Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-15
Copyright. 1894, by Robert Bonnrr's Sons
CHAPTER NXI.-(Continue

''Samanthy.' she called in low, ex-
cited whisper .Samanthy"
What's wantedT' asked Samanthy
from the kitchen.
Come here" said Mamie. BE quick.
What's up now!' demanded saman-
thy. coming to the pantry door. Cant
you find the hops? They
The barn doors open. do believe
somebody's after Uncle Ezra's horses.
said Mamie. Look and see-Im not
mistaken"
Good Lord"' cried Samanthy, run
ming to the window. lis so. true's
you're alive Nancy Boone, it's boss
thieves, We can d'pend ON it! They
thought we was all off to meetin'. n
they'd hev clear sailin'''
"Oh, what'll we do?" cried Mamie.
do you think it would scare 'em If we
screamedY'
III scare EN-" said Samanthy, grim
ly and zesolutely. jest keep as still as
de'th, an MIST that winder about two
inches. Be spry about it, too
Mamie knew that any plan of action
Samanthy might decide on would be wiser
and more effective than any she might
propose, so without stopping to ask ques-
tions, she raised the window, as direct
ed, while Samanthy was in the kitchen.
She came back with Mr.. Porter's old
musket
oh" almost shrieked Mamie. You
aren't going TO shoot them, are your
Il be eff / cam replied Samanthy. Il
don't expect to hit nothin' cept the side
o the barn. but es l don't 'twop't be my
fault. If | don't hit, mebbe III scare
EN-
She thrust the muzzle of the gun
through the opening, and waited.
Presently she fancied that she saw
something moving back in the shadow
with which the barn seemed to be filled.
1t was impossible to make out whether IT
was u man or not, but 1t was safe TO
conclude that it must be, for the door
would not have been open had human
agency not been exerted on it.
''Hor yer BREATH whispered Saman-
thy, bracing her feet and shutting her
iyes. I'm goin' to pull the trigger"
There was second of awful silence,
then report that would have done credit
TO small cannon, and Samanthy meas
ured her length on the floor.
Land o. goodness! How it kicked!'
groaned the PROSTATE damsel. Il reckon
I'd orter p'inted it t'other way"
At the barn there had been a quick,
sharp cry from the shadow in the door
way, a frightened oath from another in
side, and then a man staggered and fell
across the log sill, with a red stream of
blood squirting from his breast.
Are you hit?" cried the other, coming
to his side and attempting to raise him to
his feet.
Yes was the husky answer. Il
guess I'm done for at last. Don't stay
here You can't do any good if you do.
They won't hang me after I'm dead.
Make tracks, partner"
But can't leave you in this fix" said
the other. You may not be hurt as bad
as you think. Couldn't you walk by
leaning ON me? Try it."
Its no USE" was the reply. I'm
shot through the body. Run for it if you
want to save your neck"
His companion hesitated. 1t seemed
too cowardly to leave a wounded COM
rade like this, even If remaining at his
side could afford him no help. A hoarse
rattle in the throat of the wounded man
decided him.
"WelI, then, good-by, old fellow" he
said, putting out his hand and touching
the others arm at parting. I'D stay if
| could help you, if l hung for il" he
added, still wavering between a desire TO
be loyal to an old companion in crime and
longing TO seek personal safety.
The only answer was a gurgling sound
in the throat of the dying man. He knew
knew that his companions life was end
ing, and he sprang over his body and fed
into the darkness.
Il reckon I've convinced 'em we want
all away from hum said Samanthy,
struggling to her feet. III bet I'll be
black'n blue to-morrer from the kieRin'
o thar gun. ! never see nothin' like it. "
"Are YOU hurt much?" asked Mamie,
beginning TO recover from her fright.
Not serius, l guess" replied Saman-
thy. "Supposen you look out an see eff
you can see anything"
Mamie went to the window just IN
time to see the man running toward the
cornfield.
Zones running" she answered. And,
oh, Samanthy"- frightened quaver
in her yoice-''there's something lying in
tue HdTu AOOI ludl 1pOhS Us II II u
be a man. Oh, Samanthy, what if it
should be! What will YOU do if you've
killed him?"
"Sha'nt wear mournin' fer him" said
Samanthy, beginning to feel queer, as
she aftcrward related this part of the
story to her friends II wouldn't like TO
know Id killed somebody, but eff twas
boss thief, somebody'd erter kill him,
an | dunno but it mought as well be
mes anybody else"
I'VE ought to let Uncle Porter know.
said Mamie "Oh, Samanthy!"-sud
ly-"I wouldn't wonder in the least if
they'd go, our horses too
Likes not said Samanthy. If
you'll go right down an let 'em know
what's happened, III stay here and keep
watch"
"oh, / wouldn't dare to- cried Nan.
ME. What il ! met one of the horse.
thieves%H
..rhen you stay here, an I'll go; said
Samanthy.
Lets both go, said Mamie. 1T
wouldn't do any good for one Of us 10
stay. here while the other was gone.
To this plan Samanthy assented, and
they set OF on rum for the campmeet-
ng grounds.
sit cured my toothache, anyway, said
Samanthy. Il declare t was luck | had
it. want ii? II sent me hum ut jest the
right time. IF We q "A ben 1--WE min
uteS later, they d n ben gone with the
bosses"
Mr.. Porter was in the midst of stir
ring exhorta;ion when the two women
reappearcd at the camp-meeting.
Samauthy went up To him and gave his
arm a twitch.
You'd better come hum. she whis-
pered There's trubhle 10 the barn,
Ho>s-lhieves. l reek'n"
CHAPTER NNII
AFr. Porter broke OF his exhortation
very abruptly. and joined Mr. Boone. g