Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-08-03
that we were now at the tlief's hnrne.
and That the }rrinn A;n,a LII

and that the trying Tins had eoms,
We lay without moving mnsc,e
'nst then dreadful thought came
TO me Any one looking under thu
sheet would be likely to raise it at thu
tore end. Our clothes would be seen,
then we should inevitably be dis.
covered. / sat up in ny excitement,
throwing off the cotton,
/ What sound was that1 4 humminr.
somewhat like threshinc machins.
III the distance. But had helpe ed
unload too much cotton to that musfo
not TO recognize Cncovering Dapesn
head, | whispered;
He's brought us to the gin, Don.t
you hear it,"
Dape sat up instantly, and made !
gesture of delight. "Now we've GOT
him. said he.
AS the gin yard gate was creakine on
It's hinges. the man who had come out
to open IT, the ginner himself, asked
How much have you got on theree"
About eighteen hundred, | guess, -
replied the man on the wagon.
Enough for bale. Can you run it
through right away?'
"Think can get it out by noon.
Only one lot ahead of YOU"
Cant you give me first show? I'm
in al alfred hurry"
NO, l can't. I've started the other
already"
''Oh, we'll. I s'pose | got to stand
1t, and In he drove
'Now's our time!' said Dane.
SO ] raised the sheet ut the back
end of the load aud beckoned to the
glnner, who was closing the gate after
us. He loo ked surprised. but seeing
from my mysterious manner that some
thing was wrong, he soon overlook the
wagon.
This isn't his cotton at ali" T
whispered down. "It's my fathers.
That fellow stole it last night
stole us. too, put in Dape. "He
doesn't know anything about that,
though. and he's sitting on our
Clothes"
The ginner looked incredulous, but
soon saw from our manner and dress
that we were speaking the truth.
keep still till lean send for some
guns! Well arrest the scound1el"
he said, and hurried on to the gin
house, while the wagon continued its
way through the yard among scatter
ing cotton bales.
This gin.house stood on posts six
or eight feet high. At the door was a
platform about even with the top of q
wagonbed, where cotton was unload
platform, our driver stopped ana thru ie,s e~-
on the brake. Then we heard him
step off upon the platform.
'Now for our clothes," whispered
Dape.
We began to dress, sitting on the
cotton, but | had only jerked on my
shirt and pantaloons, and was tugging
at n boot, when the sheet, or wagon
cover was suddenly thrown up, and
the wind carried it off the bows.
There stood n tall, shaggy bearded
man, in 4louchy black hat and vel
low ''slicker," or rain PROOF coat.
reaching to his heels. The consterna-
ton on his face, when he saw what be
had stolen, was ludicrous His mouth
stupidity.
Il arresi YOU exclaimed the gin
ner. gruifly, as he hurried out and
caught the thief by the arm.
ARREST me- and the man came 10
himself suddenly Stand back" he
shouted, giving the ginner violent
push. The next moment he threw off
the slicker. snatched pistol from his
pocket, and with an oath and threat,
ieapea from the platform.
Out came two bowie knives, and he
tried to cut one of his horses loose:
but seeing two gin hands coming with
guns, he dashed round the house,
sprang over the fence. and fled through
the woods, with everybody. including
Dape and ne, IN pursuit. But | don't
think anybody was half as eager 70
overtake him as he was to get away,
for he had very disagreeable man
ner in tlourishinS his pistol.
"Now what said l.
"Get the cotton Ginned said Dape
easily bargained with the glnner; be
keeping out enough, besides his toll.
to pay for the bagginG and ties TO wrap
the bale He also gave rs feed for
the team.
With the seed anil the bale loaded
into our wagon. We started for home.
sixteen miles away, early IN the after
noon, and soon met fat her and another
rnau on horseback Tie disappear
ance OF wagon-load Of cotton and
tao boys had ma,ic 4 sensation in our
neiGh borhool. and the roads were
now being secured iii every direction.
Father was greatly amused with the
story OF oar adventure. Why. said
ne, that man was no thief: ne was
regular pnl.antnrorlst We couldn't
have picked cotton today. ANYHOW
Aud he's hauled the load Tor Us and
made Is presen of his horses. Good
horses. too. And Whenever he comes
10 my place for his horses, there'.l be
chunks Of fun