The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-05

UOE SGndChs 1niS ldCl NOUfA SAN0 tit Pun
sued man an advantage when he neared
the river.
Harry watched the race with bated
breath. His sympathies were, naturally
enough with the fugitive who was con-
tending against fearful odds.
The lad thought of Graddock and his
rustlers and easily imagined that this man
was a poor settler who had incurred the
displeasure of the rustler captain, and
who was in consequence being hcunded to
death by that notorious outlaw and his
minions.
With Harry Burns to think was to act.
He raised his rife and fired, more for the
purpose of hating the rough-riders than
intention 10 injure one of them. What then
was his surprise TO see one of the pur-
suers roll from the saddle.
Harry Burns was startled at the effect OF
his shot.
In moment, however, the man who had
fallen from his saddle sprang up and was
running toward his horse, evidently none
the worse for his tumble.
And now the pursued man dashed into
the bushes almost upon the boy.
Harry sprang forward to meet the fugl-
tive, a white-faced, painting man, with
streaming hair and wind-blown beard
Boy exclaimed the runner, can't you
hide me somewhere?'
This way" called Harry, darling to-
ward mis- uncle's horse.
The boy did not pause until he had gained
the rear of the house and stood in the open
door of a back she'd For one instant he
hesitated, then darted TO the side OF a large
grain-box, over one side of which hung
two heavy horse blankets.
Jump in here, quiokr' cried Harry.
The man obeyed, lying close to the bot
| tom of the empty box.
The lad seized and opened the blankets,
spreading them carefully over the shrink
ing form of the fugitive. Harry then
stepped quickly to the door and glanced
out
Not far away sounded The crash of steps.
In less than a minute the men who pur-
sued would be in sight.
Harry Burns turned back into the shed.
He glanced at the blankets covering the
fugitive, and felt his heart sink The pur-
suers would surely throw aside the COW
ering and seize their man. What should
he do?
Promise not to betray me, boy" cried
a voice from beneath the blankets in
| hoarse accents.
II PROMISE said Harry.
And then "a sudden thought entered his
brain. At one side OF the shed stood two
large sacks filled with oats. With the
strength born of the occasion the boy
| dragged these to the side of the grain
box.
Cutting the strings Harry soon emptied
the contents of the sacks into the box,
covering the blankets and man beneath
to the depth of several inches.
While he was emptying the last sack
| face peered in at the door.
Hello, boy! what are ye at?" called
| gruff voice.
Cant you see?" returned Harry, as he
coolly shook out the empty sacks and
| hung them over a peg on the wall
''Housin oats, Ell? Wal, l don't care
! fur SIGH now. Did you see a man runnin
like split down this way minnit ago?"
Yes" replied Harry, cody, stepping TO
| the door, He passed on in that direc-
tion," pointing down the river. "Who was
! he anyhow? What has he done that you
fellows should chase him like this?"
The man laughed as he eyed the boy
| keenly.
did ye ever hear of cap'n Graddock?"
said he.
1.-THE rustler robber?"
'"Ther same. boyee.'
"Certainly / have heard Of him; but"
"Hes Their very chap we're chasln
boyee. Thar's thousan' on his head, and
| I'll gin half ter hev him pinted out to
me-"
Harry Burns started and trembled.
Here was a way to help his uncle i'm
mensely, and at the same time rid the
country of one of its most dangerous char
acters.
Involuntarily the boy glanced toward the
box of grain.
One word from him would seal the doom
of the Wyoming land pirate, and enrich
himself in goodly sum besides. The eyes
of the cattleman were watching his face
keenly.
ia IL, I,ar fo
commanded the man. "Once 1 get my
hands onter him $500 is yourn."
The temptation was great but the boy
| had given The marauder his word that he
would not betray him. and, swallowing a
| big lump that almost choked him, Harry
| said:
II should like the money very much, and
| I'd be glad to see the robber captured and
punished, but cannot tell you where he
| is"
I'm sorry, but 1 reckin wen catch Their
skunk afore long anyhow" declared the
| spokesman of the pursuing party, passing
! out and joining his comrades, who had
halted within few yards of the house.
Harry knew that had the man under the
oats fallen into the hands of his pursuers
he would have been run up TO the limb Of
the nearest tree. The lad had, indeed,
saved the fellows life.
|
| the presence Of his wounded uncle, to
whom he told all that he had done.
''You did very wrong in giving the out
law such promise Harry" said old Ze-
mas Burns. However, after giving such
a promise you did perfectly right in re-
fusing to betray the fellow"
After night had fallen Harry lit his
| lantern and proceeded TO the shed for the
purpose of informing the man under the
oats that the coast was clear. On reaching
the spot what was the lads surprise to
| find oats and blankets flung aside and the
! outlaw gomez
Hes gone" said Harry, drawing a re-
| lieved breath.
! He then walked to the door, At this
moment his ear caught the sound of horse
hoofs bounding away from the vicinity Of
| their log stable.
Harry ran to the stable where beautiful
! Black Bess, the neetest horse In Wyoming,
was sheltered he flashed his light into
| the stable through the open door.
The place was empty!
BLACK Bess IS stolenp' exclaimed the
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