The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-18

something Iamlllar IN his features,
but | could not place him.
cole Hoss passed on, and I fol-
lowed him into his cabin. It was a
small affair with two rooms.
"sOne we uns lives in he ex-
i planned, AN the wimmen sleeps in
t'other.'
Where do the men sleep?' I in
quired.
"sOh, we uns hunks down thar in
ther cornerp
S'The swimmen folks retired ear
ly that night, and I sought rest on
a blanket that had evidently seen
several summers and innumerable
hard frosts. / was very tired, and,
though / intended to rise when all
was quiet and take a view Of the
premises, fell asleep.
81 was awakened by the pressure
of something cold against my fore
head and, opening my eyes, looked
into the muzzle of a revolver, while
the voice of my host said:
EFF you un moves hand, off
goes yer topknot!'
What does this meanY I de-
manded in my sternest tones.
CIT means that we uns are onter
you un. That's ALL
Several other figures now stood
over my couch, and my genial host
said:
WAL, shall we uns finish him
now or waltz
"Let's take him outside one
suggested.
CATER they had bound me hand
and foot l was carried into the open
air. A short consultation was held,
and I caught the words, down ter
the hut
Nav said one brawny fellow,
he amt bad ez that. Besides Pete
may be mistaken
ellis objections were received
with murmurs of disapproval.
:" 1t amt too much asserted my
host. IT'S jest what he deserves,
an it'll prove an example to the
Others
s'There was some more discussion.
Then I was informed that on nv
arrival Pete Sanford, a member of
the gang, whose still I had aided in
destroying some time previously, but
who had escaped from the officers,
had recognized me as a detective
who had come under the guise of
friendship to land them all in pris-
on and that [ was to be left in the
hut.
"This failed to strike terror to
my soul, however, as supposed they
would merely leave me there over
night, and ! should then have
possible chance Of escape. Had I
known the true nature of my pun
ishment I would have begged my
captors to mercifully put a bullet
through my brain.
"They carried me to the hut, and
one Of the men carefully opened the
door and peered in. He took torch
and thoroughly inspected every
nook before entering. Finally,
bound hand and foot, l was laid on
pile of husks in one corner. Then
the men departed without even clos
ing the door. I was highly elated at
this oversight and lay endeavoring
to muster strength to break my
bonds when I heard a rustling,
gliding sound in one corner of the
room. Could it be that some other
human creature was imprisoned
with me? No, it must be the wind
outside. Then from the long, dark
opening used as fireplace came
similar sound, another and another.
What was it? What could this
mean?
Suddenly I felt something glide
across my legs as they lay bound
on the foot of the bed, and the aw-
full horror of the situation that my
prosecutors had devised dawned on
me. I was in den of snakes. II
l moved, I was a dead man. Sick
with terror I became unconscious.
81 awoke lying beside the road.
The moon was shining full in my
face, and bending over me was the
girl / had met in the afternoon.
"s'Twar a clus call for you un,'
she said. I heered pap an the fellers
a-talkin' ez haeow they left yer here,
an when I got er chance come to
you un.'
"How did you do it?' I gasped.
Huh I'm used to snakes, but
but
"The girl began to sob.
What is it? I asked, moved by
her distress.
"1-I dassent go hum, fur dad
| I'll LII