~
"Alf and Sarey will be here directly
With some cider, then Til go with
,ou."
"Bob. you'd better let me have that
7eap'n."
'Ill never do it, Tom Drakel"
swell, keep it, then; I guess ! can
7atch you"
At this moment ALI and sarey came
round the house, ALT bringing
large jug in his hand. The young
quick eye took in the situation
t the two men in the road, and in the
winkling of an eye. his revolver
ashed to a dead level with the in.
breast.
"Hold on a minute, Aft" shouted
lob. "I'm fairly took, and I guess
d better go with him."
ALI quickly looked into the eyes of
is cousin, and the two men seemed
understand each other.
"Pass the cider over here, Sarey,
nd I'll drink you a farewell for a
hile," said Bob. smiling.
aarey passed the cider in silence,
ever once looking at Tom, who took
lie gourd offered him by Tom and
rank. .
snow I'm ready. Good-by, ALI :
ood-by. Sarey!" said Bob, as be
ounted his horse. Tom mounted,
Id the two men, captive and captor.
de away in the soft light of the lin.
sring sunset. When they reached the /
In the road Bob looked back and
tied his broad.brimmed hat to ALI
I'd Sarey, who we're standing side by q
de gazing after him. Then they
ded from view, and the two horse.
en- rode on in silence. They werE
'proaching the brook ct the foot Of
Q hill, when Bob spoke.
"Ton, l never would take no mean
vantage of q Teller; SO Til tell you a !
Nv. hits you or me. Pull your gun!" Il
Instantly two reyolvers leaped to a
ia the gathering light and four b