West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-02-07

one was a little touched though lust
this winter she had left Bismarck be-
cause the place would nave no more OF
her.
In the face Of Billy's approval the
old man fell silent.
About midnight the four inmates OF
the frontier hotel were awakened by n
tremendous racket outside. The stran-
ger arose. fully clothed. from his bunk
and pecrcd through the narrow open
window. y dozen horses were stand
ing grouped In charge OF n single
mounted man, indlstinguishable in the
dark. Out OF the open door n broad
band Of light streamed from the saloon.
whence came the noise OF voices n OF
boots tramplng about.
1T Is Black Hank" said Billy, at his
elbow. BLACK Hank and his outfit.
He bitches 10 this yere snubbln' post
occasional"
Black Hank I'm the hills would have
translated to Jesse james farther
south.
The stranger turned suddenly ener-
getic.
Don't you make no fight7" he asked.
"Fightr' said Billy. wondering.
Flight! Co'se not. Hank amt plum
derin' me none. He Jest nmbles along
and helps himself, and leaves the dust
fer It every shot. l Jest lays low and
let's him operate. l never has no deal
ms with him. understand. He Jest
naturally waltzes in and plants his grub
hooks ON what he needs. / doesn't
know anything about 1t. I'm dead
asleep"
He bestowed n shadowy wink upon
the stranger.
Below, the outlaws moved here and
there.
"Bllly!' shouted n commanding voice.
BILLY Knapp
J The hotel keeper looked perplexed.
Now what's he tollln' me ferf' he
asked Of the mar by his side.
Billy" shouted the voice again.
come down here, you slwash. want
to palaver with you"
IAN right, Hank" replied Billy.
He went TO his room" and buckied
on a heavy belt. then descended the
steep stairs.
The barroom was lighted and filed
with men. Some of them were eatIng
and drinking; others were ~strapping
provisions into portable form. Against
the corner Of the bar a tall figure Of n
man leaned, smoling-a man 1.-the, ac-
tive and muscular. with n keen, dark
face and black eyebrows which met
over his nose. Billy walked directly
to this man.
What Is itT' he Inquired shortly.
| tsThfu zorro ,F,f4 a., 49,
II know that" replied the stranger.
Then leave yore dust and vamoose."
MY dust is there" said Black Hank,
placing his hand on a buckskln bag at
bis side, ''and you're paid, Billy Knapp.
l want to ask you n question. Stand
Ing Rock has sent $4,000 to Buck Tail.
The messenger went through here TO-
day. Have you seen himf"
Marry messenger" replied Billy In
relief. Stage goes empty"
Charley had crept down the stairs
and nto the room.
What n blazes you dom yere. you
ranlkabOo ijit?' asked Billy trucu-
lently.
That thar stage aln't what you calls
empty" observed Charley, unmoved.
a light broke on Blly's mind. He re-
membered the vallse which the stran-
ger had so carefully guarded, and.
though his common sense told him that
an inoHenslve noncombatant, such as
his guest. would hardly be chosen as
express messenger, still the bare posi-
blllty remained.
"Yo're right" he assented carelessly
thar is n tenderfoot who knows as
much OF ridin' express as a pig does
OF war"
II notice he's almighty particular
bout that thar carpetbag OF hls'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 90 him. with one swift
round sweep of the arm he had Billy
covered. Billy'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 l~alssez-falre rela-
tons which obtained between the two
westerners.
Vow said Black Hank angrlly In a
low tone. II want 10 know why you
tried that monkey game"
Billy, wary and unafraid, replied that
he had tried no game, hat he had for
gotten the tendcrfOOt for a moment and
that nc did not believe the latter
would prove TO be the sought for ex-
press messenger.
One N the men. No a signal from his
leader. relieved Bnly's belt OF consld-
cradle weight Then the latter was
permitted i1 sit on "a cracker box. Two
more mounted the little stairs. In a
moment they returned 90 report that
the upper story contained no human
beings. strange or otherwise. except
the girl. but that there remained a
small trunk. Under further orders they
dragged The trunk down into the bar
room. 10 was broken open and found
TO contain clothes Of the plalnsmau's
cut material and state Of wear. q neat
ly folded Mexican saddle showing use
and o. rawh.do ql.rt.
'TeuderfOot." said Black Hank con
temptu0usiy
The outlaws had already scattered
outside t1 look FOR the trail In this
they were unsuccessful. reporting In
decd THAT not le f8lutcst Sign lndlcat-
cd escape 'r amy direction.
BILLY knew hIs man. The tightening
VI Block U.Ha's close knit brows
meant bout one thing ono does not gain
ch-.eitlInsl.p of auy kind lu the west
without ]rrprp.ug a@sceudoncy with
act. NJ ruf.I. decision. Billy Ieapod
from DIS .rsnr box with the sudden
nc ~ t.. puHa seized Black Hank
FIRMLY about fle waist whlrled him
|.|.. A.. .... of .H.4UH and tsaynr nm oar.