Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-10-07
CHAPTER XXv-CoNrrNUED.

famlllar W1xn the SurrOunOlHSS IudH
were the men from Wilmington, and in
the; kness might easily evade them,
but spedfaway with the speed of the
wind, never for moment giving
thought to where he was going;
straight Though the grove, OVER the
ridge, and down to the rice fields edge.
He struck the rice fields, where one of
the banks that divided them extended
from the upland to the main dyke en-
the river front, and down this bank he
darted, straight for the river, but he
had not got more than 800 yards down
the bank before he ran into the arms of
stalwart figure approaching from the
opposite direction.
{ Hey! What have we here?' said the
man who held Lathrop with grip not
to be shaken off; stand on the other
side, Bill, and flash your light"
A man passed Lathrop and his cap
tors, and removed the cap from Bulls
eye lantern, and threw the light on La
throp's7face.
1t was the face of one whose features
were stamped with insanity. He was
bareheaded, the eblood was trickling
from his forehead, lips and nose, which
showed that he had come in contact
with many trees in his fight. His ele-
giant wedding suit was torn and splashed
with mud, but he was recognized.
MY God. Bill, it's Herbert Lathrop,
the man we're after. We will return.
Murderer do you know who has you
now? BLACK Beard"
Not a word fell from the lips of Her
bert, as he was hurried along in the di-
rection Of the river. When they ar
rived there they tumbled him into
boat, in which already sat four men.
Now if Hendricks and Bullion were
here, we'd be off, said Black Beard.
I'm sorry now / sent them up the other
bank. I told them to go but half way,
halt at cross flood gate. and there re-
main until summoned. Throw high
your light, Bill, for minute; they ex-
pect the signal from the other way, but
they may see it"
Bill fastened the bulrs-eye to the oar.
removed the cap and held it aloft.
There. that will do; they should
have seen that"
While these events were transpiring.
the two officers had by chance struck
the very bank on which Hendricks and
Bullion were stationed, end they
passed noiseIessly on towards the river
suddenly they saw the light of a match
not thirty feet ahead of them.
Hendricks had struck it to light Ii.
pipe.
Easy. mate, easy" whispered one IF
them.
They crawled down on the edge of the
bank, and got up opposite them, almost
within reach, and lay quiet.
This is our last adventure, Bullion
that fellow Lathrop, as he's after, we
leave these diggins' forehever."
81 amt sorry" said Bullion; Its
time. To tell you the truth, Hendricks,
this piratin' is. mighty bad business.
It's SO risky, when we get our part of
the dough- I'm in it for quits ON pi-
ratin', am"
Wen git that before we sail. Every
man will have his share. Black Boards
square to his men,"
He is that, but hope he'll quit the
. life. He's too Zgood man to stretch
hemp. Who but him could have man.
aged that Washington job?''
'Blest if it amt time we had signal
If we're goin' to have one. You bide
here. Bullion, and I'll drop back to the
boat.and see if they haven't come back.
away toward the river. They gave him
fully five minutes, at the end Of which
time Bullion felt the cold muzzles of
two pistols pressed suddenly against
his head.
"a move and you're Il dead man"
A moment more and he was disarmed,
handcuffed and marched hurried.y to-
wards the uplands.
ial- ,oI h..
foodgate Bullion was not there.
what has become of Bullion?" he
thought. He called his name several
times, but no answer. He flashed his
lantern in several directions. but could
see no one. He searched the ground.
1t appeared as though more than one
person had last been over it, and on the
other side of the bank the long grass
looked as though some one had crawletl
through it.
He waited until he saw the light
flashed from the lantern of Bill Gibbs.
which was suspended in the air by the
oar. and returned to the boat. where he
found the captain with Gibbs and La
throp seated.
I'm here, captain, but I can't find
Bullion"
Cant find Bullion? What's. become
of him?''
81 left him at the fioodgate and came
back ere to see admit you returned. and
when / got back he was gone. From the
walk and the grass there, it looks like
others had been along there
Hardly" said Black Beard, E'is any
one had, Bullion would have stepped
into the rice field.''s
THAT he would said P1unkett. Its
faint-hearted is Bullion
I'VE will wait ten minutes for him,
and if he don't come he'll have to tough
Il and ,,.o,rr, h, "a