The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-01-22
TheSpOilers.'
by REX e. BEACH.
Copyright, 1896. by Rex b Beach.


II was when she heard the night shift
at their meal that she threw a silken
shawl about her head. stepped .lto the
cool night aud picked her way down
toward the roar OF the creek "A
breath OF air and then to bed" she
thought. She saw the tall figure of
the Waterman and made for him. He
seemed oddly interested in her mp
proach, watching her very closely. al
most rs though alarmed. II was doubt
less because there were so few women
ont here. or possibly on account OF the
lateness OF the hour. Away with con-
ventions. This was the land Of in
stlnct and impulse. She would talk TO
him. The man drew his hat more
closely about his face and moved off
as she came mp. Glenister had been
In her thoughts moment since. and
she now noted that here was another
with the sane great, square shoulders
aud erect head. Then she saw with a
start that this one was a negro. He
carried Winchester and seemed to
watch her carefully. yet with indie
cision
To express her interest and TO break
the silence, she questioned him. but at
the sound of her voice he stepped to-
ward her and spoke roughly:
What"
Then he paused and stammered in
strangely altered and unnatural voice:
"Yass'm. I'm the Waterman"
She noted two other darkies ut worl
below and was vaguely surprised. not
so much at their presence. as Mt the
manner in which they moved. for they
seemed under stress OF some =. grcal
haste, running hither and yon. She
saw horses standing in the trail and
sensed something indefnably odd ano
alarming in the air Turning to the
man she opened her mouth to speak
when from the rank grass under hen
feet came n noise which set her a
tingle and at which her suspicious
leaped full TO the solution. 1t was the
groln OF man. Again he gave voice
stood face TO face with something sin
lister. Tales OF sluice robbers had come
TO her and rumors OF the daring raids
Into which men were lured by the vel
low sheen. and yet this was incredible.
A hundred men lay within sound OF her
voice. She could hear their laughter.
One was whistling a popular refrain.
A quarter mile away on every hand
We're other camps. A scream from her
would bring them all. Nonsense, this
was no sluice robbery. and then the
man In the bushes below moaned for
the third time.
"What Is that?" she said. -
Without reply the negro lowered the
muzzle of his rifle till it covered her
breast and at the same time she heard
the double click of the hammer g..
keep still aud don't move" he
warned. Were desperate. and we
ian't take any chances, miss"
ooh. you are stealing the gold
She was wildly frightened. yet stood
still while the lookout anxiously d.
vlded his attention between her and
the tents above until his companions
siShatu hiih ludt theN were inIouSH
and the horses were loaded. Then he
spoke:
Il don't know what to do with you,
but guess III tie you up"
WHAT" she said.
"Tm going TO tie and gag you so you
can't boiler"
ooh. don't you darer she cried fierce
ly. I'll stand right here till you've
gone, and won't scream. ! promise"
She looked up AT him appealingly, at
which he dipped his head. so that she
caught only a glimpse Of his face, and
then backed away.
"All right! Don't try it because I'll
be hidden in those bushes yonder at