Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07

And that, then. was Willis Waite ly-
ing in that shallow grave near the
Cimmnron Crossing, and for whose
death he had been arrested. Twas a
strange world, and O small one. What
q miserable ending to life like his
a division commander OF the Army OF
Northern Virginia. a Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Of his state What strange
com bin alton Of circumstances could
ever have brought such man to this
place, and sent him forth across those
Indiar-scouted plains? Surely nothing
ordinary. And why should those Dor
der desperadoes have followed,
through sixty miles Of desolation, to
strike him down. II was not robbery,
at least In the ordinary sense. What
then? And how was BLACK Bart" in
volved? Why should he be sufficient
ly interested to swear out q warrant.
and then assist In his arrest2 There
must be something to all this not APP
parent upon the surface-some object,
some purpose shrouded In mystery.
No mere quarrel, no ordinary feud, no
accident Of meeting, no theory OF com
the deed, or for the desperate efforts
now being made to conceal It.
Some way. these queGtions, thus
surging upon him, became n call to
live, to fight. to unravel their mystery.
The memory OF that sweet-faced WON
an who had bent above him when the
fever began its mastery appealed TO
IA frNt
Ice. He might be able to clear this.
bring to her the truth, save her from
despair. and hand over to Justice the
murderers Of her husband 1t was up
TO him alone to accomplish this-no
one else knew what he know, suspect
ed what he suspected. And there was
but one way-through escape To re-
main there in weak surrender to fate
could have but one ending, and that
swift and sudden. He had no doubt
as to BLACK Barts" purpose, or of his
ability to use the Red Light" outfit
as desired. The whole plan was clear
ly evident, and there would be no de-
lay in execution-al they were wait
ing for was night, and q lax guard. He
glanced about at the walls Of the
room, his eyes grown hard, his teeth
clenched.
"Neb," he said shortly, II 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 I don't know
what they were after-that's to be
found out later,-b 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 traled 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, Neb7"
The whites Of the negro's eyes were
very much in evidence, his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he sat.
"Fo' de Lawd yes. Massa Jack,
sho does. I corroborates de whole
thing"
Then you are willing to take a
chance with me-"
"Wilin, Why. Massa Jack, Use
overjoyed; amt gwine leave yer no
mo-. Use sho' gwine ter be 70 Niger.
What 20 gvine ter do?'
Keith ran his eyes over the walls
carefully noting every popularity.
We'll 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 1t 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 &c
get OUT"
The negro came over TO him, and
bent down.
II was layin on a board what I'd
worked loose at one end" he wills
pered hoarsely, back oh de bench
but couldn't jerk 1t out wid'ou'
something ter pry it up wild"
Where is ito"
Right we're, Massa Jack"
It was heavy twelveinch plank
part OF the flooring. and the secont
from the side-wall Keith managed
to get a 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 70 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 building must be set up or
piles. reckon we could pry 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 across the floor, testing
each separate board, but without dis
, covering a place where they could ex
ert a leverage. The thick plapks were
tightly spiked down. Nor did the
p walls offer 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 Embedded
/ In the outside wood, He dropped &c
the floor, feeling bafled and discour