The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-20
Another moment and they distinctly

Hustle up thar now, Manuel. an
turn out; It's your watch: wake up,
dam yer-maybe that'll bring yet ter
life"
The remedy applied to the sleeper
must have been efficacious, as, an In.
stant later, another figure slouched
into view, the new arrival rubbing
his eyes with one hand. the other
clutching short-barrelled gun. From
the high peak of his hat 1t was ey!-
dent this new guard was a Mexican.
he walked to the corner, glanced
along the east side wall toward the
front OF the cabin, and then, apparent,
ly satisfied the coast was clear. start.
Cd toward the stream. stunning along
within foot Of where Keith lay fiat
on the ground. A moment later the men
heard him splashing softly In the wa,
ter. and Keith rolled over, his lips
at Bristoe's ear.
slip down there, Ben" he whis-
pered. and quiet that fellow. I'll find
out now many are on the west side.
Do the Job without any noise.-
He waited until the scout had dis
appeared like q snake, not even q
rusuing leaf telling OF his passage,
and then silently crept forward him.
self. yet with less caution, until he
was able to peer about the corner OF
the cabin and dimly distinguish the
olanketed forms Of several men lying
close In against the side wall. They
rested SO nearly together It was dim.
cut to separate them in that dark.
ness, stars giving the only light but
ne finally determined their number at
nve. Five; the Mexican would make
six, and there would surely be another
guard posted out in the front-seyen.
But there were eight horses down
there IN the corral. Then the eighth
man-Hawley, without doubt-must
be IN the cabin. At the thought
keith's teeth clinched. and he had to
struggle to control his passion. But
no; that would never do; he must dis.
cover first exactly where the girl was
located; after that they would attend
TO the ours. Before creeping back to
the others, he made quick examine
ton along the rear Of the cabin, but
could find no visible point of weak.
ness, He tried to recall from memory
the nature Of the lock on that back
door, but could remember nothing ex.
cept an ordinary wooden latch. II
he could insert knife into the crack
that might very easily be dislodged.
He drew his hunting knife for the at.
tempt, and, first glAncing about, per.
cetved man creeping toward him. It
proved to be Bristoe.
Fixed the greaser all right cap,
and reckon he'll be quiet for an hour
or two. Look whar he slashed me;
struck a pack o playin' keerds, or Id
a got my ticket" The front Of his
blouse was cut wide open, and Keith
thought he perceived q stain of blood.
"Pncked you as It was, didn't he"
Opened the skin Thought the cuss
had given up. an got careless What's
round TO the westT'
Keith's lips closed, his hand shut.
ting hard on the knife.
Five. and another out In front:
that leaves the eighth man inside.
Bring our fellows up closer, and post
them where they can cover those fel.
lows asleep. while make an effort at
breaking In here"
Bristoe crawled back like q snail.
and confident the others would do their
part, Keith thrust his knife blade deep
into the narrow crack and began prob
ing after the latch. In spite Of all cau-
ton this effort caused q slight noise,
and suddenly he started back at the
sound OF woman's voice:
What do you want2 am armed,
and will fire through the door II you
do not 60 away!"
His heart leaping with exultation.
Keith put his lips close to the crack.
Pope" he exclaimed as loudly as
he dared. This Is Keith: open the
door,"
He could hear little smothered cry
break from her lips. and then the
sound Of bar being hastily removed.
An instant, and the door opened 81.
lently, just wide enough to permit her
slender figure to slip through. She
grasped him with her hands, turning
his face to the light Of the stars, and
he could feel her form tremble.
"Oh, l knew you would come! I
knew you would come!" she sobbed.
the words barely audible.
The mans lips set firmly, yet he
held her close to him, begging her
not to break down now.
TITS all right, little GIRL" he said
pleadingly, we've got you safe, but
there is a fight to be attended to.
Come with me; must ask you Ques-
tion or two"
He drew her back into the fringe Of
bushes, placing her safely behind the
stack Of saddles. She was not crying
any more, just clinging to him. as
though she could never again bear to
I~A