Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-15
WHICH she bad never noticed in the can

which she had never noticed in the call
before.
1t was given three times. Then the
forest from which it came was silent
again.
Looking toward Mr.. Porter's, she saw
that the man who had been looking out
Of the window. apparently listening. was
now climbing out upon the roof of the
she'd.
1t must be the singing teacher, she
thought. But what can he be getting
/ out of the house in that way for?'
The man she was watching dropped
lightly 20 the ground from the shed roof,
and came toward the road Then he leap
ed he fence and came directly toward
the spot where she was hidden
What shall | do?'' thought Rhoda,
frightened half TO DEATH Il don't dare
run, and l don't dare scream. Oh, il Nan
ME would only come back"
Being SO badly frightened, she did moth
ing but shrink back closer into the screen
| ing shadow of the bush behind which she
was sitting.
Then she heard steps coming from the
opposite direction. Evidently Mr.. Wayne
had come to meet some one, and his Wis
itor was approaching.
The two men met in the sheltering
shadow Of an old cottonwood, not fifteen
feet away from where the frightened
| girl was crouching, her heart beating
such a tattoo against her ribs that it
seemed to her they must hear it.
rs that you. Number Five?" asked
Wayne.
Yes, it's me-" was the reply. ITS
been bad night for us. captain.
Yes. it has been bad night for us"
responded Wayne. Number Six has got
through with his troubles
They got away ell right with the
horses from the other place" said the
man called Number Five They're hot
after us, but l think well be able to
throw them off TIE scent. after all. When
do we leave the swamp, captain? It's get
ting to be almost too hot for us in this
vicinity, and the sooner we're out of it
the better l shall be satisfied
Il will join you tomorrow night, and
we will leave at once" replied Wayne
See that everything is in readiness for
start as soon as | arrive. How many
horses are there in all?"
six" was the reply. THAT is, there
will be six if they succeed in running
in those they got away with tonight.
| There's the two from Deer Creek, the
| two from the crossroads, and to-night's
/ haul"
i One apiece for us since Number Six
| has thrown up his hand" said Wayne
That won't be so bad, after all, If we
| get them out of the swamp all right. It's
lucky thing that we hit upon the Big
Swamp for hiding place. They have an
idea, about here, that it's impossible to
/ get a horse into it, so they haven't
thought of looking there for us. Poor
Number Six, I'm sorry to leave him be-
hind. Let's see-the plan Of taking the
horses down the creek from the road till
it got deep enough to take them into the
swamp on a raft originated with him,
but | suppose it was his fate to be shot,
and fate's something none of us can get
away from, l take it."
It'll be beginning to grow light soon, !"
said the other II think I'd better be
on the move. You'll be there tomorrow
night then?'
IN be there by midnight if nothing
happens" said Wayne. Have every
thing packed and in readiness to leave as
soon as join you. Do you know where
the settlers are making their search to-
night?"
Some of them have gone up the
creek" was the reply. Our men took
the horses into the thick weeds at the
edge of the marsh, up the road, and from
that into the creek, and then down stream
and across the road; and if the settlers
come on any tracks it'll puzzle them to
tell which way we went, for it's hard to
tell which way tracks point in marsh
and running water. / hardly think they'll
! get on the right scent before we're safe
ly out of the country, if we leave to-
/ morrow night"
"Well, take care of Yourself" said
| Wayne. IN be on hand by midnight,
sure. Good night, Number Five"
Good night, captain" responded the
other.
Then they separated, one going back to
the house and the other into the woods.
Rhoda wondered if she was really
awake. She could hardly credit the evil
/ dence of her senses.
80 Wayne's the leader of the gang Of
horse thievesr' said she to herself, in a
frightened whisper. And I've found out
the whole thing! Dear me! 1t scares
me 20 think of it. 1t don't seem as if it
could be possiblel | must have dreamed
| ii! Where can Mamie be all this time
/ wish she could have been here and
heard it air.
ITO no continued !