Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-07-27
CHAPTER XXI.

and stnrlit; but there was no moon and
outside the Immediate neighborhood of the
main streets, the darkness was enough
to favor our hope Of escaping notice with
ont being 20 intense as to embarrass our
footsteps Everything, in fact, seemed to
be on our side, and l was full of buoy
ant condolences as l put my revolver In
my pocket and, on tho stroke of midnight,
STOLE from my lodgings. looked up to-
ward the bank and dimly deserted three
or four motionless figures, whom l took
TO be sentries guarding the treasure. Inc
street itself was almost deserted but from
where stood l could see the Piazza
crowded with throng of people, whose
shouts and songs told me that the Colo
neps hospitality was being fully appre-
ciated. There was dancing going on to
the strains of the military band, and ev-
cry sign showed that our good citizens in
tended, In familiar phrase, to make
night of It.
/ walked swiftly and silently down to
the lefty. Yes, the boat was all right
looked to her fires. and left her moored by
one rope ready to be launched into tho
calm black sea in an instant linen
strolled along, by the harbor side. Here
/ met couple Of sentries. lnnocenry
1 entered into conversation with them,
condoling on their hard fate in being kept
on duty while pleasure was at the helm
In the Piazza Gently deprecnting sucn
excess Of caution, pointed out TO tnem
the stationary lights Of The Songstress,
four or five miles out to sea, and win
respectful smile at tho Coloners uneasi-
ness, left the seed l had sown to grow IN
nrepared soil. l dared do no more, and
had to trust for the rest to their natural
inclination to the neglect Of duty.
When I rot back to the bottom OF Lib
srtv street. / ensconced myself In the
shelter Of a little group of trees which
.toed At one side Of the roadway. Just
across the road, which ran at right an
giles to the street, the wood began, ana
quarter Of an hours walk through lts
shades would bring US to the 1etty wnere
the boat lay. Ny trees made perfect
screen. and here / stood awaiting events
For some time nothing was audible but
an ever-increasing tumult OF 1oviality
from the Piazza. But after about twenty
minutes | awoke to the fact that con-
slant dribbls Of men, singly or IN pairs,
had berun to flow past me from the Pi-
80. down Liberty street, across the road
behind me. and into the wood. Some were
in uniform, others dressed In common
Clothes: one or two l recognized A. mem
bers of Johnny Cars missing band The
strong contrast between the prevailing
revelry and the stealthy, cautious air OF
these passcrs-by would alone have sug-
rested that they were bent on business;
quitting two and two together, had not
the least doubt that they were the Presi-
dent's adherents making their way down
70 the waters edge to receive their chief.
So he was coming; the letter had done
it, work! Some fifty or more must have
come and fOue before the stream ceased,
end reflected, with great satisfaction,
that the Colonel was likely to have his
hands very full In the next hour or two.
Half an hour or 50 passed uneventful-
"; the bonfire still blased the songs and
dancing were still In full swing. 1t was
closs upon the fateful hour Of two, when,
looking from my hiding place, l saw a
slight figure in black coming quickly and
fsarfully along the road.
I recognized the Signorina at once, as
I should recognize her any day among a
thousand, and AZ she paused nearly oppo-
site where was, l gently called her
name and showed myself for moment.
She ran to me at once.
rs 1t all right?" she asked, breath
lsssly.
I'VE shall see in moment" said I.
1.-THE attack IL coming OF It will begin
directly"
But the attack was not the next thing
NJ saw. We had both retrsated again to
the friendly shadow whence We could zee
without being seen. Hardly had We sst-
tied ourselves than tho Signorina whis
persd to me, pointing across the road tc
the wood
whats that. JackY
l followed the line of her finger and
made out row Of figures standing mo
<ionlsss and still on the very edss Of tn.
wood. It was too dark to distinguish In
dividuals; but even ~ We looked the 81
lent air waited to our eager ears low
voiced command:
Mind, not . sound till rvs tn
word"
THE Presidentr' exclaimed ths Sig
noriEa, In loud whisper.
Hush, or he'll hear" said I, IAN.
we're DONE"
Clearly nothing would happen from tina
quarter till it was called forth BY event
n the opposite direction. The Signorin,
was strongly agitated abe chung to m
closaly, and l cav with alarm that th
vsry proximity Of the man she stood Il
such awe Of was too much for her com
posture When had soothed, and fsa
half-frirhtened, her into stiffness, l axai
turned my eyes toward the Piazza. Th
Are had at hast fickered out and the revel
seemed on the wane. Suddenly body 0
men appeared in close order, marchin
down the street toward the bank. w