The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-01-07

"Hands upt Sam Hardin" said 10
Powell, the Duval County Sheriff. He
stood less than ten yards of, his Win.
chester leveled at the outlaw.
81 reckon I'll have to, Powell" re.
turned Hardin, coolly. "sein' as ye've
got the drop on me; but I calkerlate
We ought to divide up with this young
un yerc, sein' eff it hadn't been fer it
| ye'd never tuck ME alive
Il amt carin' fer the reward. Har-
din, an I'm sorry 1 have to take you"
returned the sheriff. amicably. "Hadn'
been fer yer hold-up, ye might a gone
free; amt no proofs yer killed Arm
strong. 1t 'uz free-fer-all fight: the
witnesses weren't shore bout nothin'.
an ye'd likely "a come clear. Tried
to git word to you. but We kept yerself
so scarce. n feller had no manner OF
chance. III have to hold you; hate to,
but its my duty, ye know
Whose baby is it?' asked Hardin
irrelevantly. as the Sheriff relieved him
| Of his pistols.
Belongs TO young widow name
Armstrong. Her husband got killed n
few weeks ago in gamblin' place at
Brownsville; she's goin' back to her
folks. She's most crazy bout her
boy" returned Powell. scanning the
outlaws face searchingly.
Folks live at San Diego" asked the
other, his countenance inscrutable.
YES"
81 knowed EN-" said Hardin. and
turning his back slowly to the Sheriff,
he gazed across the yellow plain to-
ward the distant peaks.
Il knowed yer did" returned Powell.
sympathetically. Then, after a 81
lerce. he added: 81 wish there was
some way l could help you. Hardin
Much oblige. Powell, but We can't
unless-you couldn't manage fer me to
see AIiz Armstrong, l reckin:' he
asked, turning.
The Sheriff glanced at his prisoner
questioningly. "I'll bring her to you.
ef-ef yell wait we're with the baby
He did not wait for a reply, but, turn.
ing. vanished in the brush.
Hardin dropped his chin TO the palm
Of his hand and sat motionless. star
ing abstractedly into the hot glare. The
baby at his feet slept soundly. occa-
sionally giving vent to a contented
sigh. a drowSy beetle .droned by,
knocking against the wilted foliage.
Over the plain and the white slisten.
ing spaces brooded death-like still.
ness. Five minutes, ten minutes. half
an hour passed. and Hardin still sat
motionless, staring fiyedly before him.
At last n rustling near at hand caused
him to start up and spring to his feet
with the old-time alertness.
Belle he cried, stepping toward
the woman that stood before him.
She offered her hand hesitatingly. Il
| want to thank you, Sam, fer takin'
care Of the boy-the Sheriff told me
how ye got caught on account of him.
an"
nat an iISut. iAAS's
would anyhow. sooner er later. an
an'-hadn' been fer the boy wouldn't
never seen you ag'in. It's pas dead"
he said. as he stopped and lifted the
baby to her arms.
YES" she said, quietly, her eyes on
the ground.
An hour slipped away in friendly
talk. Then. suddenly. Hardin began to
appear Ill Mt ease: he pushed aside the
foliage and peered out toward the high
way.
81 wonder why Powell don't Gomez
"He amt comm" returned the wo-
man.
"He ain't?" Hardin asked quickly.
but guessed the truth even before the
other could reply.
"He lowed as he's the only one that
knows where you are. an eff yell keep
mum, he'll try to."-New York Times.