Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-15
Copyright A. C. AoCiurs q Co. lsio.)


sut, they've landed me also. Now
they'll get rid of US both ~ best they
CO. These fellows won't want any
trial-that would be liable to give the
whole trick away-but they have got
70 put rs where we won't talk. There
IL IN easy way to do this. and that IL
by q lynching bee. Do you get my
drift. Neb?"
The whites Of tho nsgro's eyes were
very much In evidence. his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he sat
10 dc Lawd, yes, Massa Jack. I
sho' does. l corroboratss &c whole
thing"
Then you arc willing to take =
chance with me?"
'Willin'' Why Massa Jack. rss
overjoyed; l amt swine leave yer no
mo-. Use sho' gwine ter be yo' Niger
What yo' gwins ter do?"
Keith ran his eyes over the walls,
carefully noting every peculiarly.
'We1l remain here quietly tust a.
long as it is daylight, Neb," he replied
finally. but Wen try every board and
every log to discover some way out.
Just the moment 1t grows dark enough
to slip away without being seen we've
got 10 hit the prairie. Once south of
the Arkansas we're safe, but not until
then. Have you made any effort to
get out?"
Tho negro came over to him, and
bent down.
II was layin' on a board what I'd
worked loose At one end" he whis-
pered hoarssly, back OBJ de bench,
but couldn't jerk It out wid'out
something ter pry It up Wild"
Where is it?"
Right yers, Massa Jack"
II WAS = heavy twelve-inch plank
part of the flooring. and the second
from the side-wall Keith managed
and the two pressed 1t up far enough
for the white man to run one arm
through the opening up to his shoul-
der and grope about below.
There's q two-foot space there hs
reported, IS they let the board settle
silently down into position. The back
part of this building must b set up on
piles. | reckon we could Dry that
plank up with the bench. Neb. but it's
liable To make Considerable racket
Let's hunt about first for some other
weak spot"
They crept scroSs the moor, testing
each separate board. but without dis
covering q place where they could ex-
ert a leverage. The thick plspks were
tixhtly spfksd down Nor dil the
walls offer any befter encouragement.
Keith lifted himself to the grated
window. getting = glimpse OF the
world without. but finding the iron i'm
movable. the screws solidly imbeddsd
In the outside wood. He dropped to
the door. feeling banned and discours
aged.
1T will have to be the plank back
OF the bench. Neb." he announced
briefly. wiping the perspiration from
his face. Get down there, and work
1t as loose as you can without making
any noise. while keep my ear to the
door and listen for any Interruption"
They took turns at this labor. dis
covering q loose nail which gave an
opening purchase st the crack. thus
enabling the insertion OF q small wood
en- block. and insuring space for .
good finger grip whom the right time
came. sleepy Mexican brought In
their dinner, and set II down on the
bench without . word, but on his re-
turn with supper. the marshal acoom.
panied him. and remained while .hoy
ate. talking to Keith, and staring
"a hpu 81 he
gle window was to the west, the last
rays Of the sun struck the opposite
wall. leaving the spsce behind the
bench In deep shadow. Whatever
might be the plans Of BLACK Bart"
and his cronies. Keith was soon con-
yinced they were unknown TO Hicks.
who had evidently been deceived into
thinking that this last arrest had
created no excitement
That's why we picked yer up 50
early" he explained. gsnially. Bart
said II We got to yer afors the boys
woke up they'd never hear nuthin'
bout It, an 10 thar wouldn't bs no
row. He didn't even think thar'd be
emmy need o. ksepin' . special guard
tsr-night, but | reckon | won't take
no such chance a. that, an I'll have
couple O. deputies prowlin' round fer
luck When Carson does wake up.
she's hell"
He left them tobacco and pipes. and
went away evidently convinced that
he had performed his full duty. The
two prisoners. pufang smoksrtngs inte
the air. heard the heavy clang Of the
iron bar falling into place across the
door. and sat looking into one anoth-
sr's faces through the deepening twt
light In the mind Of both black and
white reposed the same thought The
negro was hrst to break the silence.
Pears ter ms. Massa Jack, like
dis ysrs Bart pusson am mighty anx,
ious ter hab no suspicious raised"
ANYBODY but Hicks would see
that" acknowledged the other. the
rings Of smoke circling his head. but
he hasn't any brains. II was pure
asrvs that got him the Job. Well. this
Il one time that Bart pusson' Il going
70 ind an empty coop. Wen get out,
Neb. Just A. soon ~ It gets dark
enough. Hicks isn't likely to put on
his extra guard for an hour yet. and
the Red Light bunch won't be At for
business much before midnight. By
that tina Wo'n b I'm the aand hflla