Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17

forward. | rolled little more upon my face,
and gave a grunt. like one stirred in a deep
sleep: and then | knew twas all right, for
Creech's Jaw cracked in a vawn. and, retiring
to his corner. he flung himself down. From
where | lay. and by the faint light OF the lam
thorn. could perceive him turning the casket
over IN his fingers and presently ne popped
it in the straw beneath him. and. laying his
head upon it, disposed himself for the
night.
TO this point the affair had gone very well;
but must now wait until Dan was noddlng
and d little more than that too. So the better
part Of two hours elapsed before | made
movement. Then, pulling myself cautiously
into sitting posture, | listened The barn
reverberated with the noise the two cullies
made. There was little doubt about Creech
this time. l rose still specter. The light
fiickered upon Dams body; and very slowly
| drew near. | warrant there never
mouse so quiet as | as | Bonded over him.
with my fingers in the straw.
Pah the lob easy enough done for all
it was so furtive. For. the box proving hard
to his neck, his head had slipped away, and
there need to disturb him in extracting
it: and more by token. when had inserted
my fingers, they came upon bag OF gold
tinches too, the which, | recalled, was IN
our pact. And so with exceeding wariness
fetched both of EN- out. and only culver
upon Dan features to mark tor 1t. That &C
complished, tripped it to the door, which
enough and | should have had the booty
without more ado than sharp time IN the
frost only who should intervene, unexpected,
but the fat sneak Kettle upon whom, prow
ing round the barn after some dirty busl-
ness of his own, ! stumbled over the
threshold
The shock sent me back against the door.
which fell to with loud bang, and what with
that and with the alarm Kettle made, Creech
and the Others were upon their feet and wide
f11,y
aside with curse on him for his interference,
! slipped forth of the yard and made forth
right for the wood. But Creech was sharp
enough too. He beloved with rage, and came
roaring upon me with his par OF rascals at
his heels There was little enough to spare
between us, though the dark was on my side.
But then again twas the dark that made
against me too for, mistaklng my direction,
! ran into the forest upon the side away from
Calypso and shortly found myself in wilder
ness Of copplce, able to move yard
for the underground about me. Creech was
not far off. for could hear him breaking
through the wood and yelling at the top OF
his voice
But was not vet quit of EN-, not by any
means; for here was ], uncertain Of my posi-
ton, and wanting nag to carry me safe out
of their hands. And the worser part of it was
that CreeCh was pretty sure to happen upon
the mare in his wanderings. Still there was
nothing further to be done at this Juncture; for
the noise of my advance would be heard, and
so | Law verv still in the brake for upwards o!
an hour BY that time the night was yielding
and the dawn came up in thin white mist
which stretched like a counterpane upon the
forest. Overhead heavy belied clouds were
laboring in clumsy flight towards the west
knew Creech would not have gwen up; but
twas foolish to remain longer IN conCealment
and SO very circumspectly | crept through
the wood towards t'other face OF the barn
where, guessed, Calypso was tethered.
some else and had it not been that pro-
ceeded with such stealth, he must have over
heard the sounds of my progress. Creech
knew me too well to suppose | would have
left the roam to him. and there he sat upon
his launches. Just afore IN the bracken
with his eyes on the nag. Not twig stirred
as | approached and my steps fell noiselesslv
upon the grass, for here the forest was more
open And thus came within spring OF Dan
when drawing pistol, suddenly walked out
of the bushes with the most unconcerned air
YOU can imagine. Creech turned sharply
but the nozzle OF my barker at his
forehead.
All Danny. Danny says you would
not rob a poor young fellow of his marel"
Creech turned white with rage and swore
horribly.
Hush, Danny. hush" says L. Think on
Your immortal SOUL Danny, and forego wicked
words; also" says |, those ugly weapons.
being the instruments of an evil life"