The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-12-18
What. Let NelIy get taken"

'Yes. and no. said Jim. his eye.
dancing with merriment at my bewild
erment. Juan shall kidnap somebody
if he can--but il won't be Nelly. See?'
"Pm hanged If do" I said. "WhC
should he take. If not Nelly"
We'll provide some one" said Jim
"You blockhead' Don't you under
stand? Somebody must play Nelly
for this occasion only. Then when our
gay Mexican rides NJ 10 start his girl
lifting lay, we chime in and trot ont
our part Of the play. And, by Jove"
he added. grimy. "Tye got some
mighty pretty lines in my act"
Dawn was now breaking in upon me.
"But who was going 10 pretend to be
NellF / asked. IT'S going to be a
mighty unhealthy part Sola's not a
man TO stand any monkey tricks. and
he's very handy with his guns"
81 know" said Jim. Hes n dead
shot, and he's more than likely TO get
mad when he realizes he's been fooled
and won't be able to show his nose this
! side Of the border again. 1t can't be
girl, Dick. it's too risky She'd be
just as likely to stop a bullet as one Of
US, If | know anything Of the greaser" q"
Yes said !. that rather beats US,
doesn't IT,"
Not a bit Of it," replied jim Then
he looked at me critically. "Tve got
it" he cried. You shall play Nelly,
Dickw
"Me" said. and my voice was so
strange that Jim roared again.
"Yes-you," he continued. you've
got a slight, girlish figure my boy
don't hit me!-your face Is innocent Of
hair. and you'll make an Al girl when
we've done with YOU. Wen borrow one
Of Nelrs gowns and her big flop lat,
and "A wig ont OF the box we had for
the theatricals last spring. and your
own mother wouldn't know YOU"
Don't talk rubbish. Jimw | said,
hotly "DO you think l am n fool?
What sort OF freak should look got
up like that?"
Were playing FOR big stakew said
Jim, becoming grave again; land if
we come out all right YOU ought TO
Dick. and | should like to see you get
our Nell. Don't you think if you and
| pull this through it'll send you up
i'm her estimation? You do as | tell
you my boy, and I'll be your best man
yet"
From that moment | was as wax in
his hands
The time had come Miss Nelly
Warden. otherwise Dick Travers, at
tired in her pretty blue print gown
and her big flop hat. which cffectually
concealed her face, set out on her black
mare to ride 10 the house of old Ma'am
Morrell. who gave music lessons. Miss
Nelly rode side-saddle-bu between
YOU and me l found it uncomfortable.
and my own wouldn't set straight
somehow around about where l had
got my two six-shooters tucked.
didn't feel happy. l knew that
away down the trail somewhere Jim
and Tom Warden were waiting, their
pistols on the cock. The old servant
told Jim pretty exactly the spot where
the ambush would be laid, and jim
and Tom had arranged so rs TO be on
hand when wanted. Still, things might
20 wrong. and il so | stood to get a
couple of leaden pellets through my
head instead of leading Nelly Warden
to the altar. For Juan Sola had way
of shooting on sight when he got mad,
and then his vicinity became distinctly
unhealthy.
Hark! What was that? A scurry In
the underbrush. n rush of men and
horses, and n cloak had been thrown
over my head and was dragged back.
ward of my horse to the ground Some
very unladylike exclamations which |
let drop as struggled to escape were
fortunately lost in the confusion.
Then came the thud OF hoofs. and I
heard Jim's voice demanding what was
amiss. For answer came an oath in
Sola's voice. and rough command to
stand out of the way.
"what's that behind you?" cried Jim.
"Great heavens you villain. is that my
sister?'
Apparently he made one step toward
the Mexican. who threw out his arm
and fred at him. and with n groan
poor Jim dropped. Quick as lightning
Tom Warden fred on Sola. but missed,
and began to think it was time to
assist in the fighting. | was lying on
the ground entangled in the horse
cloak. and as struggled to rise Sola
suddenly seized me by the arm with
the intention OF pulling me to my feet.
In the darkness he had not yet discoy-
cred the deception.
threw of his grasp and spranC to
my feet. drawing my revolver as |
lid 50. 4 strange figure | must have
looked. standing there in my blue skirt.
Ny big "fop hat" hung round my neck
IVY It's ribbon. and my wig had fallen
OF.
one searching glance ihe Mexican
threw nj me. then he realized the
truth.
"Fooledr' nc shrieked. and let drive
a bullet at me I had duckcd at the
fash. but q hot. tearing pain in my left
arm told me that his aim was good.
| fired at him. but missed him badly.
and In n second he had mounted and
turned TO Zee. his two servants riding
beside him
Mount and after them" roarcd Tom.
who xVos fat and heayy II must look