The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-03-01

lDoipii LclRier, the bpat 8 captain, EitN
cheney md made INN comfortable ia
his cabin The trip was uneventful
and al Memphis cheney debarked. He
kept under cover all day and early the
next morning he was a passenger on the
fNlckshurg' bound up. About Z p. N.
three long blasts announced The APP
proach To Point Pieasa.ll. When the
gang plank Was swung out Cheney
leisurely walked ashore, keeping his
eye out for Pruitt. Finally he saw him
seated On n pile of lumber carelessly
whiting a 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 .Arkan~
sas cracker. The boat discharged a
few passengers and "A small amount of
freight, and then poking her nose into
the muddy current proceeded on her
way TO st. Louis.
stretched and yawned. and then slowly
walked up the muddy street. Cheney,
too, was dressed as a native, and fol-
lowed Pruitt, Near the edge of the
settlement Git could hardly be dignifed
by the name of city or TOWN. Pruitt
disappeared in the woods. Cheney fol-
lowed and had not gon far when the
two men met.
"Howdy, Cheney. Got here all right.
l see. Are YOU ready for a bunch of
excitement
Hello. Val. Yes. I'm ready. What's
the lay?'
I've located Jim Fleishman about
twenty 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 TRAN out so we Won get lost. It's
not a Very good road. but we can get
out all right. Its o nearly S O'Clock
and we ought 10 get ont tbpre b- / / "a
Then, if all goes Well, we will pun
Freshman and be back here by day
light and take the first boat north .
Going to walk twenty miles between
now and l1:3o?" asked Cheney, with
Just a faint suspicion of sarcasm in
his voice.
Nope" replied Pruitt, not noticing
the shaft. Come on He set out at
a good pace, and Cheney followed. a
short distance ahead and they came to
a small clearing i'm which We're hitched
three horses, saddled and bridled.
Fruit didn't have any doubt that he
would bring back Freshman: hence
the third horse.
II was quite lark when the men rode
out on the winding trail. Silently they
continued their way. There was no
moon and heavy clouds obscured the
stars, and presently it began to rain.
gently at first and the a downpour. A
'>NN ~.ip'iS NiId SPI VI uD, aIIl IL
was mighty slow travelling to follow the
trall. The horses We're s~ure-footed
enough, but this pushing on through
the almost impenetrable darkness was
a bit uncanny. The animals became
nerVous The flashes of lightning were
thunder reminded Cheney of a vigorous
bombardmen of the great guns of ar
tlIiery In the old army of the Potomac.
Several times the trail was lost, the
storm having washed or blown away
the blazing, and valuable moments
We're slipping by. Instead of reaching
Fleishman's at 1880, as originally
planned, 1t was / o'clock when Pruitt
drew rein and said:
About 100 yards further and we
come TO his house. Well hitch these
animals here, and you go to the front
door and rap. Fleishman will suspect
something wrong, and come out the
back way. He'll try to get back about
half a mile. where there are a nulnher
of moonshiners living. IN nab him.
and then We'll hike for the river. If he
comes your way, however. and tries to
break, let him have it. DOM kill him.
because | want to turn him over 10
Jake Morgan alive" All this was said
In a low voice, and the two men moved
forward. Sure enough, there was the
cabin dlmly outlined in the darkness.
Cheney waited until Pruitt got around
the house, and then quickly. but SILENT
~ advancing, gave a sharp rap on the
door. He stepped to one side, pistol in
hand. and waited. Five, ten, fifteen,
twenty seconds, and then he rapped
again. Shortly afterwards he heard
PruittS voice say.
Throw up Your hands, Fleishman.
or you're a dead one" Cheney went
around the house, and there was Pruitt
With the drop on Fleishman. who had
sense enough to know it. His hands
We're up. and Cheney came up from
BEHIND and in a minute he had them
down and securely pinioned behind his
back.
Come on. now. and be quick about
it," sroWled Pruitt. We've got to get
back"
Freshman was put ON the third horse.
his feet bound under him, and the three
started back on the trail. The storm
had grown WorSe;the rain was now
falling in torrents. and all blazing was
completely gone, but Pruitt rode on.
trusting TO bull luck and horse sense.
Fleishman was the coolest man of
the three. The trail was lost complete
ly, and Pruitt tried to make the pris-
oner indicate the way, but he ONLY
grinned and said nothing. once they
stopped 10 listen, and above the roar
of the storm Cheney fancied he heard
horses approaching. Pruitt heard it.,
Np', u SdId IotHlllS. llltS llOullQefGQ
through the woods, ana once more
picked up the trail. The horses We're
becoming jaded, but they We're pushed
to their limit. Suddenly from all sides
appeared armed and mounted men.
There We're about twenty of them.
They had lived for years in these Ar
kansas woods, and knew every foot of
the ground. Fleishman's 12-year-old
son had come over after his capture
and told them about it. Quickly they
saddled up and followed the two Off
GERS and Fleishman. The storm worked
to their advantage.
Hold up your hands. Pruitt, we've
got you cornered; also your pardner.
We don't want to kill YOU. You're too
damn brave a man to be shot down
like a dog. All we want is Freshman,
and then you can go on your way
Pruitt's nerve never forsook him for
a minute. nor did Cheney's; but he
knew the other fellows held the trump
cards: the bitter was b~itten,' The
flashes of lightning revealed his face
TO Cheney. and it was a perfect study.
He hated to give up, but he also knew
That a number of shotguns We're point
ed at him n Cheney. and his first
move would mean death for both of
them. He gave up Fleishman, n af-
ter a little rough badinage about
Keeping away from these parts and
minding their own business the avail
| ca1p rode aWav with E1aicbpan