Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-07-30

Tom took a peep as the men fOllo,red
the black 1romdn into the hoUCl.
see the saddles on their pegs in the
morning.
The villains went on drinking as they
talked. Another cork popped, yet the
moon was still high in the lucid heav-
ems when the two convicts staggered
off. Jarman at once put out his light,
and in a little all was still but the
leaves, the locusts and the tiny tribu-
tary Of the Hunter in which Tom had
lavcd his feet.
He came from behind his tree, The
saddles were still outside.
He stole near; nearer yet; near
enough to hear Jarman and his gin
already breathing heavily In their
sleep.
But they might not be sleeping heav
lily, and what IL they awoke? The stir
rup irons might ring together. Ton
knclt down and crossed the leather
over the top of each saddle. The nev
pigskin might creak, for all the oil it
had absorbed; In fact, it did as Tom
lifted the saddles, and he stood there
with one on each arm ready to fling
them down and to fight for them still.
But nothing happened. So he crept
away.
This time he crossed the creek with
ont dallying and only halted within
q few hundred yards of the farm build
lngs. Here he sat on stump. mopped
his forehead and wondered whether he
should take the trouble to elude the
night Waterman second time, and as
he sat the moon twinkled In the four
stiirup irons, which shone like silver
they were 50 beautifully clean, and as
be was admiriEg them 1T suddenly
came home to Tom the groom that no
had cleaned those stirrup irons him.
self.
Yes, in spite of all, he had taken a
sort-of involuntary pride in ILLS work
And that was another thing for which
his fellow conyicts had cursed and
hated him. But tonight he scorned and
cursed himself for 1t, with twice their
bitterness, and an oath broke into u sob
as he caught up the saddles and start.
ed to his feet.
In word, the sight Of his own hon.
est handiwork SO cruelty thrown away
drew blood from heart that had re-
manned adamant under studied prov
ocation and cool but minute since in
the face of monstrous treachery. To
have done a hands turn for such
wretches! That was the intolerant
thought. 1t awoke the restless rebel
that had slept SO long in this tortured
bosom. Not another stroke of willing
work would he do. lie would be as
his fellows from that moment, only,
beginning there and then he would
condescend to hide and dodge no more.
So the groom marched boldly upon the
gate across which Mr. Nat had pointed
| with his whip to the lights of Castle
Sullivan and would have slammed the
gate behind him but for one circum-
stance. Mr.. Nat was leaning against
1t now.
Nor was he alone. The girl O'Brien
was at his side. Tom was upon them
before he could check his steps, but he
did not try. lie strobe up to his enemy
and stood before him without word,
but with a saddle speaking for itself
/, on either arm.
"Well-wellr cried Mr.. Nat. What
are You doing out of your room? And
what = what = what have you got
| there!"
"Tile new saddles"
$50 see. My saddles, What have
you been doing with themq Where did
you find them, chi"
The tone was loud and clustering.
| but uncertain aud surprised. In tho
moonlight Tom looked his enemy cool
" and steadily In the face. and the girl
drew away from her companion and
gazea st Ten. WHO. never 50 much as