Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-08-14

lie bestowed a snadowy wink upon
the stranger.
Below. the outlaws moved here and
there.
"Billy! shouted a commanding voice.
"Billy Knapp"
The hotel keeper looked perplexed.
"Now what's he tollin' me fer? he
asked of the man by his side.
Billy" shouted the voice again.
come down here, you siwash. want
to palaver with YOU"
"All right, Hank" replied Billy.
He went to his room" and buckled
on q heavy belt. then descended the
steep stairs.
The barroom was lighted and filled
with men. Some Of them were eating
and drinking; others were strapping
provisions into portable form. Against
| the corner Of the bar tall figure Of
man leaned. smOking-a man 1.-the, ac-
tive and muscular, with keen, dark
face and black eyebrows which met
over his nose. Billy walked directly
to this man.
"What Is it?" be inquired shortly.
'This yere amt in tn agreement"
II know that" replied the stranger.
"Then leave yore dust and vamoose."
"My dust is there" said Black Hank,
placing his hand on a buckskin bag at
his side. "and you're paid. Billy Knapp.
| want to ask yeu question. Stand
Ing Rock hso sent $4,000 to Buck Tall.
The messenger went through here to-
day. Have you seen him"
Marry messenger" replied Billy In
relief. "Stage goes empty"
Charley had crept down the stairs
and into the room.
"What n blazes you dOln' yere, you
ranikaboo ijitT asked Billy trucu-
lently.
"That thar stage amt what you calls
empty" observed Charley, unmored.
A light broke on Billy's mind. He re-
membered the valise which the stran-
ger had so carefully guarded. and,
though his common sense told him that
an inoffensive noncombatant. such as
bis guest, would hardly be chosen as
express messenger. still the bare possi-
bility remained.
"YO're right" he assented carelessly;
"thar Is one tenderfoot who knows as
| much Of ridin' express as pig does
Of war;"
81 notice he's almighty particular
bout that thar carpetbag Of his'n,"
insisted Charley.
The man against the counter had lost
nothing of the scene. Billy's denial,
his hesitation, his half truth, all looked
suspicious to him. With one swift
round sweep of the arm he had Billy
covered. Bllly's arms shot over his
Head without the necessity Of a COM
mand.
The men ceased their occupations
and gathered about Scenes Of this
sort were too common to elicit COM
ment or arouse excitement. They
knew perfectly the laissez.faire rela-
tions which obtained between the two
westerners.
"Now," said Black Hank angrily In
low tone, "I want to know why you
tried that monkey game"
Billy, wary and unafraid, replied that
he had tried no game, that he had for
gotten the tenderfoot for moment and
that he did not believe the latter
would prove to be the sought Tor ex-
nress messenger,
One Of the men, at signal from his
leader, relieved Billy's belt of consid-
erable weight. Then the latter was
permitted to sit ON cracker box. Two
more mounted the little stairs. In
moment they returned to report that
the upper story contained no human
beings, strange or otherwise. except
the girl, but that there remained
small trunk. Under further orders they
dragged the trunk down into the bar
room. 1t was broken open and found
to contain clothes Of the plainsman's
cut, material and state Of wear, neat
Iy folded Mexican saddle showing use
and rawhide qulrt.
'Tenderfoot!' said Black Hank con-
temptuously.
The outlaws had already scattered
outside to look for the trail. In this
they were unsuccessful. reporting In
deed that not the faintest sign indicat-
ed escape In any direction.