The state herald., 1907-01-04

diuosl eteTyuouy utu. Shcucy wan
convinced that that money belonged to
Uncle Sam, but personal conviction
and legal proofs are far apart; so he
bided his time.
You're not drinking. stranger" said
the hospitable sport. why not?"
Not thirsty. thanks" said Cheney
with his smile.
"Well, by God, when set 'em up
every one drinks or settles with me-"
In flash 1t looked like trough
house." but Just then clatter was
heard outside and an overland caravan
pulled in. putting an end to the i'm
pending trouble. The members OF the
caravan filed into the saloon and were
with blue Ruin" whisky. Cheney and
his companions slipped out and short
ly afterwards retired for the night.
They were quartered In one room in
the sunfower hotel. Their bed was
a pallet on the floor. For awhile they
talked over plans for the morrow
when they would hunt up Lem Stock
ham, the sheriff. and prepare to get
the gang; and finally tired nature as
serted itself and they slept. That is
Lonergan and Cheney did, but Guthrie
was uneasy and restless. He lay
awake for some time listening to the
sounds of the crowd outside. Occasion
ally there was shot or two, yell,
a ribald song, and SO the night wore
on. It was quite warm and after toss
ing about for some hours Sid got up
to go out for a breath Of air. He was
gone quite awhile and walked down by
the Sycamore creek. Finding an In
viting spot he took plunge, and Just
as the first rays OF dawn came up over
the horizon he started back to town.
He had been out about two miles and
II was quite light when he turned the
hill and looked down the street. He
was surprised to see a large crowd OF
men standing around the door of the
hotel and In second scented trouble.
He had seen mobs before and knew
this one was bent on mischief. Guthrie
was believer In lunches" and
something told him this mob had
something to do with Cheney and their
work. He made his way cautiously
through the crowd. keeping his eyes
and ears open and his mouth shut.
He learned that the caravan which
stopped there for the night was from
Cincinnati and Ohio river towns. One
of the members. boy 20 years old,
had about 81 800 strapped In his money
belt on arriving. The caravan was
camped Just beyond the edge of, the
town and the boy had left his bucolic
friends after midnight to 20 to camp.
En- route he had been waylaid and half
killed. When he recovered conscious
ness his money was gone and he stag
gered back to town. His head was
pretty badly battered up and when he
half fell into the saloon where his
companions where making night Of
It.. he wasn't very pleasant picture TO
behold.
In broken accents he told Of the rob
bcsy. how two men had held hin up.
robbed him OF his money and then
beaten him. supposedly. to death. But
life is very tenacious. especially In 90
year old youths.
A glass OF liquor revived him n lit
tie more.
How many men. you say!" asked
his wagon boss.
Two are NIL saw" faltercd the
boy. The description he gave was
meager
Buck Ewing and few OF his friends
listened and the ono who had wanted
every one TO drink with him early In
the evening snaried out: I'm bet Il
was that chap who wouldn't drink
with me. lie and his partner left early
In the evening" and his bcfuddlcd
brain forgot there were three In
chcncy's party. For once too much
liquor was good thing,
In times like those Just recorded rcn.
son In prone 10 give way TO n desire
for revenge. or legal law there was
mighty little In those days. Lem
stockham. tho sheriff. was away and
NO the mob had full sway. All this
time Cheney and fonergan were peace
fully sleeping. md Guthrie was trying
to walk on his rcatlessncss.
Another round Of drinks was served
and then tho mob was ready for nny
dcyilmcnt. Buck Ewing and his party
and the wagon boss led the gang.
Gould you recognize tho two men
who nluggcd your" asked Ewing Of the
boy.
"Yca. I think could" the lad re-
piled.
Tho search began aud each house
wns inspected. AZ daylight they
reached tho sunnower hotel. Cheney
and LoncrRnn must have been sleep.
Ing like dead men not 10 have been
awakened. but the frat thing they
knew their door was thrown open and
they were looking down tho mussiea
of nix shooters pointed at their headn.
Cheney'a nerve was magnificent, no
was Loncrgnn's. Long ago they had
learned when man has the drop ON
you Il 1, better 10 submit and play for
tIfuo