Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-05-23

they II get rid or us both as best they
can. These fellows won't want any,
trtal-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. Neb?"
The whites OF the negros eyes were
very much in evidence. his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he sat.
70 de Lawd. yes. Massa Jack.
sho' does. I corroborates de whole
thing"
Then you are willing to take
chance with me?"
"Willin', Why. Massa Jack. Use
overjoyed; I amt gwine leave yer no
mo-. Use sho' gwine ter be yo' niger.
What yo' gwine ter do?"
Keith ran his eyes over the walls.
carefully noting every popularity.
Wen remain here quietly Just as
long as 1t is daylight. Neb." he replied
finally, but Wen 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.
i was layin' on a board what I'd
worked loose at one end" he whis-
pered hoarsely. back oh de bench.
but I couldn't jerk It out wid'out
something ter pry It up wild"
where is it?"
Right yere, Massa Jack"
II was a heavy twelve-inch plank.
part Of the flooring. and the second
from the side-wall. Keith managed
to get grip next 10 tho black fingers.
and the two pressed It 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 a two-foot space there" he
rcDCrted. as they LEI the board settle
silently down into position The back
part of this building must be set IN 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 whore they could ex-
ert leverage. The thick planks were
tightly spiked down Nor did the
walls offer any better encourage ment.
Keith lifted himself TO the grated
window, getting 4 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 bafled and discour>
aged.
1t will have TO be the plank back
or the bench. Ncb." he announced
briefly, wiping the perspiration from
his face. Get down there. and work
IT as loose rs you can without making
any noise, while | keep my ear to The
door and listen for any interruntion."
They took turns at this labor. de
covering a loose nail which gave az
opening purchase at the crack. thus
enabling the insertion OF a small wood
en- block. and insuring space for a
good ginger grip when the right time
- "-ANNp g htAlCIu DIOEEnl IN
their dinner. and set It down on the
bench without word. but on his re-
turn with supper. the marshal accom-
panied him. and remained while thew
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-
Vinced they were unknown 10 Hicks,
VINO had evidently been deceived into
thinking that this last arrest had
created no excitement
That's why we picked yer up SO
early" he explained, genially. Bart
said II We got to yer afore the boys
woke up they'd never hear nuthin'
bout 1t, an so thar wouldn't be no
row. He didn't even think thar'd he
emmy need O. keepin' a special guard
ter-night, but l reckon I won't take
no such chance as that. an I'll have
couple O. deputies prowlin' round fer
luck. When Carson does wake up,
she's hell"
He left them tobacco and pipes. and
went away evidently convinced that
he had performed his full duty. The
TWO prisoners. putting smoke-rings into
the air, heard the heavy clang Of the
iron bar falling into place across tho
door, and sat looking into one anoth-
er's faces through the deepening twi-
light. In the mind of both black and
white reposed the same thought The
negro was first to break the silence.
Pears ter me. Massa Jack. like
dis yere Bart pusson am mighty ann
ious ter hab no suspicious raised"
anybody but Hicks would see
that" acknowledged the other. the
rings OF smoke circ,:ag his head. but
he hasn't any brains II was pure
nerve that got him ,he job Well, this
is ono time that Part pusson' is going
to find an empty cccp. Wen get out,
Neb. just as soon rs i; gets dark
enough. Hicks isnj Iholy to put on
his extra guard for IN hour yet, and
the Red Light bunch WON'T 10 ct Tor