The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-03

tonished at Dicks etfrontery in deny
ing the charge. ''Do you have the
brass to say you didn't write that stuff
on the tree when I tell ye that I foll'ed
We that night an was hid behind
some bushes, an see you to work at
the tree, scratchin' matches to see to
do it by, an went an read it arter you
had gone? Do you deny it when I tell
ye all that, hey?"
ct do deny just that" answered
Dick, beginning to understand that
there was trouble in store. ''You may
have followed me to the tree. I don't
deny that T went there. But that you
saw me write word or make mark
on that tree T do deny. That's all
there is about that, Bill Green. And
if you say I did, you're liar"
"Now see here" said Bill, after
taking look to see that his hackers
were ready for action in case of emer-
gency. "'Tain't no kind O. use fer ye
to play up innercen6 an think YER
goin' to git off by brassin' it out. I
know what T see. If you hadn't moth
in to do with stealin' hosses, what
was ye there fer, I'd like tu know?"
"l went there because I took the
notion into my head to do so," ans
wered Dick. 'In other words, it's
none of your business what was there
for"
! "We'll make it some of our business
afore we get thu with ye," said Bill,
grimly. "Don't ye forgit that, Dick
Braytoni An that amt all nuther.
We've found the jack-knife ye lost
when ye cut Of Deacon Snyder's halter
strap. Likely story bout yer goin'
down blow, want it? We amt 80
green we can't tell a hoss-thief-"
What the remainder of the sentence
was to be no one will ever know. Bills
eloquence was cut short by sledge-
hammer blow between the eyes, and
he tumbled over into mud-puddle in
most summary and limp fashion.
"Grab him, fellers," cried one OF
the men, "an' be quick about it, or
he'll give us the Slip"
One of them sprang at Dick, who
was entirely unprepared for the gen.
eral attack which followed.
The first man he flung aside. The
others at that instant caught him about
the body and by the arms, and in spite
of his desperate efforts to get loose, he
was soon overpowered. One of the
men had stout cord tied about his
waist. This he wound about Dicks
wrists, while the others held him.
Dick was their prisoner.
"I'd like to know what you mean by
this!" he cried, with blazing eyes.
"Ah, but you're brave lot! Five to
one! Unite my hands, and I'll fight
all of you, you towards! Wait till I
get loose, and I'll make it warm for
you!"
eyes, wait till you get loose" re.
sponded one Of them, meaningly.
"See here, menu said Dick, trying
to smother his wrath sufficiently I'd
gain a knowledge of the situation,
'Do you pretend to say that you take
me for horse-thief?"
"We do 80" answered the man who
had tied the rope around his wrists
''Ye see yer found out"
"What's found out?'"
"What's the use of askin' sich foolish
questions? You know jest as well al
we do. We've found out the truth;
an that's what's found out. You'v|
had your fun, an now I reckon we'rl
a-goin' to hev our'n."
Dick felt himself turning pale.
He began to realize at last that therl
was no "joke" about it,
Bill had struggled to his feet by this
time, and was wiping off the mud and
blood with which his face was pretty
we'll covered.
"Cuss ye, Dick Braytonl" he cried,
shaking his fist in Dicks face, all his
evil passions aroused and showing
themselves in his sinister eyes.
you've struck yer last blow. Eff I
didn't know they'd hang ye, yum I'd
pummel the life out O. vel"
'"Try it," said Dick, contemptuously.
"My hands are tied. You're SAFE.
The men withdrew to little dis
stance and held hurried consultation.
It was decided to take the prisoner
to Mr.. Porter's.
"You an John go round an drum
up the men-folks," ordered Bill. "Be
lively, now. Well see that he don't
steal any more hosses while yer gone,
he added, with a brutal laugh.
Dicks brain was in a muddle. He
could not realize the true condition of
affairs. He felt as if he must be in
some strange kind of waking dream.
Explain it all, please" he said to
one of the men, who had had less to
say than the others. GAS true as I
stand here. I don't know what you
mean by this"
1To ha continued I