The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-01-05

| -
It, boy"
The two flung themselves upon the
end OF the bench. leaplng up and down
80 as to add weight to power. Some
thing had to give, either the stout
wood of their improvlsed lever or else
the holding of the plank For an In.
slant 1t seemed likely TO be the for.
NOR; then, with a shrill sereech, the
long spikes yielded and the board
suddenly gave. With shoulders in.
serted beneath, the two men heaved
II still higher. rammlng the bench be-
low 30 as to leave the opening clear.
This was now sufficiently ample for
the passage of mans body, and
Keith. lowering himself. discovered
the earth to be fully four feet below.
The negro instantly Joined him. and
they began creeping about In the dark
ness, seeking some way out A rudely
laid foundation of limestone along OBJ
structed their patch to the open air
This had been laid IN mortar, but Of
inferior quality. 80 that little difficulty
was experienced in detaching suffi
Client to obtain hand hold. Working
silently. not knowing what watchers
might be already stationed without,
they succeeded In loosening enough OF
the rock to allow them to crawl
! through. lying hreathless In the open.
/ Accustomed as they we're to the
darkness they could yet see little.
They were upon the opposite side
from the town, with no CLEAN OF lights
visible. prairie and sky blending to-
| gether into spectral dlmness, with no
| sound audible but the continued quar-
rel In the front room Of the Jail. Keith
| crept along to the end OF the building
| from where he could perceive the
lights OF the town twinkling dimly
| through the intense blackness Eyi-
/ IDENTITY the regular evening saturnalia
had not yet begun although there was
already semblance OF life about the
numerous saloons. and an occasional
shout punctured the stiffness A doc
howled in the distance, and the pound
Ing OF swift hoofs along the trail told
OF fresh arrivals. An hour later and
the single street OF Carson City would
be alive with humanity. eager for any
excitement, ready for any Wild orgy
n only once turned loose. That It
would be turned loose. and also d.
rected. the man lying on his face In
the grass felt fully assured He smiled
grimly. wishing he might behold
BLACK Barts" face when he should
discover the flight OF his Intended vic.
tins But there was no time to lose
every moment gained. added to their
chance OF safety
Are those horses tied there by the
blacksmlth's shop" he asked point,
Ing. a:
The negro stared In the direction in.
dicRted. confused by the shadows
thrown by the dim lights.
Il reck'n dey am. Massa Jack; |
done make out TO-"
"Then two OF them must belong to
us; come on, boy"
He ran forward. crouching behind
every chance cover. and keeping well
back behind the line OF shacks. A
slight depression In the prairie helped |
conceal their movements, and neither |
spoke until they were crouching to-
gether beside the wall OF the shop |
Then Neb, teeth chatterlng. managed
10 blurt out;
70 de Lawd's sake, yer don't aotu-
ally mean ter steal dem hosses?"
Keith glanced about at the others
dim black ahndoN
Sure not; Just borrow EN-"
But dats hangin' Job In dis yere
country. Massa Jack"
sure 1t is II they catch us. But
we'd be strung up anyway. and we
can't he hung twice Besides there is
n chance Cor us with the ponies. and
none at all without, An hours start
in the saddle, Neb and this bunch
back here will never even find our
trail; | pledge you that Come, boy,
stay close with me-"
II was the quiet, confident voice Of
assured command. OF one satisfied
with his plans. and the obedient negro
hard, never dreamed of OPP
position: all Instinct of slavery held
him to the dominion OF this white mas
ter. Keith leaned forward. staring AT
the string OF deserted ponies tied to
the rail Success depended on his
choice. and he could Judge very little
IN that darkness Men were strag-
Cling In along the street to their right.
IN foot aud horseback and the sa.
Don on the corner was being we'll pat
'onized, A glow OF light streamed
orth from its windows, and there was
he sound OF many voices But this
narrow alley was deserted. and black
rhe fugitive stepped boldly forward.
lfraid that otherwise he might startle
he ponies and thus create an alarm,
iuIded by horseman's instinct he
Witty ran his hands over the animals
nd made quick selection.
Here. Neh, take this fellow: lead
i'm quietly down the bank" and he !
hrust the loosened rein into the
lacks hand. /
An instant later he had chosen his {
wn mount, and was silently moving !
, the same direction, although the \
light there was so black that the c
bedient negro had already entirely {
The slope OF the land not {
My helped cover their movements, =
ut also, rendered II easy for them to Il
nd one another. Fully a hundred yards
di,l, ,,,.tr vsh.,a d, .,,t1,, 81