Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-25


That's all want" said Pruitt. "IIl
boldts place and tell you what to do.
So long, Morgan. So long everybody"
and Pruitt was gone.
Morgan knew Pruitt well enough to
know he meant just what he said.
Still he was somewhat dubious about
his getting Fleishman with only one
man, even if 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 fashion plate
He would hardly be taken for deputy
United States marshal out after a
moonshiner. His plans were matured
and his instructions very brief.
Cheney, l 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. / understand
and I'll be there all right"
Il don't have to tell you to come
we'll armed. Jim Fleishman is a crack
shot and we've got to trap him like
bear-snap his claws first" Again the
old Missouri "S'long, Jack" and Pruitt
was gone.
Cheney made his preparations and
when the Belle of st. Louis" left on
her next trip he was 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-planl was
swung out Cheney leisurely walked
ashore, keeping his eye out for Pruitt
Finally he saw him seated on pile
of lumber carelessly whiting
stick. Pruitt's fine clothes had been
laid aside, and at this time he was
dressed in homespun and held a cob
pipe between his teeth. He looked
for all the world like an Arkansas
cracker. The boat discharged a few
passengers and a small amount of
freight, and then poEing her nose
into the muddy current, proceeded on
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 dignified by the name of
city or town. Pruitt disappeared in
the woods Cheney followed, and had
not gone far when the two men met
"Howdy, Cheney. Got here ali
right, l see. Are you Ready for a
bunch of excitement"
Hello, VAL Yes, I'm ready. What's
the lay?"
1--WE located Jim Fleishman about
20 miles back in the woods. He's got
| a pretty good place, and evidently
thinks he's secure. He's living with
his wife and two children. I've blazed
the trail out so we won't get lost. It's
not a very good road, but we can
eight o'clock, and we ought to get
out there by 11:30 Then, if all goes
well, we will pull Fleishman and be
back here by daylight and take the
first boat north"
Going to walk 20 miles between
now and 11:3O?" asked Cheney, with
just a faint suspicion of sarcasm in
his voice.
Nope" replied Pruitt, not MOTTO
ing the shaft. Come on" He set
out at. a good pace, and Cheney fol-
lowed. A short distance ahead and
| they came to a small clearing in
which were hitched three horses, sad
died and bridled. Pruitt didn't have
any doubt that he would bring back
FIeishman; hence the third horse.
1t was quite dark when the men
rode out on the winding trail. Silent
| ly they continued on their way. There
was no moon and heavy clouds OBJ
scured the stars, and presently it be-
| gan to rain, gently at first, and then
a downpour. A pretty strong wind
! sprung up, and it was mighty slow
| travelling to follow the trail. The
| horses were sure-fOoted enough, but
! this pushing on through the almost
! impenetrable darkness was a bit I'M
| canny. The animals became nervous.
| The flashes of lightning were binding
! and the constantly rolling thunder re-
minded Cheney of a vigorous bonn
bardment of the great guns of the ar
| tillery in the old army Of the Poto-
mac. Several times the trail was
lost, the storm having washed or
J blown away the blazing, and valuable