Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-25

lator Co., Atlanta, Ga.
OF voices at.d Tie catering q boois ON the
yard, and guessed that some of the troopers
below h5d gone in haste 20 the north, for,
ms window being on the south side Of the
house saw nothing Of them as they passed,
All below became silent as the confusion
met1ed ID the distance Ny nerves were
'a aa-p strings as J stood and listened, hut.
as the time went on and nothing occurred,
| breathed tritie easier, and finally gath
cred enough confidence to reprlme my fire
arms. Had it not been for the damp knew
was in them, should have used pistol on
the gambler at the start.
For all Of an hour l waited in the pas
sage, which turned out to be little more than
a narrow lumber room, but at last | heard
the door below open, and even as | was hop
ing for some one to guide me to my next
move, the negro was before me. Like spir-
it he entered the passage, for no sound
of steps had heraded his coming, and the
only words he spoke We're:
Pull OF yer boots and follow me-"
His own were in his hand, and obeying, |
trailed after him in and about two or three
rooms and hall, coming at last to a flight of
steps that led US down and out by back
way
1t was something ike waking from a night
mare to breathe the outer air again and not
feel the cramping of close quarters. Notion
ing me still to follow, he bent himself like
an Indian seeking footprints, and thus we
passed beneath the rear bar windows, soon
being at a distance from the house and to-
ward the stream had noticed. Under some
low bushes we stopped long enough to pull
on boots, aud then onward we went, now
bearing toward the east and through
swamp, which would have been fatal to me
had / attempted to traverse it alone.
Save to caution my going, not a word my
guide spoke, nor did | ask a question, only
stepping close behind him as lie made his
way through a blind path he evidently well
knew Presently we came to something
like rod OF firm ground slightly overgrown
with coarse weeds and low shrubbery Here
my guide halted, and turning about with
chucEle, said;
considering they know nothing OF yer go
ing, ye be safe enough here
What the devil | began, but he in
terrupted me.
=" lis PLAN enough my friend. know
We now, an thought | did at first Did We
mark me draw the light from ye at the table
and shut the windows.
How did YOU know me.
Are ye not the man who bearded Clin-
ton? Who would not know We after the
DAYS rumpus with scarehin : an descrlp-
Cons? Are there two o yer shadow on the
island? Is not yer name Thorndyke! lis
lucky We fell afoul o Nick Stryker insteao o
Others
BY the Mighty! Are you Nick
Strvker?" asked. a light bursting on me.
~ my, ,444taa answered
u thought you said Nat Burns was
Who ever saw Nat Burns: he broke in.
No one He's always away. Come, now,
Eve little TO tell. What brought We 10 the
Dove"
To find one calling himself Rex be-
gan. but he stopped me by an exclamation.
Rex, an We asked Tor a man o the name
81 KING? | know none such, but Rex why.
he II was that lad out the tory and saved
yer neck An We knew him not, Well, on
my soul, lis scarce q wonder
Is it possible. No more than brother
unborn would | have known hmm. Is Low
ney dead?' ! asked.
.'Ay. he's dead. an ye ha the credit o II.
Did We not hear party putting after We 20
the north2 We have no time to palaver.
Stay here until | guide the Quaker hither;
he 5 maxim blind fools q an officer an three
men over the DouN the tory, OUT HIS lisA
Is great | tell We that Rex Is sore beset HIM
self an | would hang higher than Haman
were my position known. Ne each need the
other. Tor lis beyond me now TO more than
help We out Of the muss We have Just got
ten in.
What Is the mans real name. | asked
as he turned to leave me-
''Ames." was the short answer as he
made off. and in the small light Of the moon
that was now close % rs setting | marked
his figure grow less ana less untl the shad-
ows swallowed 1t.
New saw where ! had made mistake n
not closely following directions and asking
Tor Rex IN the nrSt place And equally
stupid had I been D determining that Nick
striker was openly known by his name
When inquired Tor NinE. Is had never en-
tered ms head that Rex could be aIsht but
the brother s.. Gertrude and i now came 70
me thl5 mayhap Clinton WAS INSIDE the
truth when be sa.i THAI Youth i-7l persisted
ii the tamts How. tAeu. eould she poor
e.rl have fsrod ssuee she lott me- Is, her
lrosher aU1 escaped. according e Mrs.
+ Badelv. a4d tuas possible tae SRI had
known wler, to Iom hzm- Elther Clinton
{ had Fed IS IFS nlS-r. s, a1l been deceived.
-F-rrs ans --sff..s r.n 5s.--r lszr