The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-24

| the thicket from the other side of the rock where the water bubbled forth. | Tho woman looked back quickly and each man had his hand on his holster. This hyar is the way" she said, pointing to the path that led to the basin at the foot of the spring. Keep to the road" whispered the older man. "I'll watch the woman and you keep an eye on the thicket." GO on- he said to the woman. I'll swar that thar Is the shortest cut" she answered.
 She looked back and saw the shining barrel of a revolver resting on the knee of the man in the saddle. He lifted 1t as he spoke. in a loud voice: GO on.. I say, and if there is shot fired from the bushes the return shot will be at you"
 She did not reply, but turning abruptly started up the road and the men followed, still holding the pistols at their sides. The older man spoke to his companion in low tones. never taking his eyes off the woman,
 Its plain now that he's burned his still and fled. If there's more than one man 1t means fght-if they start to shooting keep the woman in front of us. But If there's only one 1t will be easy work"
 The other did not know the plan, but he knew the man riding by him and asked no questions. They were near ing rail fence, with stlle, made from an old barrel in the road As they approached 1t they saw the rough log cabin and the mud smearsd cbim- ney. Across the yard a shel was burning and in the smouldering ruins was a coil battered and broken. and Q copper tank. They were at the base of Chimney Rock. The woman climb ed over the stile and waited. There was smile, a defiant smile of satis- faction. on her face. The men dis mounted. and knocking over the barrel led their horses into the yard and cabin.
 'Go into the house." said the older officer, addressing the woman.
 She looked at him curiously for a moment. as If studying Just what he intended to do. Then she entered the cabin and the men followed. There was fire in the stove. and on the ta- ble by the window was a skillet with several slices of fat bacon in 1t. The younger man sat down by tho window and the other closed the door and stood with his back to it.
 Now get breakfast" he said to the woman
 She looked at him for a moment and there was fire in her eyes. She did not quite understand. Her eyes met his and again she saw the pistol In his hand. Not understanding, she obeyed, and Hitting the lid from the stove put the skillet over the blazing wood.
 Now the coffee. and then stir up your fire" came the command.
 Again she looked at him curiously and then she set the pot by the skillet and kneeling down poked into the grate. As she did so the man walked over to his companion and said:
 Watch her closely don't let her close the windows. and when I go out let the door stay open. If you hear a shot outside fire into the floor and then guard your woman"
 'I understand" he replied.
 The man went out into the yard, and the woman rising from before the stove stood by the door and watched him closely. He made a careful sur vey of the surroundings He pulled the broken coil of pipe from the char red boards of the burning still. and taking it back to where the horses were tied strapped 1t to his saddle Then he returned and spoke through the window to the other man. After this he walked to the side of the house where the woman could not see him and remained there. The smell of the frying bacon and the boiling coffee filled the air and the breeze waited the aroma up into the pines. There was a low whistle on the out side, and the man at the window took down tin horn from the shelf over the stove and handed 1t to the woman. She took it and then with all the fierceness of a captured tigress rushed In hn ct tnfo ba fire. But the man was as quick as she had been, and pulling 1t out handed 1t to her again. She would not take 1t and he levelled his pistol directly on her. remarking:
 Now, stand in the door and blow" 'I won't do It. l won't do it," she cried. T knows what youse doin | now, and I won't do it." And then she | ran into the yard. The other man met her and drove her back, and she saw | that she was trapped.
 You will do It." said the man. "Youse kin kill me fust." she an- swered.
 There was no reply from the man. They were watching an unusual | swaying of the limbs on the pines | that seemed to be near a path that led down the mountain. The woman saw 1t, too, and was about to raise her arm
  l hind her pinioned her hands at her back and put his pistol against her ] throat She shuddered as the cold steel touched her flesh. The bushes | moved again.
 | "MoI, oh, Mollie." The call came | from the direction of the pines that ] were near the path.
 1 Answer" said the man, as he press ed the barrel of the revolver close to | the quivering woman.
 | She did not utter a word. | Answer" he said again. If you don't answer I'll fire from this window into that cedar"
 She was silent for a moment then al-
 most collapsing sank to her knees. The
 man jumped back behind the door. and
 catching the woman bv her arm, pulled her to her feet The look of horror on her face was one that no man could forget. She saw the whole plan now, but it was too late.
 "Rufe." she hardly said 1t above a
 whisper.
 Louder" said the man.
 "Rufe, Rufev' she cried raising her
 voice,
 She staggered. but the man held her m. The pines moved and man step
 ned out into the open. He was tall
 and gaunt His long legs were covered
 with a pair of patched blue overalls, and he wore a faded checked shirt. He
 was hatiess and his face was covered
 ,yitb a struggling beard. and the fore
 head and cheeks were tanned a dark
 brown He walked across the yard ,s if he were the only man on the l n1ountain. The man inside of the cabin | .bo xuorau around and she fell