The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-22

the eastern corner, his outlines barely
visible, but the red glow of a pipe
bowl showing plainly. He stopped, di.
rectly facing them, yawning sleepily.
and then turned the other corner.
Another moment and they distinctly
heard voice:
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.
slant 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 it was evi.
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.
ed toward the stream, shutting along
within a 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 how many are on the west side.
Do the job without any noise"
He waited until the scout had dis.
appeared like a snake, not even a
rustling 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
blanketed forms of several men lying
close in against the side WALL They
rested so nearly together 1t was diff.
cult to separate them in that dark.
ness, stars giving the only light, but
he finally determined their number at
five. Five; the Mexican would make
six, and there would surely be another
guard posted out in the front-seven.
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 examina.
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 Gis'cdgod.
He drew his hunting knife for the at.
tempt, and, first glancing about, per.
ceived man creeping toward him. 1t
proved to be Bristoe.
Fixed the greaser all right, cap.
and l reckon he'll be quiet for an hour
or two. Look whar he slashed me;
struck pack O. playin' keerds, err I'd
a got my ticket" The front of his
blouse was cut wide open, and Keith
thought he perceived stain of blood.
"Pricked you as it was, didn't hep.
Opened the skin. Thought the cuss
had given up, an got careless. What's
round to the west?"
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 a 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 eau.
ton this effort caused slight noise,
and suddenly he started back at the
sound of woman's voice:
What do you want? l am armed,
and will fire through the door If you
do not 60 away"
His heart leaping with exultation.
Keith put his lips close to the crack.
Hope" he exclaimed as loudly as
10 OaT0O. AulS - Aoitus VQCu Iuo
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, 1 knew you would come! I
knew you would comet" 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.
Its all right, little girl" he said
pleadingly, we've got you safe, but
there is fight to be attended to.
Come with me; must ask you ques.
ton 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
let him go.
'Oh, Jack, it. is so good just to feel
vou near again"
Eyes. DEAR" soothingly, and Il =