Gunnison news-champion., 1912-03-22


Thsy Ssss 80 - sU.ssns -
srom ths sS~a. VesA - Oa1sn - nUno
vt.sDss. vsoiss ed ~ btuaA1no -
sssher ssso spsrssol deunsss. OteA -
SQUAD snaisaD buG ~ ssnaanuDd 80
rsi " sAs sssat sssa - the jnil ks1en
crept s,saG - ~ sad - shs ssssaano
from shere - ssuad psseesss ~
through the iUtsuss biscknsss. evt
dsnsly the seGulsr evsstaG sasusnasts
had not yet beGua. slthouGh thsre wes
slssaay ssubsaace Of lie sbout To
numerous ssssoas. and - eccastDssl
shout punctUred the stiffness. a 80
ho~led In the distance. snd the psuna-
Ing Of swift hooss along the trsal Told
Of fresh arrivals. An hour latsr ed
the single street a Carson CITY Oosld
be alive Wssh humanity. ea0er eer sny
excitement. ready for any Wild orgy.
n only once turned looss. That Y
would he turned loose. and also a.
rected. the man lying On his fece N
the grass felt fully assured Ne smiled
srimly. wishing he might bshold
Black Bert's" face when he should
discover the flight Of his intesdsd vic.
tins But there vas no time to lose
every moment gained. added to their
chance Of safety.
blacksmith's shop" hs sshed. point
ing
The negro stared IN the direction ~
dicsted. confused by the sAaAows
thrown by the dim lights.
4 reck'n dey am. MassA Jack; !
done make out TO"
Then two Of them must belong -
us: come on, boy"
He ran forward crouching behind
every chance cover, and keeping we'll
back behind the line Of shacks. A
slight depression In the prairie helped
eoaceal their movements and neither
spoke until they were crouching to-
gether beside the wall of the shop.
Then Neb. teeth chattering. managed
10 blurt out
''Fo' de Lawd's sake. yer don't Actu-
ally mean ter steal den hossss
Keith glanced about at the Other's
dim. black shaAOs.
Sure not; just borrow 'em."
But dat's . hangin' Job In dis yers
country. Massa Jack"
Sure 1t is II they catch us. But
we'd he strung up anyway. aad We
can't be hung twice. Besides there y
a chance for us with the ponies, ahl
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-"
It was the quiet. confident voice Of
assured command. Of one satisfied
with his plans. and the obedient negro,
breathing hard, never dreamed Of op-
position, all instinct of slavery held
him to the dominion Of this white mas
ter. Keith leaned forward, staring st
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.
on foot and horseback, and the sa-
loon on the corner was being we'll pat
ronized. A glow Of light streamed
forth from its windows, and there was
the sound Of many voices. But this
narrow alley vas deserted, and black.
The fugitive stepped boldly forward,
afraid that otherwise he might startle
the ponies and thus create an alarm
Guided by a horseman's instinct he
swiftly ran his hands over the animals
and made quick selection.
Here. Neb, take this fellow; lead
thrust the loosened rein into the
blacks hand.
An instant later he had chosen his
own mount. and was silently moving
in the same direction. although the
night there was 80 black that the
obedient negro had already entirely
vanished. The slope of the land not
only helped cover their movements,
but also rendered IT easy for them to
find one another. Fully a hundred yards
westward they met. where a gully led
directly down toward the river There
was no longer need for remaining on
foot. as they were . sufiicient distance
away from the little town to feel no
fear of being discovered. unless by
some drunken straGeler At Keith's
command the negro climbed into his
saddle. Both ponies were restive, but
not vicious. and after a plunge of t~o.
to test their new mAsters, came easily
under control Kefth led the Way.
moving straight down tie gully. which
gradually deepenel, bufyiag then u
its black heart. untll n nAaliy Ae-
boacheA cato the f4vsr sAnds. rhe
raSeous noises - - Arunkea eDOn
Sse1 slowly away bsAiaA. the nfeAt
Silent snl aafk. ~ toe rsAess sDull
scarcely dissfnguasA - oneeAeP -
they drew rein q The eAos - tAe 90
ter. To the southvaed shsre o3eoDeA
. cluster hgAta, nneA1ng IL yssa-
tion Of the camp - f1gA,afA KeftA
drove his horse Aeepef nAs he st,vaa
and headed Dosthwar2 - Deo,U ~
lowing Ike q shoaOO.
Tha~~ ~~~ . 49, RA-S9-