Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-12
CHAPTER Xxx.

Anl dld not attempt TO discover
l made straight for tn,
blacksmith shop and found
smith at his forge.
my good man." said. I'm followed
by guerrillas. They'll be in the town
In a few minutes. Can't you give me
your clothes and let me take your place
at the forgc:'
He stood with his hand on the han
die Of the bellows looking at me while
what | said was slowly making its way
through his skull.
"Weel. noo," he said at last.
Scotch knew it. I'll be taken be
fore can make him understand" Then
to him. do you want to save me from
death by suerrillas?'
Certain. mon"
Then take off that apron and give It
to me at once. Not a moment to lose"
At this juncture the desperate posi-
ton l was in entered his brain, and he
worked quickly enough once he real
lied what was wanted. l saw a wool
en- shirt, well begrimed, hanging on a
nail and, Selling it, put 1t on. Then I
took the smiths apron. rolled up my
sleeves. sDeared my arms with cinders
and looked into a bit of broken mirror
resting against the wooden wall to OBJ
serve the effect. 1 was disappointed to
see that my face belied my calling.
"Your razorw l exclaimed to the
blacksmith.
lie went through door leading from
the shop to his dwelling and returned
with n razor, soap and hot water. In
five minutes I had shorn my beard,
leaving dark stubble; then, Selling a
handful Of coke, rubbed out every re-
fined lineament. Taking another look
Mt myself, was pleased to see that my
own mother would not know me. Seiz.
ing the handle Of the bellows, l began
to blow vigorously.
"Weel, weel," laughed the black
smith, I'VE max a better lo'kin smith
than geentlemOn."
play your own part WELL" replied.
land have something nice for you at
the end Of the performance"
1t was fully Is minutes after we
reached the hamlet before there were
any signs of the guerrillas, and then
three or four rode into the town and
asked for our party. Had they seen
us? Which way had we gone? and 9TH
er questions, which the few people they
met responded to with a grunt or q
shake Of the head. I put my head out
to see and. recognizing one of them,
drew back and began to blow my bel
lows as If my life depended on it. And
1t did. Presently one of the outlaws
rode up to the shop.
Hello, tharv he shouted.
'Waal," replied. still blowing and
keeping my face turned from him.
''Seen a man, two women, a boy an
q niger 60 through the town"
HINT seen no one"
SHOP
"ShO' num-"
He rode of, but knew the storm
had nut yet Uivwn over. went vn
working the bellows, and 1t was well
did SO, for presently more of the band
rode into town. and one Of the horses
having lost shoe. its rider dismounted
In front Of the shop and told me to put
1t on.
This was something had not count
ed on. l knew no more about horse
shoeing than about knitting, but put
a bold face on the matter and went to
work.
"What the - 70 doinY yelled the
man. Air 20 goin ter put that shoe
on with nary trimminY
Don't 20 s'pose I know my busi-
nessY cried. bristling. 81 was only
Attin it,
With that seized a knife and began
to cut. But was too excited to pare
the hoof even II had been an expert.
and In another moment the man yelled
again, EFT y0' cut that critters hoof
Oh. I'll brain yo'r'
"Here. Sandy" I cried to the black
smith within. come shoe this mans
critter. He thinks he knows more'n
do about shoein."
The blacksmith finished the Job,
while l. pretending to be greatly irri-
tated. was glad to escape into his
dwelling house. Going to front win
dow and dropping a curtain so that
could look into the road without being
seen, I took a view of the situation.
The guerrillas were scattered about the
town, some riding around the houses
hunting for US, others sitting on their
horses, questioning the inhabitants as
to our whereabouts. Captain Ringold
was in command. A negro boy was
playing ''hopscotch" on the sidewalk.
The captain called to him:
"Yo' boy thar. didn't 20 see anybody
60 this way awhile agor'
1.-TWO women an a boy bout big =
meT
yes"
IAN a white man an colored manT
Eyes. Which way did they goY'
"Dey's gwine right long dar." And
he pointed to path leading across the
ROAD westward.
Here. you" cried the captain to two
men who were watering their horses
at a wooden trough In front Of the
shop. "strike out on that path"
The men darted away. leaving the
captain alone in the road. A little old
woman came out Of a house opposite
and began to guy him in a cracked
voice, poking fun at him for not being
able to catch a party Of women. She
talked so Familiarity with him that I
began to suspect she knew him. \
trembled for fear she would betray. Us
you uns amt wo'th a persimmon,'
she said. with them critters legs un'
der yer, yer orter ketch wimmen folks
easy"
''We'll catch 'em easy enough. They've
gone along thar" pointing to the patti
his men were just dashing into.
''Th' didn't 60 that away"
'srhey didn't? Which way did they
go?"
ID yer s'posc I give fac's TO- moth.
n"
A cold chill ran down my back. She
was going to tell for pay.
"What do yo' wantT
"Gimme nun To- a caliker dress, ar
I'll put yer on tn right track"
"Sho'Y'
"Sart'in."
.