Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-01-26

.I1l furnish the outfit an take yer
where the game is ter be played. You
git one-third of Their swag an 1 git two
thirds That's fair, amt ii ?'
81 can't kick on that"
'sAll right. Now we'll git some sleep
an to-morrer we'll see if thar's any
bosses ter be got. IF hadn't been
chump I'd held on ter what brought
in with me when I come"
On the following day, however, he
took different view of the matter. It
would be impossible to start off on the
trip without arousing the suspicious of
Obed Rider, and Bow ers decided that he
must be of the party.
"He's just the chap ter split on us If
we happened ter have scrimmage an
thar was any fuss here over it. I
dassent leave him behind. Well take
| him an then he'll hev ter keep his
mouth, shut when he's in the same boat
with u.s.
But after two days search he was
unable to procure a single horse, so
great was the demand. His gold was
running low besides, and at last he
dared not wait any longer. Each man
took as much provisions as he could
y
ing, they started over the trail, armed
with rifles and revolvers.
When they had proceeded a few miles
! on their way, Bowers said:
"Now, pards, we're out fer big game
an we've got ter be mighty smart if
we want ter come out all right. We're
likely ter meet some O. the party were
after any time. They can't tote all their
IN ont hao rs, hon T hairs
that girl. They must hev bout enuff
by this time an they'll like enuff send
one O. the men ter Dyea after bosses
fer the gang. See?"
That's boss sense" replied Turner.
WALL" continued Bowers, 'we must
keep our eyes peeled that we don't let
ourselves be seen by any sech man.
It'll Spite everything if we do.''
1t was we'll for his plans that he did
keep a sharp lookout, for before night
he saw speck far ahead on the trail
which he knew at once to be a man. He
was standing on the edge of a piece of
woods. and his companions were behind
him at the time. Stepping in the shad-
ow of the trees, he explained:
''Thar's man comm, an I'll bet it's
one O. them we're after. He may hev
seen me, an it won't do fer us all ter
hide. He won't know you, Turner. You
keep on an pass Their time o. day with
him. Yer bound fer the fort, yer know.
Keep right on, an We'll hide till he's
| out o. sight. then we'll overtake yer"
Turner at once walked ahead, while
his two companions secreted themselves
in the underbrush. They saw Turner
stop and converse with the stranger a
few moments, when the latter drew near
them. and Bowers whispered:
cts the man they call Taylor! He's
goin' after bosses surei"
All unconscious of the proximity of
the two men. Taylor tramped sturdily
on, and was soon out of hearing in the
| woods. Then the two left their ambush
and hurried after Turner, who awaited
them far out on the plain.
what did he say?" inquired Bowers,
eagerly.
asked me where I was bound an
whether there was any bosses ter be got
in Dyea," said Turner. who never
seemed to waste word
81 knew it'll" declared Bowers. "Now
all We've got ter do is find a. snug place
this side whar the trail splits an take
| it easy till the dust is under our eyes
He'll be back pretty quick if he gifts
| any bosses an then we won't hev much
| longer ter wait"
Several days later saw them securely
hidden in a piece of dense woods, but
| each day was divided into watches,
| when they took turns standing on sem
| tinel duty. From knoll a short dis
| lance from the hut they had built the
trail was. visible for fully a mile, and
from daylight to dark they watched it
closely.
Their patience was rewarded when,
| late one afternoon, they saw Dick Tay-
Tor riding along to the north, leading a
string of horses behind him.
''Our time is most up now" said Bow
ers, grimly. Hell fetch the mine by
to-morrer- Them two chaps with him
I've seen round Dyea. They're rich
chaps, I've heard. He's picked 'em up
an is goin' ter sell OUT
How many will there be of them ?''
asked Turner, ''an' how's the trick ter
| be done when they git here? Dyer
| reckon a regular holdup, OF what ?''
eve might do it in thet way" said
Bowers, "an' STAN the risk O. gittin'
wiped out, but it won't do ter risk it.
There'l be too many of 'em. I've got a
scheme LIN goin' ter spring on 'em.
Let's git back under cover an TIL tell
yet what it is
When they reached their rude shell
ter and lighted their pipes he outlined
is'plan. asefolbows: =
Upon sighting the party Rider was to
conceal himself in. the woods near the
hut, Bowers himself was to remain in
the hut on the boughs which served
him for a bed, while Turner's part was
to meet the travellers and play the role
of q decoy.
They all know my phiz," said Bow