Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-15

Lands Sake, You poan Moan ts
stoal Dem Hossss7"
the iron grating being blotted from
sight Keith, staring In that direction.
failed to perceive any distant glimmer
OF star. and decided the night must be
cloudy. and that time for action had
come. Guided by Neb's pipe bowl,
he touched the boy on the shoulder.
Knock out your ashes. and shuttle
about lively with your feet. while I
pry up the board"
In spite of his slenderness, Keith
possessed unusual strength, yet no ex.
ertion on his part served to start the
loosened plank sufficiently for their
purpose. Ripping q strip from tho
bench he managed to pry tho hole
somewhat larger. arranging the bench
itself so as TO AFFORD tho necessary
leverage. but even then his entire
weight failed to either start the
spikes. or crack the plank. Some al.
tsrcstion began In the other room. the
sound OF angry voices and shuffiins
feet being plainly audible. 1t was clear
to Keith that they must take the
chance OF noise. and no better time
than this could be chosen
Here. Neb take hold with me and
bear domn-put your whole weight on
It. boy"
The two hung themselves upon the
end of the bench, leaping up and down
SO as to add weight to power. Come
thing had to give, either the stout
wood OF their improyised lever or else
the holding OF the plank. For an In
stant 1t seemed likely to be the for
mer; then. with shrill screech. the
long spikes yielded and the board
suddenly gave. With shoulders In
serted beneath. the two men heaved
II still higher, ramming the bench be-
low 80 as to leave the opening clear.
This WAS now sufficiently ample for
the passage of 9 mans body and
Keith, lowering himself. discovered
the earth to be fully four feet below.
The negro instantly Joined him. and
they began creeping about in the dark
ness, seeking some way out. A rudely
laid foundation of limestone along OBJ
structed their patch to the open air.
This had been laid In mortar. but of
inferior quality. SO that little difficulty
was experienced in detaching sum
cient to obtain hand hold. Working
silently, not knowing what watchers
might be already stationed without
they succeeded in loOsening enough Of
the rock to allow them TO crawl
through, lying breathlsss In ths open.
Accustomed as they were 10 the
darkness, they could yet SEQ little.
They were upon the opposite side
from the town, with no sleam of lights
visible. prairie and sky blending to-
gether into spectral dimness. with no
sound audible but the continued quar-
rel in the front room Of the jail Keith
crept along to the end Of the building
from where he could perceive the
lights Of the town twinkling dimly
through the intense blackness. Evi-
IDENTIFY the regular evening ssturnalia
had not yet begun. although there waA
already semblance of life about the
numerous saloons. and an occasional
shout punctured the stiffness. dog
howled in the distance, and the pound
ing Of swift hoofs along the trail told
Of fresh arrivals An hour later and
the single street OF Carson City would
be alive with humanity. eager for any
excitement. ready for any wild Orgy.
II only once turned loose. That It
would be turned loose, and also d.
rected. the man lying on his face In
the grass felt fully assured. He smiled
wrfrply uiahtny hA mt hAhntd
BLACK Barts" face when he should
discover the flight OF his intended vic.
Tins. But there was no time to lose (:
every moment gained. added to their
chance of safety.
Are those horses tied there by the
blacksmith's shop?" he asked, point
ing.
The negro stared In the direction In
dicated, confused by the shadows
thrown by the dim lights.
II reok'n dey am. Massa Jsckj
done make out fo'"
Then two of them must belong To
us; come on. boy"
He ran forward, crouching behind
every chance cover. and keeping well
back behind the line OF shEcks. A
slight depression In the prairie helped
conceal their movements. and neither
spoke until they were crouching to-
gether beside the wall OF the shop.
Then Nsb. teeth chattering. managed
TO blurt out:
"Fo' Dc Lawd's sake, yer don't Aotu-
ally mean ter steal dem hossesY"
. Keith glanced about At the others
dim, black shadow.
Sure not; just borrow 'sm-"
But dats q hsngin' Job In dis ysrs
country. Massa Jack
! "Bure It II II they catch US. But
we'd be strung up anyway. and We
can't be hung twice. Besides there II
. chance for W with the ponies. and
none 1t all without. An hours start
in the saddle. Neb. and this bunch
haak here viii nevW evel 61l eur