The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-12-07

ing for was night, and a lax guard. He
glanced about at the walls of the
room, his eyes grown hard, his teeth
clenched.
'.Neb,' he said shortly, 81 guess that
was your outfit all right, but they
were not killed by Indians. They
were run down by a gang from this
town-the same fellows who have put
you and me in here. l don't know
what they were after-that's to be
found out later,-but the fight you put
up at the camp spoiled their game for
once, and led to your arrest. They
failed to get what was wanted In
Carson, and SO they trailed the party
to the Cimmaron Crossing. Then /
got on their track, and Fearing the re-
suit, they've landed me also. Now
they'll get rid of us both as best they
can. These fellows won't want any
trial-that would be liable to give the
whole trick away-but they have got
to put us where we won't talk There
IS an easy way to do this, and that is
by a lynching bee. Do you get my
drift, Neb?"
The whites of the negro's eyes were
very much in evidence, his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he sat.
go de Lawd, yes, Massa Jack.
sho' does. l corroborates de whole
thing"
"Then you are willing to take a
chance with me?"
''Willin'! Why, Massa Jack, Use
overjoyed; amt gwine leave yer no
mo-. Use sho' gwine ter be yo' niger.
What yo' gwine ter do?"
Keith ran his eyes over the walls,
carefully noting every popularity.
''We1l remain here quietly just as
long as it is daylight Neb," he replied
finally, "but We'll try every board and
every log to discover some way out.
Just the moment it grows dark enough
to slip away without being seen we've
got to hit the prairie Once south OF
the Arkansas we're safe, but not until
then. Have you made any effort to
get out?"
The negro came over to him, and
bent down.
Il was layin' on board what I'd
worked loose at one end" he whis-
pered hoarsely, back OBJ de bench,
but couldn't jerk it out wid'out
something ter pry it up wild"
Where is it,"
Right yere, Massa Jack"
1t was a heavy twelve-inch plank,
part of the flooring, and the second
from the side-wall. Keith managed
to get grip next to the black fingers,
and the two pressed it up far enough
for the white man to run one arm
through the opening up to his shout,
der and grope about below
There's a two-foot space there" he
reported, as they let the board settle
silently down into position The back
part of this bui 5jo .sE t@
piles | reckon aa Hz
plank up with the ef. 80 aet .l
liable to make 4tei3aTaosa rtc#&t
Let's hunt abou. Syst no at8ce
weak spot"
They crept AZ .s - H.. tas1
each separate board, but without dis
covering a place where they could ex-
ert a leverage The thick planks were
tightly spiked down. Nor did the
walls oTer any better encouragement
Keith lifted himself to the grated
window, getting a glimpse Of the
world without, but finding the iron i'm.
movable, the screws solidly imbedded
In the outside wood. He dropped to
the floor, feeling bafied and discour
aged.
1T will have to be the plank bach
of the bench. Neb,' he announced
briefly, wiping the perspiration from
his face. Get down there, and work
it 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 a loose nail which gave ar
opening purchase at the crack, thus
enabling the insertion of small wood
en- block, and insuring space for
good finger grip when the right time
came. A sleepy Mexican i z =
their dinner, and set it G2 8.
bench without a word b. r
turn with supper, the M
panied him, and remain, ~ Ae5
ate, talking to Keith, - = Lta
about the room. Fortuna tcl, 80
gle window was to the west, the last
rays of the sun struck the opposite
wall, leaving the space behind the
bench in deep shadow. Whatever
might be the plans of BLACK Bart
and his cronies, Keith was soon con
vinced they were unknown to Hicks
who had evidently been deceived into
thinking that this last arrest hao
created no excitement
That's why we picked yer UP sc
early" he explained genially BAR
saiA if we got to yer afore the boys
woke up they'd never hear nuthin
bout it, an so thar wouldn't be nc
row. He didn't even think thar'd be
emmy need o. keepin' special guard
ter-night, but I reckon l won't take
no such chance as that, an I'll have
couple O. deputies prowlin' round fel
luck. When Carson does wake up
she's hell"
He left them tobacco and pipes, and
went away evidently convinced thai
he had performed his full duty The