Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-11-25

o'clock tonight" He paused and glanc-
ed toward the west, where the sun, now
only the half of great red rim, was
sinking below the level. II have had
my men patroling the town all day"
he continued, "and they are not oil in
yet. I have reason to believe that the
outlaws friends are now gathering in
small force down on the square, earlier
than we looked for them, and am al
most alone at the Jail. If you can ride
down there and get that crowd inter-
ested in your game for twenty minutes
there'll be no trouble"
II would be very willing to try, if
thought l could hold them" said Don,
after short hesitation.
you can do it if you are up to a
trick or two," said the man. "These
machines are more of a curiosity down
here than in the states. I am sheriff
here, and don't propose to lose my pris-
oner, but want to avoid bloodshed if
possible"
All this had taken not to exceed five
minutes, and We could see the men
gathering block below us, with now
and then shout that plainly held a
note of defiance.
Don mounted and started to follow,
when the sheriff laid steel-like hand
upon my arm and said:
LAS for you, you'll stay here for the
present" and l had no other thought
but to obey.
All the while I could see men run
ming up, and then pass from sight be-
hind the board stockade that surround
ed the building I knew to be the jail
In the name of the law" continued
the sheriff, in very solemn tone, 81
command you not to stir from this spot
until my return" and then he darted
away after the men had seen. A mo-
ment later 1 heard a couple of muffled
shots. sharp cry as of surprise, and
then siisr:a.
l looNc:' down the street, peering into
the growing gloom, and could see Don
pirouetting on his wheel and the
crowd, some of whom were mounted,
standing in deep half circle, watch
ing him very attentivciy, as was ap-
parent even at that distance. Then
~" q movement l4t-I lOlu AS lAC
crowd was on the po;T,: OF breaking,
though apparently relI:3t:;',t. when Don
sprung his "Bucking h::'onclo" act on
them. Lusty cheering followed. 1t was
evidently this cheering that brought
the sheriff, sprinsing like a tiger, out
to where 1 was standing.
''Are they coming" he cried.
NO." I answered, Don is holding
them spellbound."
He's a high card" said the sheriff,
"but J. am leary of his being able to
hold them until my men arrive in
force''
noticed then that he had hat and
coat thrown over his left arm.
Here he said, after looking down
the stre-t iJ:1eutly for moment, put
this hat ard coat on and ride down
past thu crowd as fast as you can go,
and cry, Come through, come
through, as loudly as you can, without
stacking your pace"
What is that for, Mr. Sheriff."
asked, nez&r doubt but that he was
what he repre-: snted himself to be, and
all the while preparing as rapidly as
possible to do as was bid; never a
question but that / must do as this
forceful man suggested.
This is the hat and coat of the out
law, Denneth, and every man in that
crowd will recognize them, and will
think it is he escaping, and this in
teruption will allow US time to make
our defense sure, and by the time it is
discovered who you are, the prisoner
will be SAFE"
He laid such peculiar stress on the
last four words that I found them re-
volving in my mind as stood with the
outlaws hat and coat on, waiting for