Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11
DAUeRFERS OF eAtN
BY ETA w. PIERCE


ger? Is that man anywhere in our vi
cinity?"
1.-The Lord only knows, madam! Now
he's here and now he's there. The
other day the sheriff and his posse
were looking for Dave around Lead.
Vile, and, by gum! where was he al
that very time, but down on the
Southern Pacific, wrecking an express
train and gobbling up hundred thou
sand dollars, besides putting daylight
through the officials who tried to pro-
tect his loot"
"It is favorite pastime of Dawes
said the voice on the other seat, "to
swoop down, like a cyclone, on some
border town, paint 1t red, rob the
wealthiest inhabitants, kill everybody
who resists him, and then vanish with
his gang-whither, no man knows. He
has stolen more money than any other
border ruffian, and his success in his
devilish calling might be called phe-
nomenal."
81 thought there were vigilants in
this part of the country" remarked
Guy Fleetwood, dryly.
The judge grinned.
True, sir, but Black Dave is more
vigilant than the vigilants. They are
always after him, but they never over
take him. He is as cunning as fox
and as slippery as an eel. At present
he rides and robs at his own pleasure
The Mexican crossed himself.
"They told me at Denver" shudder-
ed the professor, that Black Dave was
a half-breed Indian. and that once
down in Texas, he. barely escaped
hanging as horse-thief."
II don't know about that" replied
the judge. Like most gentlemen OF
the road, Dave goes masked to his
business. But he's too blasted smart
for an Indian, and" with a bow to the
female passengers, "too chivalrous to
the ladies'"
"I would like" cried the school
ma'am, Indignantly, ito crack his
wicked head with my umbrella"
Nothing was heard for a few mo-
ments but the rafting Of the wheels
and the creaking Of springs and har-
ness, as the stage toiled up hill, now
in moonlight, now in shadow.
What should we do" shivered the
young Boston wife, as she drew little
nearer to the schoolma'am, 'ff that
monster should attack the stage to-
night?"
DO, ma'am?" bristled the tourist in
the gray coat, I'VE would fight, like
men, for our lives and-money. 1t
speaks badly. for the courage Of these
western folks that they allow such
brigands as Dave and his gang to
establish a reign Of terror here. It's
my opinion he has never met a plucky
adversary in all his career, and that's
the whole secret Of his success. Those
fellows on the express train that the
scoundrel wrecked the other day de-
clared afterward that the rifles fur
nished on their line wouldn't go off
it's more likely the men themselves
were too scared to pull trigger.
HE who fights and runs away,
Will live to fight another day;
But he who Is in the battle slain
Will never live to fight again.
quoted the schoolma' am, dryly.
WELL" meditated the judge, this
western frontier is a queer place.
There's a powerful lot Of unwritten
history here. For my own part, I'm
not desirous Of a more intimate ac-
quaintance with the road-agents or
their chief-Tm quite content to re-
ceive second hand my information con-
cerning David"
"Ameni" murmured the professor OF
geology, with fervor.
The only person in the stage who
seemed to be armed was the Mexican
trader. In his sash was stuck pair
of gold mounted revolvers. He finger
ed them nervously, but said nothing
The vehicle rumbled on. It's monot-
onous motion began to take effect on
Fleetwood. The faces Of his travelling
companions grew dim before his eyes
their voices-they were still talking OF
Black Dave and his evil deeds-died
away in his drowsy, Indifferent ears
He slept.
For how long, he did not know, but
long enough to find himself absorbed in
a vivid dream Of Maud Lotus, his
betrothed wife. He saw her standing
tall and fair, on the terrace Of his old
Canadian house. The postroad tc
Quebec wound past the iron gate, and
the moon was shining in the tamarack-
trees, and over the rapids Of the great
river, that. scarcely more than q
stones throw from his door, rushed
tumultuously along under the pale
stars of the north. In his dream he
put out eager arms to embrace her.
Maud" he cried, Maud, my darl-
ingI"
She waved him sadly away.
You do not love me-" she answered
in voice as hollow as a shell; 'yor
have never loved me, Guy. You con-
sented to marry me only to please youl
mother"
He tried to utter a denial, but hi:
tongue Glove to his mouth. The lady O
his dream laughed scornfully.
False lover!" she cried; false II
word, false in deed! Your hour Is ye
to come The woman lives who vii
some day avenge mel"
Like a wrath, fair but threatening
she seemed to melt away into TIT
moonlight He sprang forward t
seize and to hold her. when presto! TIT
stage of the Overland Mail compan!
stopped with sudden jerk, confused
murmur followed, then the door wa
flung back, and voice like a trumpe
called out: Gents and ladies, I'll trou
BILE you to light"
The schoolma'am gave scream
shrill enough to lift the top of TIT
coach. The Illinois judge simply said
by gum! it's Black Dave!" and IL
one brief, thrilling instant Fleetwood
found himself wide-awake to existing
realities.