Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-03-18
TAsvs va. the closing of door and

Je-mlm1E WnlStled Hastug 70 him.
self. "Ef dat amt a row den rs
whitel An all over dat highfalutin'
man, wha's only been here tree weeks.
OATS why Miss Ethel cries all de time
an here he comes now"
Up the wooded lane walked two
men, one attired in the latest fashion,
the other dressed most quietly, but
with a sinister. repelling countenance.
Come now, Jack" he was saying,
don't be hard on fellow when the
prey is 80 nearly within our grasp"
''Our graspl" the other repeated
with a sheer. You say that nice, but
I've heard you talk before, Dick Malby.
You owe me something on that other
deal. and say square old accounts
before you open new ones"
"But haven't got q cent, Jack.
had talk with the old man this
morning, and he promised me his
daughters hand. He will make her q
wedding gift Of I'VE thousand dollars,
and half Of that is yours the minute
! get my hands upon It."
ugh! That's all right az It sounds,
but want my money"
well, how are you going to get 1T"
~Just this way" A wicked CLEAN
flashed from the speakers eye. ''You
know the reward down in New Or.
leans that's waiting for the man who
pipes you on"
you wouldn't dare!"
Wouldn't II You owe me a good
sum, and that would square accounts. !"
''But be reasonable for short time
man. can't get the money"
''The old gent has got safe full OF
gold and house full Of silverwaro,
You'll help me crack the ranch, and
nobody will know you were in 'it, and
III call 1t square. Is It got"
what do I get7"
"One-third of the plate"
Tn with you"
The two strolled down the windina
path. The twilight had deepened into
dusk when Rastus crawled cautiously
from his hiding place, and glancing In
all directions to make sure that his
mother or her emissaries were not in
the vicinity, skurried away.
The mantle Of the night had fallen
over the great white house. All was
silent within and without. The large,
old-fashioned clock in the dining room
licked slowly, and with a great deal of
preparatory whirring made ready to
strike the hour Of three. Suddenly,
among the acacia bushes Just outside
the library window there was a rust,
ling sound, not as Of the breeze stir
ring the foliage, but as though hu.
man foot had trodden upon a dry twiE.
For moment all was stiIl, then there
was a cautions scraping at the sash.
Presently, with a clink, the piece Of
glass was removed, and a hand came
through the aperture. feeling for the
window catch. The sash was gently
raised, and a head covered with a
piece Of Grape surmounted by a tai
tered hat was thrust inside.
The man drew himself through the
opening and passed noiselessly into the
dining room. Soon he returned, and
leaning over the sill murmured:
Curse It, Dick. come up yourself!"
Another man mounted the ladder.
and the two went into the dining
room. Suddenly from behind the tall
old clock darted little black object.
A rush Of wind, q bang, and the door
between the library and dining room
was fast. Then there was a shout,
and the hall was filled with men.
Aroused by the noise, Squire Hartford
was one Of the first to appear.
What does this meanT" he thun.
dered. who are you, and what"
But with q crash the dining room
door had been broken open and the
two prisoners dragged forth. With his
hands on the collar Of one Of them
Charles Gordon said;
1T means that you were to have
been robbed-and murdered had you
shown any resistance. Rastus over
heard the plot and warned me. He
was secreted behind the clock, and suo-
ceeded IN performing a brave act.
Now. squire, look well at this villaini"
And the young man tore away the
mask from the face Of Richard Harrol.
II have been a fool. Charlie" said
the squire, when he had recovered
from his surprise. Come and see
Ethel tomorrow. As for you, you imp
Of darkness" he went on, turning TO
RastuS. ''you are brave boy, and
shall not forget what you have done"
Rastus grinned with delight. but
suddenly catching sight Of his mother
among the crowd Of frightened serv.
ants In the doorway he became very
grave. and looking conndingly into the
sQuire's face, asked:
Does git licked for taking dat
1amr"-Waverley Magazine.