The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-01-24

That's all want" said Pruitt. "I'll
meet you at two this afternoon at Lei
boldt's place and tell you what to do.
SO long, Morgan. So long everybody"
and Pruitt was gone.
Morgan knew Pruitt we'll enough TO
! know he meant Just what he said.
! Still he was somewhat dubious about
his getting Fleishman with only one
man, even IL that man was Cheney.
At two o'clock Cheney and Pruitt
met at Leiboldt's place on the levee.
| Pruitt's one weakness was dress, and
in the interim between the meeting in
Morgan's Office and two o'clock he had
rugged himself out like a fashion plate
He would hardly be taken for a deputy
United States marshal out after a
moonshiner. His plans were matured
and his instructions very brief.
Cheney, want you to meet me at
Point Pleasant one week from to-day.
You will leave on the steamboat Belle
Of st. Louis and go to Memphis. Stay
there a day and keep dark, and then
take the boat next morning back to
Point Pleasant. You ought to reach
there about dusk the same evening.
will be on or near the dock. Don't you
recognize me at all. Just keep your
eyes open and follow me after the boat
has left. Understand"
Sure thing, Pruitt. l understand
and I'll be there all right"
Il don't have to tell you to come
well armed. Jim Fleishman is crack
shot and we've got to trap him like a
bear-snap his claws first" Again the
old Missouri "S1ong, Jack" and Pruitt
was gone.
Cheney made his preparations and
when the Belle Of st. Louis" left on
her next trip he was a passenger.
Dolph Zeigler, the boats captain, knew
Cheney and made him comfortable in
his cabin. The trip was uneventful
and at Memphis Cheney debarked. He
kept under cover all day and early the
next morning he was a passenger on
the "Vicksburg" bound up. About
seven p. m. three long blasts an
nounced the approach to Point Pleas
ant. When the gang-plank was
swung out Cheney leisurely walked
ashore, keeping his eye out for Pruitt
Finally he saw him seated on a pile
of lumber carelessly whiting q
stick. Pruitt's fine clothes had been
laid aside, and at this time he was
dressed in homespun and held a col
pipe between his teeth. He looked
for all the world like an Arkansas
cracker. The boat discharged a few
passengers and a small amount oil
freight, and then poking her nose
into the muddy current, proceeded or
her way to st. Louis.
Pruitt got up from his resting
place, stretched and yawned, and
then slowly walked up the muddy
street. Cheney, too, was dressed as
native, and followed Pruitt. Near
the edge Of the settlement Git could
hardly be dignifed by the name Of
city or town. Pruitt disappeared ir
the woods. Cheney followed, and hat
not gone far when the two men met
"Howdy, Cheney. Got here al
right, see. Are you ready for &
bunch of excitement?"
Hello, Val. Yes, I'm ready. What's
the lay?"
'Ive located Jim Fleishman abou
20 miles back in the woods. He's go
a pretty good place, and evidently
thinks he's secure. He's living will
his wife and two children. I've blazeC
the trail out so we won't get lost. III
not very good road. but we car
, get out all right. It's now nearly
, eight o'clock, and we ought to ge
out there by 1880. Then, If all goei
| well, we will pull Fleishman and b'
back here by daylight and take th'
first boat north"
, "Going to walk 20 miles between
: now and 11:30?" asked Cheney, will
. just a faint suspicion of sarcasm il
| his voice.
Nope" replied Pruitt, not motto
/ ing the shaft. Come on" He Sc
t out at a good pace, and Cheney fol
. lowed. A short distance ahead an,
= they came to a small clearing il
which were hitched three horses, sad
1 died and bridled. Pruitt didn't hav
5 any doubt that he would bring bacl
3 Fleishman; hence the third horse.
1t was quite dark when the mel
] rode out on the winding trail. Silent
ly they continued on their way. Their
= was no moon and heavy clouds OBJ
scured the stars, and presently it be
S gan to rain, gently at first, and thei
5 downpour. A pretty strong win
: sprung up, and 1t was mighty sloy
: travelling to follow the trail. Tn
a horses were sure-footed enough, bu
this pushing on through the almos
4 impenetrable darkness was a bit u1
4 canny. The animals became nervous
:. The flashes of lightning were bllndin
Q and the constantly rolling thunder re
minded Cheney Of a vigorous bon
= bardment Of the great guns OF the ar
a tillery in the old army of the Potc
mac. Several times the trail wa
a lost, the storm having washed o
!, blown away the blazing, and Valuabl
!, moments were slipping by. Instea
," of reaching Fleishmans at 1880. a
q | ORIGINALLY Dlannad n WAS OnA O'cloo