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

t-0-f IO!laSe. cast oe"t
Sa lslI glance over the simmer
IL- y....,.. The stretches or cac'
tus-dotted sand slowed ike a
heated oven. Far across the aria
waste a chain OF mountains lay, a
purple shadow against the sky. There,
somewhere. flowed the sluggish Rio
Grande, anu beyond that-safety. HIS
eyes wandered from point to point
with hawk-like scrutiny. Only soli-
tary vulture, floating laZily far above
the dry arroyo. moved Oil the vast. 81
lent exDanse. He had. for the present
at least, outwitted his pursuers. lie
picked out here and there patches OF
the white road that glistened through
the chaparral and mesquite. AS he
looked yellow haze rose IN the DIS
tance: then the Brownsville stage
lurched into view, moved slowly
against the white glare like clumsy
beetle, and was swallowed up by the
foliage. Presently it crawled into View
again as il labored up steep hillside
scarce mile off, AS it turned on TO
tne crest something slipped to the
ground and lay motionleSS.
The stage passed over the HILL Har'
din's eye became fixed on the point
at which it disappeared. expecting to
see some one return for the lost bun
die. In this he was disappointed. AZ
ter little the object in the road
moved. Hardin became keenly Curl
Ous. CHANGING quickly around to MAKE
sure no danger threatened. lie picked
his way 20 his horse hid in I mat OF
mauZanitas. mounted and galloped
toward TIE road.
As he neared the spot it suddenly
flashed on him that this might be a
trick of the enemy TO tempt him into
the open. He wheeled his bronco into
the dense underbrush and diSmounted
Holding his Winchester before him
he creDt stealthily OH. He had pro-
ceeded bat a short distance when O
faint cry. as Of a young animal i'll dis
tress, floGted TO him from the direc
ton Of the road.
"a young wolf or bear cub" he
thought, that has tumbled over
board" But he would not turn back
now. Life of late had been too mon
otonous for him to easily forego the
prospect Of diversion. Reaching the
road, he stopped and listened intently
No sound broke the stiffness but the
faint wailing from the roadway. He
took quick glance about him. his eyes
resting obviously on the patch of roat
where the stage had disappeared. ther
he parted the foliage and ran noiseless
ly to where the bundle lay. He stoopeG
over and threw aside the covering that
concealed it; then he stepped back ant
gave vent to a low whistle. A baby
blinked up into his face. 1t stopped it:
crying suddenly with an indrawn sob
and the next second greeted him will
a friendly "ghoo-oo," as it proceeded tt
kick itself free Of its swaddlins
clothes.
Blame my cats, young unr' he eX
claimed, his eyes hard on the roat
where it wound over the crest of tht
hill; We amt the kind Of proposition
/ was lookin' fer. l can't stand we're
in the road an entertain We, an i
don't seem like jest the proper thing t.
leave ye; but I amt never went bacl
on feller yet as 'uz in hole. Shorely
yer friends'll miss We an turn up fel
you fore long. But If loafer shut
happen this way, it 'ud be the last Of
you, an jest likely as not I'd git tht
credit Of kidnapping We, for my tracks
is goin' to give me away. Well. they'v,
credited me with most everything els,
a feller oughtn't be proud of-an' yer,
goes. fer better er worse: it can't max,
much difference" He slipped his arm
beneath the baby, lifted it to his breas
and stepped into the brush. Here III
made sundry maneuvres to conceal hi.
tracks, regained his horse. and spurret
for his hiding place. Meantime he hat
kept the baby quiet "boo-b -booing," tick
ling it in the ribs with the muzzle O.
% his revolver, and addressing to it spec
ulative remarks as TO the outcome Of
their blamed uncommon pickle"
Safe again within the protection o.
his lookout, he made the baby com
Portable on an old coat. laid it in tn,
thin shade of ledge of rocks, and, sit
ting down opposite, began to regard i
with quizzical air of perplexity..
well, young un, I've been guilty O.
many a fool thing in my day, but thi.
caps 'em. What I'm goin' to do Will
yes more'n 1 can savvy-"
"Goo! goow cooed the baby. seem
ingly delighted with this new arrange
ment; and, indeed as Hardin thought
it was more comfortable one thar
the Brownsville stagecoach.
"I'm afraid you'll change yer tune
cub. when yer feedin' time comes, an
then what'll come of me amt hard t.
predict. Guess ye'd hardly take thing.
so easy, no-how, If yes able to know
that ye're a guest of Hardin, as has {
price on his head Well, them's th,
facts, an eff 1 don manage to git y,
often nv hands I wouldn't give n DjI