The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-10

talFln' about this beln' safe place,
cause eff T had It would a-kinde,
split my plan, ye see."
"Have you got plan to get me out
of this?" asked Dick.
IT reckon" responded Samanthy.
"Leastwise, it's plan eff it can be
made to work. Eff it don't, it's a
failure. Butt won't do fer us to be
wastin' time. You've got to be maxim
tracks fer some place where they don't
take honest men fer hoss-thieves, an
the sooner yer about it the better fer
ye, T calkilate."
"Do you advise me to run away?"
asked Dick, to whom the thought Of
escape by fight seemed almost cow
ardly, now that possible chance of
getting away presented itself.
"Of course, T dol" responded Sa-
manthy. "I reckon I wouldn't stay
an let 'em string me up ef I could
help it,
''But if I get away and leave the
place they'll be sure to accept it as q
proof of guilt" said Dick.
"Wall, let 'em," said Samanthy.
They think that now, so It amt goin
to make no difference as see, one way
or t. other. You'd be fool not to go.
Eff you stay they'll hang you as sartin
as your names Dick Brayton. Eff you
light out an keep clear O. these dig
gins spell they may find out who
the real hoss-t thief is, an then twill be
time enough to show up hereabouts. I"
IT think you're right" said Dick.
'sStaying here would not help me to
prove my Innocence if they're not dis
posed to give fellow fair chance.
I'd rather face the music, but it
wouldn't make hanging any pleasanter
because facing the music seemed a
braver thing than running away. I'll
take your advice, Samanthy-that is,
if T can. I don't know how you pro-
pose to get me away from this place. I"
"Foller me an go like cat," said
Samanthy.
He let himself down through the
trap.door. Aladder led to the bottom
of the passage between the milk-house
and the cellar.
In the cellar they paused a moment.
'sI want to know exactly what the
charges against me are" he said. 'I
was so bewildered by all that happened
that I don't know whether T compre.
hend everything clearly yet or not.
Samanthy detailed the facts of the
case as succinctly as possible.
"It looks dark against me, doesn't
it?" said Dick. ''But I'm innocent,
and I mean that everybody shall know
it, some day-that is, if I get away
and live long enough to have the op-
portunity to work up the matter and
bring the guilty party to justice. I
told you little, or rather limited at
part T had found out, the other day. I
want to tell you all about it now, for
it may possibly be the means of your
helping me-"
Dick told her in as few words as
possible what he had discovered and
what he suspected.
ct wouldn't wonder the least bit il
you was right" she said. "I'll ke ep
my eyes open an see ef I can't see
suthin'."
"Ishall not leave the neighborhood, I"
said Dick. 81 can take care of my
self in the woods, and I mean to stay
and watch my man. Who the other
members of the gang are and where
they stay I don't know, but I mean to
find out before long if there's any
thing to be gained by making a bust
ness of playing detective. Iwant you
to 90 over to Mr.. Boone's tomorrow
and smuggle my gun out of the house,
with all the ammunition there is, and
put it in the hollow tree down by the
pasture bars after dark. I'll venture
out when T think it's safe to do so and
get it.
can I'll see that there's suthin' to
eat left there, reg'lar," said Samanthy.
'Yell hev to be awful keerful or
they'll run onto ye when they're
trampin' round through the woods
a-huntin' hoss-thieves an hosses."
"I'll look out for them," said Dick.
"Wall, eff YER ready, ye'd better he
movin'," said Samanthy. 'I'm goin'
to let ye out O. the house by the but.
try wind:r. From the west side O.
the house it's clear sailin' to the corn.
field, an eff ye can git there 'thout be-
in seen, YER all right,
Dick followed her up the stairs lead
ing from the cellar to the kitchen.
"Here's a bit to est," she said,
handing him luncheon tied up in a
cloth. 'I tho't, p'r'aps, ye mought
be hungry, so I got it reddy for ye.
Now, 60, an take keer O. ye1self."
Dick wrung her hand.
you've done me a good turn, Sa.
manthy," he said. However it turns
out, + thank you for your kindness. !
Il wish you'd tell Mamie that I hope
she don't believe me guilty"
rTo bo continued 4