Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-19

drivers first salutation. Couldn't
leave the team, you see, 80 ! had to
holler. What's the matter, man? Look
as though you'd been through an ore
crusher!''
Chester hobbled down the rock In
numbered bank, sorry spectacle IN.
deed. A gentleman tramp" would
have seemed q Beau Brummel by com.
parison.
"How far are we from DenverT was
his first inquiry.
Matter O. 80 miles or so. Want to
git thar? Jump up thenp was the
CHEEKY invitation. So Ives clambered
up on the of side Of the shafts, and
Immediately the heavy springless ore
wagon went creaking and crashing
along the rough road.
In a few brief sentences Chester &C
quainted him with the strange hap
penings of the past 36 hours.
"Gee whizw whistled the teanster.
That's Jim Dallon's gang, sure 'nuf!
See here. podner, there's $1,000 re-
ward out for jim! This'll be his last
ride, l reckon! What you goin to dor
"Get help as quickly as possible" re-
turned Ives. You know the country
and it's customs; advise me. II those
women are rescued alive and unharm.
ed, I'll answer for 1t that John Draper
will put another $4,000 on top Of the
governors reward to the man that does
it."
"You don't say! Well. 'tain't none O.
my bizness. but l guess I'll have to go
you" was the matter Of fact response.
What do you s'pose that clerk o his'u
do? Has he got gumption"
"Yes," replied Chester, 'he's got
gumption enough. but don't trust him
or the gang. You see. there may be
some difficulty about getting the mon
ey. Fifty thousand dollars is large
amount. and the bank may hesitate
and 30 cause delay. Then what hap
pens? The two escorts get tired or
afraid, conclude they have been fooled
and ride back to camp. In which
event believe Dallon will be as good
as his word-he'n murder them or
worsep
Like as not" was the not very
cheering response. During this COLO
guy they were making slow but sure
progress toward the city. but to Ives
the pace was tantalizingly tedious.
Ben Gallup, the teamster aforesaid, ut
tered not a word for three Or four min.
utes. Then. with mighty crack Of
his whip, he exclaimed:
by hokey, that's the dodge! Ged-
dap, you lazy devils" And, standing
up on the shafts, he urged his team
with voice and whip until they broke
into a trot which doubled their speed.
Then he condescended to speak.
"Don't know as they'll interfere, but
you'd better try"
"Who, man. who? For Gods sake
be more explicit| sputtered Ives.
"Over yonder a piece, at Littleton,"
said Gallup, pointing toward the north.
west with his whip. There's an old
military camp thereFort Denver 1t
used to be called. They're the lads for
you If they'll do the job. S'pose 1t be-
longs to the sheriff by rights, but it'll
take too long. He'd be all day gettin
ready and swearin out his warrants
and habbus corpses for Jack Doe and
Dick Roe. A dose O. cold lead Is the
best medicine for them fellers, and
then you can rest them afterwards"
Fort Denver, you say" queried
Chester, all on fire with impatience.
| 'Then drive, man, drive, as you love
your own wife and daughters"
"Can you ride hossback" queried
Gallup.
"Yes; of course" was the quick re-
ply.
"Then hold on a minute" So saying
he drove the wagon to the side Of the
road, jumped down and began to un-
harness the team, Ives helping with
nervous haste, quickly divining the
honest fellows intention. Rapidly
knotting the traces and the lines. they
each sprang astride an animal and
started down the road at hard gallop,
the dust rising in clouds behind them.
On they went for couple Of miles, and
then there loomed up right ahead the
trim white walls and the black muz-
| zles Of the two howitzers belonging to
the little army post. A couple Of SEN
tries patrolled In front Of the guard
house and looked with wondering eyes
! on the strange outfit scampering past.
Il wish to speak with your COM
mandlng officer" said Ives. "Be good
enough to hand him my card and say
tits matter Of life and deathw
"Yes, and it'll be wuss'n death II he
amt pritty durn lively" muttered Ben.
Then as the orderly turned away he
called after him: Tell the cap'n Dal-
Ion gangs broke loose ag'in. They've
stole q railroad train! Guess that'll
fetch him." he chuckled.
In less than GO seconds appeared the
officer Of the day, Lieutenant Crosby,
holding between thumb and foref1nger
the limp and water soaked piece of
pasteboard which Ives had sent in.
This Is Mr.. Ives. presume" he
said, addressing the New Yorker and
looking with polite amazement at his
sorry plight.
"Yes. sir, and this is Ben Gallup. q
teamster who picked me up on the road
few miles north of this place more
dead than alive. The case Is most ur-
gent Several women are In peril at
the hands Of the Dallon gang"
"Pray step this way, Mr.. Ives" was
the courteous request, and seats were
given them, while a messenger was
dispatched to rouse Colonel Byng, the
commandant. They had not long to