Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1911-02-23
CHAPTER XIII.-Continued.

Now we'll see what's happened
said Habersham. ut looks almost toe
easy"
The members of Griswold's party
who had been thrown round to the
farther side of the church began to
appear, one at a time. There was nc
nervousness among any of the band
"a fact that impressed Griswold
They were all risking much in this
enterprise, but they were outwardly
unperturbed, and chewing their to-
bacco silently while they awaited the
return of the two active agents in the
conspiracy who had dealt directly
with Appleweight. Habersham count
ed heads, and announced all present
or accounted for.
The tall leader who had ridden the
mule was the first to rise out of the
underbrush, through which he had
crawled circuitously from the rear of
the church. His companion followed
a few seconds later.
We've got Bill, all tied and gagged
n a-sitting of his hoss,' drawled the
leader, and the boss is tied to the
back fence. Rest O. his boys thought
hes gone ahead, but they may miss
him n come back. He's safe
enough, and eff we keep away from
him we'll be ready to light out eff the
gang scents trouble and comes back
TO look fer Bill"
You're sure he's tied up so he can't
break away or yell?"
He's as good as dead, a-settin' of
his boss in the thicket back theh."
And now" said Habersham, what
we've got to do is to make a run for
1t and land him across the border, and
stick him into a North Carolina Jail,
where he rightfully belongs. The cues
ton is, can we do it all in one night,
or had we better lock him up some
where on this side the line and take
another night for it? The sheriff over
there in Kildare is Appleweight's
cousin, but We'll lock him up. with
Bill, to make a family party of it."
Wed better not try too much to-
night" %counseled Griswold. Its a
big thing to have the man himself.
If it were not for the matter of put
ting Gov. Dangerfield in a hole, I'd
favor hurrying with Appleweight to
Columbia, just for the moral effect of
1t on the people of South Carolina.
We'd make a big killing for the ad-
ministration that way, Habersham."
Yes, you'd make a killing all right,
but you'd have Bill Appleweight on
your hands, which Gov. Osborne has
not until lately been anxious for" re-
piled Habersham, in a low tone that
was heard by no one but his old pre-
ceptor.
You'd better get over the idea
that we're afraid of this outlaw" re-.
joined Griswold. The governor of
North Carolina dare not call his soul
his W where these hill people are
concerned; but the governor of South
Carolina is a different sort"
While they thus stood on South
Carolina soil, waiting for the safe and
complete dispersion of the Mount
Nebo congregation before Selling the
captive they had gagged and tied at
the rear of the little church, the fates
were ordering a very different ter
mination Of the nights business.
Miss Jerry Dangerfeld, galloping
away from the duke Of Ballywinkle, |
with no thought but to widen the dis
lance between them, turned off at the
first cr~oss-road, which began we'll
enough, but d~egenerated rapidly into
a miserable trail, through which she
was obliged to walk her horse. Be
fore she was aware of it she was in
the midst of a clearing where laborers
had lately been cutting timber, and
she found, on turning to make her
way out, that she was quite lost, for
three trails, all seemingly alike,
struck off into the forest. She spoke
aloud to the horse to reassure her
self, and smiled as she viewed the
grim phalanx of stumps. She must,
however, find her way back to Ards
ley, for there were times when Jerry
nangerfeld could be serious with her
self, though it rarely pleased her to
be serious with other people; and che