Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11

consciousness, a receding world. Guy
Fleetwood. stirred and opened his eyes
OF course he was alone. The stage
had gone on, and the road agents hae
fed with her booty. Was he hurt
Desperately! He rolled off the log
into a pool Of his own blood. His
body seemed riddled with bullets. The
robbers had missed a vital. part, but
that was all.
What was he to do? He was bleed
ing from undressed wounds; he lay on
a wild trail, miles and miles from hui
man aid, unarmed and at the mercy OF
any savage beast that might scent his
blood from afar; and yet, in the face
Of these facts, Fleetwood at this mo-
ment thought only of the case Of let
ters and photographs which Black
Dave had stolen from his coat pocket.
What did the rascal do with it, ]
wonder?" he muttered, feebly. Poor
little Maud! Will she cry her pretty
eyes out when she hears Of my death?''
Hark! What sound was that in the
far distance? He listened. Distinct
and clear to his ears came the rat
tling of stirrups, the plunging Of hoofs,
the painting Of hard pressed horses. A
band Of mounted men swept around
the bend in the road, and .galloped
straight up to the spot where Fleet
wood lay. The foremost Of the num-
Der leaped quickly out Of his saddle,
and bent over the PROSTATE man.
HE is still living!" cried g'ctrawoy
"He is still living!" he called to his
comrades. And, with a groan Of dis
may, Fleetwood looked up into the
masked face of Black Dave, the road
agent.
"Yes, 1 am living, but through no
fault Of yours" he answered, feebly.
Have you come back to finish me?
Well, be quick about it-aim at my
heart this time!"
He shut his eyes to receive the final
blow, but it did not come. To Fleet
woods utter amazement, the road
agent drew from pocket Of his deer
skin shirt, not the deadly Derringer,
but a flask of excellent wine, which he
pressed to the lips Of his victim. Then
he called out imperatively, to some one
in the gang: Doctor"
A short, thick set fellow dismounted,
examined Fleetwoods hurts, produced
Int a-' bandages from some unknown
quarter, and began to bind up the
young mans wounds with professional
skill.
He'll pull through" Fleetwood heard
him mutter.
Black Dave stood looking on with an
air of strange excitement. Fleetwood
could almost feel his terrible eyes
burning through his mask. The rest
of the gang remained motionless in
their saddles.
81 did not come back to finish you,
as you see, Mr.. Fleetwood" said the
outlaw, with low, mirthless laugh;
don't start-I read your name on your
letters. 1t was a double barreled blow
which you gave me, and you can make
your boast that you're the first man
who ever fioored Black Dave; but
bear no malice. Now, first OF all,
where do you hail from?"
Having really nothing to conceal,
Fleetwood answered, promptly, From
Canada"
What brings you to Colorado?"
81 am here to visit an old college
class mate, and invest, perhaps, in a
sheep ranch"
"Humph! Give him another pull at
the flask, doctor-his voice Is failing.
You're a Canadian by birth, young
man, but you have friends in the
states, eh?"
Friends in the states! What's that
to you, you scoundrel?" groaned Fleet
wood.
"Tut! don't call hard names. To
what place were you bound when you
got aboard that stage?"
ITO Crawford's ranch"
"Ha! That's a good distance away,
on the river"
He made signal to his men, and the
strongest horse in the party was led
forward. One of the robbers, an ex-
ceedingly light weight, mounted, and
took Fleetwood on before him.
Off went the gang, Black Dave at
their head. In spite Of his bodily suf-
fering, Fleetwood was full Of wonder
and curiosity. How could he account
for this odd turn of affairs? What had
transformed these red handed desper-
ADDE'S so suddenly into good Samari-
tans?
The little cavalcade, all armed to the
teeth, went on through the moonlight
Fleetwood's ears were full Of rattling
hoofs and spurs, but not syllable was
spoken to any one. At pace subdued
to suit the need of the wounded man.
the horses measured off mile after mile
in gloom and silence. On and on!
Now and then the wine flask was
pressed anew to FleetwOod's lips
Through half- closed eyes he saw the
night sky thick with stars, sliding
away overhead, and the lonely land
scape, as it slipped by like a painful
dream. At last he became aware that
the gang was ascending a hill. On the
further side lay valley well watered
that Indispensable requirement of a
sheep breeder
There stood rough cabin, with barn
and sheds huddled near, and some cor
rails, connected by swinging gates. AT
this hour no light was visible about the
place; no sign of life; but as Black
Dave and his men approached the cor
rails they were greeted by the soft bleat
o. sheep, and the barking Of dogs. The
outlaw rode up to the ranch, swung
himself out Of the saddle, seized Fleet
wood, and dropped him at the thres-
hold.
"Halloo within!" he thundered, and
gave two or three resounding blows on
the door Then the young fellow fell
something thrust into his hand-the
watch and purse of which he had been
robbed, and heard these words:
Here you are at Crawford's ranch