Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-30
THE SHADOW OF
THE GREENBACK
FROM THIRD TAGE1

Every sound made him jump and be was
afraid to stand in the open, vet he
could not remain constantly with his
back to the wall. Poor Buffers horse.
fully accoutered. cropped the grass by
the side of the road. To be a horse
thief was. of course, worse than TO be a
murderer, but there was no help for it;
without the horse escape was impossi-
ble- BE secured the animal with bot
little trouble and sprang upon its back.
As he did so shot rang out from the
saloon. Sam whirled around in the sad
die, but no one was 60 be seen nothing
but thin film of pistol smoke melting
IN the air above the open door. The
rider fred twice into the empty door
way. then with a curse turned toward
the open country and galloped away,
and Salt Lick was far behind him when
night fell. He tethered his horse and
threw himself down ON the grass. but
dared not sleep For all he knew, his
pursuers might be within q few rods of
where he lay, for he was certain they
would be ON his trail as soon as they
knew he had left Salt Lick The prize
was too great for no effort to be made
! to secure it
There u an enemy before whom the
strongest and bravest men must sue
cumb. That enemy is sleeplessness.
When daylight found the Desperate, he
had not closed an eye all night. His
nerve was gone, and perhaps for the first
time in his life be felt thrill of fear.
The emptiness of the prairie, which
should have encouraged him, struck q
chill Of loneliness into him, and ne
longed for the sight of a man. even
though he might have to fight him
when be approached. He must have a
comfade, he said TO himself if he could
find any human being in straits as ter
rible as his own; some one who would
keep watch and watch with him through
the night But the comrade must either
be ignorant of the weight of money that
hung over the desperate s head or there
must be price ON his own. An inno-
cent man would not see the use of keep
ing such strict watch. A guilty man, on
learning the circumstances Of the case,
would sell Sans life TO purchase his
own freedom. Fifty thousand dollars
in the desperado's mind would do any
thing, and yet he himself of all the 60,
| 600. 600 people in the land was the only
one who could not earn it. A cnmrade.
then, innocent or guilty, was impossi-
BILE, and yet was absolutely necessary il
the wanderer was to have sleep.
The horse was in distress through
lack OF wafer, and Sam himself was
both hungry and thirsty. His next halt
Ing place must be near a stream, vet
perhaps his safety during the first night
was due 20 the fact that his pursuers
would naturally have looked for him
near some water course and not ON the
open prairte-
Ten days later Mike Daviin was
awakened at 3 in the morning to find
standing by his bed q gaunt. ha2yard
living skeleton. holding q candle in one
hand and pointing O COOKED revolver at
Mikes head with the other.
Get OPP" said the apparition hoarse-
ly, and get me something TO eat and
drink-drink first-and be quick about
1t. Make no noise. Is there anybody
else in the house?"
mo" said Mike, shivering. "You
wait here. Sam. and I'll bring you
something. 1 thought you were among
the Indians. or in Mexico, or in the Bad
Lands long ago"
I'm in Bad Lands enough here. I'll
60 with you. I'm not going to let You
out of sight, and no tricks, mind, or you
know what will happen
Surely you trust me, SAM" whined
Mike, getting up
Il don't trust any living man. Who
fired that shot at me when was leav-
ing?'
$50 help me-" protested Mike, at
dunno wasn't in the bar at the time.
l can prove wasn't. Yer not looking
we'll, Sam"
Curse you for a slow dawdler. You'd
not look well either if you had no sleep
for week and was starved into the bar
gain. Get move on you"
Sam ate like wild beast what was
set before him, and although he took a
stiff glass of whisky and water at the
beginning he now drank sparingly. He
laid the revolver on the table at his ell
bow and made Mike sit opposite him.
When the ravenous meal was finished,
he pushed the plate from him and look
ed across at Davlin.
"When / said l didn't trust Won.
Mike, | was liar. / do, and I'll prove
It. When it's your interest TO befriend
a man, you'll do it every time. -
Il will that, +" said Mike, not quite
compromising what the other had said.
Nov listen to me. Mike, and be sure
you do exactly as tell you. Go to
where the bank manager lives and
rouse him up as reused you. He'll not
be afraid when he sees it's you. Tell
him you've got me over in the saloon
and that I've come 60 rob the bank OF
that ID $50. OcO. Say that I'm des-
perate and can't be taken short of q
dozen lives, and there is no lie in that,
as you know. Tell him you We fallen in
with my plans and thGt Well go over
there and hold him up. Tell him the
only chance of catching me is by a
trick. He's to open the door of the place
where the money IS, and you're to shove |
me in and lock nle up. But when he
opens the door I'll send bullet through |
nd