The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-08-06
aY MAURICE THOMPSON.
co,z,,sh,. 1882 and 1895 By Ross.. Boomers Soma

most desirable beast, especially as to
his gait"
"I am sure that if you consider him
desirable you had better keep him."
remarked Mr.. Burns, his owc grave
and wrinkled face relaxing q little; 81
should not wish to relieve you OF him"
"Me, I no wish re good 'orse at all;
dis one suit me var WE'LL" said Vas
senr.
The young preacher chuckled and
turned a quarter about in his saddle,
so that his weight was all or his left
stirrup.
Suddenly he let fall the bridle-reins
and, with lightning celebrity, snatched
both the pistols from the saddle-bow.
Burns and Vasseur found them
selves looking each into the yawning
muzzle of o weapon held by a hand as
steady as a stone wall.
"Dismount-both on the same side
there, gentlemen" came the cold, de-
termined order, land hold up your
hands, OF I'll bore you, center through,
before you can wink!"
Then and there the young preacher
robbed Vasseur OF his money, a dagger
and his horse; and, after placing the
fine bride and saddle upon the latter.
mounted, and, with a mocking laugh,
q rakish bow and a kiss of the fingers,
rode away. He had touched nothing
belonging to Mr.. Burns.
1t is not known whether or not Mr..
Burns was taken by surprise when
Vasseur began to rage and swear
and curse like q ~buccaneer, his
explosives ranging through the scale
of three or four languages; but that
he stood quietly by, his face inscru-
tably mournful in its expression, his
thin, bony hands hanging at his sides,
is we'll authenticated.
Vasseur exhausted himself Of pro-
family, and then was fain to put his
own saddle and bride on the strangers
lame horse in order to proceed on the
journey.
Burns objected to this.
"Take my beast" he said, sit will
serve your purpose better, brother.
The lame one will be good enough for
me-"
Vasseur looked abashed, for the
thought had flashed into his mind
that very second to do for Burns
what the other preacher had done for
him.
"You need this strong beast OF
mine" Burns urged, 'to carry out
your plans. Do not hesitate; he Is
yours, take him and welcome. I can
get on with the other"
The little Frenchman was inwardly
startled. What did Burns know OF
his plans? Lad he suddenly OWNED
them?
"You have undertaken a difficult,
en- almost impossible thing, brother,
and you cannot afford to be poorly
mounted in case of need" went on
the old man. "This is q good, strong
horse, and, although he does not look
so, is u very swift n Take him; 1
give him to you"
1t was while they were parleying on
this subject, Vasseur pretending that
be was objectingto Burns's generosity,
that the old mau stopped and picked
up a folded letter, the seal of which
had been broken. He opened it with
out hesitation, and found it to be a
short note addressed to John A. Muir
rell-a name which, q few years later,
was that of the most desperate and
euterprlsing outlaw ever known in
America.
1t wonld have been better for Vas
seur had he accepted the preferred
horse at once; then he might have
escaped the unpleasant experience
whicl soon followed.
Like many another pretender he
fingered too long to accentuate and
colIeterally reinforce his assumed sin
cerity.
It may have been the steady, search
ing gaze that Burns bent upon him, it
may have been the old mans singular
expression of kindness, or it may
GiNC Deeu luc peCulial tuih VI VI"
adventure just passed through; at al
events, influenced by some power,
Vasseur stood hesitating and demur.
rag until three ~galloping horsemen
armed to the teeth were close upon
tuem.
Burns saw the newcomers first and
with a s~asm-lika movement he fixed
his eyes upon the leader, his face
hriveIing and blanching in a startling
manner.
Vasseur turned quickly as the sound
Of horses feet behind him shook him
out of his insincerity, anG it was no.
his turn to show amszement, surprise
,nd despair all condensed in q single
stare.
The riders reined in their horses
and halted a rod distant, forming a
finely picturesque group set against
the dull, gray trunks and dusky inter
spaces Of the wood.
Pierre Rameau was in front, mount
cd on O bold, proud horse, whose
- IL -. 6 &1,o ,,1larpac q