Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-02-09
CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION.

CONCLUSION.
Finding Il impossible to keep awake
III this position, he arose and paced
slowly up and down in front of the hut,
as he had been accustomed to do on
shipboard.
He did not see a dark. form which
drew nearer each time his back was
turned
Closer and closer it crept until it
reached tree at the end of his route.
The next time he turned his back to it
he was seized by the throat from be-
hind with a grip which completely shut
eff his breath while a stern whisper
sounded in his ear:
Make a. sound and I'll kill you like a
dog!"
Obed Rider made no attempt to strug
gle after the first involuntary start of
surprise. The cold rim of steel pressed
against his ear was too strong an argu-
ment in addition to the viselike grip on
his windpipe.
The latter was loosened when he
ceased struggling and the voice whis-
pered:
"Come with me quietly, or it'll be the
worse for you'll
The speaker pushed him along few
yards until he reached spot where he
could readily distinguish the outlines
of several men under a tree. AS they
| approached the group, his captor said:
''Here he is. Now, what shall we do
with him?"
It was Tarbox who stood behind the
prisoner, and he added:
zone of you take away his weapons. :"
Tom Scott sprang to the side of his
old enemy, and to his delight found
two loaded revolvers in his belt, which
he secured, giving one to Taylor.
Avery had taken the one from his
daughter, and Tom found that the car
| tridges in the weapon just secured fit
| ted the empty revolver he had found in
| the hut.
To slip three of them into it was the
| work of moment. Then our friends
found they had four weapons ready for
| use, and determined to lose no time in
| recovering their golden treasure.
Lets surround the hut" said Tom,
| eagerly, land call them out. They'll
surrender when they find they have no
| show with u.s.
But Avery advised caution. They're
1 ACu, lie Sdlu, d1hO tuSy WIFI
| fight. when. cornered. We don't want
any bloodshed over this affair if we can
| help it. When daylight comes they
may be glad to give us the gold to save
their skins, but if we surprise them in
the dark somebody is likely to get
| killed.
See here" said Tarbox, suddenly.
| still gripping Riders collar with his
sinewy hand, "why can't this rascal
| help us2 Send him back, and let him
get hold of the guns in the hut and
bring them out. If he tries any crook
ed business I'll put bullet through him
myself at the first sign
you hear?" said Taylor. "Now be
| off, and remember we are six to your
three. We already have the horses
safe, and if you serve us we'll ysu shall
go free. although you ought to be. hung
for what you have done. Go back and
get all the weapons you can out of the
hut. Hurry up!"
But Bowers will shoot me in a min
ute if he wakes" whispered Rider, fear
fully.
"Shoot him first, then," was the
prompt response. ''I'n shoot you if you
act the least bit suspicious. No more
talk now. Start!"
| The muzzle of revolver poked
smartly into the small of his back left
the wretched man no alternative and
he stole away toward the hut, where his
two confederates were sleeping, his
heart beating so loudly that it seemed
to him it must arouse them the instant
he reached the threshold. He dared not
tpause, however, and as he picked his
way along through the trees he began
to realize that the way of the trans
igressor is sometimes not so rosy as it
is painted.
| When he reached the door he could
tplainly hear the deep snoring OF both
linen, and, mastering all his courage, he
Istepped lightly inside.
In order to reach the rifles in the cor
ner he was forced to step over the body
of Turner, and it seemed to the mate
THAT he lived an hour in the few Sec
Ionds so employed.
His hand trembled so that it was with
1.-THE utmost difficulty he managed to Sc
lcure the three weapons noiselessly, but
fortune favored him. With bated