Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-04-11

AAS 1ol WdS ul6uL, dIlQ d lax guard. ne
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 we're 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 I
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 lynching bee Do you get my
drift, Neb?"
The whites of the negros eyes were
very much in evidence, his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he sat.
20 de Lawd, yes, Massa Jack, 1
sho' does corroborates de whole
thing"
Then you are willing to take a
chance with me?"
"Willin'! Why, Massa Jack, Use
overjoyed; l amt gwine leave yer no
mo-. Use sho' gwine ter be yo' niger.
What yo' gwine ter dor
Keith ran his eyes over the walls,
carefully noting every popularity.
We'll remain here quietly just as
long as 1t 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.
II was layin' on board what I'd
worked loose at one end" he whis-
pered hoarsely, back OBJ de bench,
but l couldn't jerk it out wid'out
something ter pry it up Wild"
Where is it?"
Right yere, Massa Jack"
It was heavy twelve-inch plank,
from the Sidewalk Keith managed
to get grip next to the black fingers,
and the two pressed 1t 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 two-foot space there" he
reported, as they let the board settle
part Of this building must be set up on
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 place where they could ea>
ert leverage. The thick blanks were
tightly spiked down. Nor did the
walls offer any better encouragement.
| Keith lifted himself to the grated
window, getting 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 baffled and discour.
aged.
1T will have to be the plank back
Of the bench, Neb," he announced
briefly, wiping the perspiration from
his face. Get down there, and work
1t 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 loose nail which gave an
opening purchase at the crack, thus
enabling the insertion of small wood.
en- block, and insuring space for q
good finger grip when the right time
came. sleepy Mexican brought in
their dinner. and set 1t down on the
bench without word, but on his re-
turn with supper, the marshal accom-.
panied him, and remained while they
ate, talking to Keith, and staring
about the room. Fortunately, the sin.
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,
WINGED they were unknown to Hicks,
who had evidently been deceived into
thinking that this last arrest had
created no excitement
THAT'S why we picked yer up Sc
early" he explained, genially Bart
said II 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 thard be
emmy need O. keepin' a special guard
ter-night. but reckon won't take
no such chance as that, an I'll have
couple o. deputies prowlin' round fel
luck. When Carson does wake up
ShA'S hell"