The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-09

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you in trouble.
Better leave it with you. eh?' said
I, with wink.
THE agent was furious in a minute.
Z belong, sub he exclaimed, to one
Of the fust families of Kentucky. I
wouldn't touch 20 dirty money If
web sta'vin'.
'I saw my joke was a failure and
apologied at once.
"'All right, subj said the agent I
suppose you meant no ham, but I
don't ike it nevertheless. In futuh be
mo- ca'ful TO yo own sake. Few Ken
tuckians have as mild tempehs as l.
"AIl the way from Truxton to Leon
ard the stage driver ross-questioned
me relative to my business in the
mountains. I explained as well as
could, but he was far from satisfied.
What's youan's business heah,
subj inquired the landlord as I walk
ed into the little tavern at the end Of
my ride. I described it and he called
in the chamber Of commerce, consist
ing Of all the prominent citizens.
after convincing everyone that
there was something suspicious about
me, went out to look for a guide. A
hulking chap named JEFF Turnbuu ap-
piled for the position and I employed
him. The next morning we started
north across the Big Black range
The travelling was difficult, but with
out incident until Just before sun up
the third morning.
Il was asleep on the ground in my
blanket Cit up said somebody
punching me in the ribs I sat up and
by George, we had company-four
wicked looking mountaineers, with
guns and long whiskers. Jeff ap-
peared friendly with 'end, and at first
considered that a favorable symp-
tom. He Undeceived me by calling for
my wallet raised a holler, but he
pulled his knife. 50 I compromised by
handing over my miney, watch and
gun.
Then began a debate Of the best
method Of disposing of me. I tried to
cut in, but JEFF shut me off in a hur-
~. The majority favored a funeral
Finally got the floor during q lull in
the debate.
Gentlemen said, I. sweating all
over. those drafts you've gOt-those
1890 s7AAtJo Va pal CA oil 2 NOl III FDpO IL
you handle them right But they're
no good if YOU hurt me.
THE new arrivals were for killing
me for opening my mouth without an
invitation but Jeff had a glimmer. of
sense and told me to explain.
so I told EN-, in first reader Ian
guage, the drafts had to be cashed
through a bank and that I was the
only man who could do it. JEFF wasn't
convinced. He couldn't see why one
shouldn't, work it as we'll as another
After thinking It over, ne suggested
that one Of the gang should take the
securities to the nearest bank at Pine
Vile. thirty or forty miles away. and
investigate, while the rest stayed with
me.
Il signed at Jeffs suggestion, and
the point Of knife, expecting to feel
a knife In my back the minute I fin
ished. The gang were still afraid I
might be needed, however, so I stayed
while the messenger started back to
town again. I did think it queer that
the banker to whom the drafts were
submitted had no suspicious, but af-
terward learned that the Pinevilla
bank wasn't visited. The boys must
have had an adviser on the outside.
when the drafts started away the
second time I began to grow nervous.
Now, they have my Endorsement I
thought, these chaps will get their
money and cut my throat. must
make q getaway.
MY chance came the day after my
friends departure. I'd had others of
a similar character before and passed
them up. But by this time the case
was desperate.
''The gang was almost continually on
the move, and at the time I mention
we were crawling along the bank Of a
forty or fifty foot precipice. All I
had to do was to let go and take the
drop. I did.
"A tree broke my fall and I struck
the ground without serious injury The
mountaineers were shooting and hol-
lering and trying to get down the cliff
without breaking their necls, but I
had a start. I rolled and ran and
tumbled down the rest Of the noun
tain at gate to beat the Empire state
Express. When reached bottom 7
took down the valley for an hour
Then I fell down exhausted.
after getting my breath I started
again and tramped the rest of the day
without a bite to eat That night I
slept under the bushes with an aching
void inside. In the morning I resumed
my ramble. It was nearly sunset be
fore struck a little cabin in the val
ley I yelled. Out jumped big noun
taineer.. with half dozen dogs yapping
behind him.
What's you airs business here.
stranger, ne asked, with the usual
scowl.
81 told him my troubles and he
looked uglier than ever. Suspicion was
getting the better Of his hospitable
instincts when his daughter appeared
in the doorway--the prettiest girl in
the Cumberland Mountains.
What's the matter. dad? she said
''The old gent grunted something
and she came out to see for herself
When she discovered that he was in
doubt whether to aid a lost and starv-
ms strangeh'-my, but there was a
fussi The old fellow was anxious to
have his own way, but he couldn't
hold out out against the girls re-
proaches. She hadn't talked many sec
onds before he fairly hlushed under
his tan and tried to pretend that he
had been overjoyed 70 see me all along
You can guess the rest. The girls
name was Susie Chessell. Weary as
[ was she wouldn't hear TO my de-
parture the next day. and the end was
that I stayed not only one. but many
more. While I was there Susie and
explored every corner OF that and the
adjoining valleys.
when I came north I prevailed on
her parents 10 let me place her and
cher twelve-year-old sister In a convent
in Louisville. In two years Susie viii