The Republican journal., 1912-07-11

Dau ulIllculty Ill overwhelming Wudt Ac
said. Conceive nights ago-they al
most had US. If we hadn't hidden under
them logs down by the lake we'd been
eatin' our meals at the county's ex-
pense, waitin' our term, pal. Didn't I
say wise when l said this place-right
near to the very spot of our labors-was
the best hidin' place? You see, I've
done all these jobs before, an know the
ropes. Stay close to your job, says,
for the sheriff, durn fool, looks every
where else. He's off with his menlin the
next county, an here we are close to
headquarters. Them fool authorities
never know where to look for their men,
/ can tell you, pal. They think we'll
run as fast as we can. An that is the
way with most of them, too. But it's
not my way. Next week we can go
right into town an ask for work, an not
a bloomin' person'll think anything about
us. We're just men out O. work, See?"
"But I'll not last till next week." said
the other voice. Then he coughed. give
got cold that'll finish me unless get a
bed and some grub. Starvin' and freezin'
amt to my health's likin, pal"
well, Wen turn the trick tonight, all
right, all right" said the other man.
"We'll get the first express train-the 9
O'Clock, instead of the O'Clock in the
mornin' It's better to git the late ones
il you can. But we failed on that one,
SO We'll try the early one. They'll be
watchin' that late one for a week. mind
me-"
How'll l ever wait till after tonight's
wreck for grub?' asked the other man
who coughed. He had taken a severe
| cold. and that, with hunger, was getting
the better of him.
"Say,' I'll go deeper into the woods
and risk shooting squirrel said the
well man. 600 you want to go with me
or stop here? You might set down on
the lea side O this bunch O. drift an
wait fur me. '1'll get squirrel or two,
an We'll make little fire an broil 'em.
No danger O. bein' looked for here again.
The law went over every step o. this woods
the day arter our work was discovered.
Gee! an us hidin' under lot of logs.
Amt them law-upholders smart, though,
to pass within 10 foot OF US an leave US
with their compliments. But-I'll go on
a ways into the woods an git couple O.
| fuzzy tails, an We'll have banquet"
can right, an I'll stay here. Say,
III make fire, too, for I'll have to
thaw out bit.
Then the we'll man went Gil his way to
get some food, while the coughing an
began to pick up wood for fire. Dan
felt that his last moment had arrived for
the man began tearing at the brush be-
hind which he was hiding. The poor boy
felt his breath coming in gasps, but he
cooked his rifle and held it ready to pro-
tect himself against the enemy if the
worst should happen.
| But Dan heart became normal again,
for the would-be train wrecker went
some PAGES away from the pile and be-
gan kicking up the snow in order to find
some dry chips for the fire he meant to
build. While he was doing this Dan
crept out from the opposite side of his
hiding place and went stealthily to a
huge fallen tree. Behind this he crouched
until he saw the man busy with his fire.
Then he dared to withdraw himself a
little farther away, taking refuge behind
some rocks. And so on and on he crept,
a few feet at time, till at last he reach
the man s range of view. Then he rose
the road leading to his own home. And
his mother watching him from the porch,
fast as ever he could.
mo time to talk, father!' he cried,
Saddle old Fan and go to town after
the sheriff's deputy. The train wreckers
are over in the woods yonder. | can lead
you to the spot. Hurry"
Mr.. Purdy was busy fixing horses
manger, but when Dan gave him the
startling information, he did not pause
to ask many questions. Within few
moments he was mounted and on his way
to town, stopping at the farm houses on
his way to tell the farmers and their sons
to be ready to help surround the woods
where the lawbreakers were hiding.
After Mr.. Purdy had departed, Dan
took time to tell his mother of what had
happened in the woods.
"But, sonny, how did you manage to
escape being traced by your foot tracks,"
asked the excited Mrs. Purdy.
"You see, mother | entered the woods
from the east. The lawbreakers came
from the west. They just met me, so to
speak, but did not pass beyond the drift
pile on the side | entered from. Had
| they. made the circle of the pile, they
would have seen my tracks, also the
broken-down snow where climbed into
my hiding place. Gee l was lucky
one, that they stopped in their prone
made just where they did. And the one
fellow went off into the wordsworth,
you know-and the other began gather
ing chips and sticks in the same direc-
ton from my place of refuge. l didn't
breathe freely, though, till had gotten
half mile from the spot. Then made
steps like jack-rabbitv'
''How far into the woods were your"
asked Mrs. Purdy.
''Only about mile" said Dan. "But
right in that place the trees are thicker
than anywhere else, as you know. They
grow so closely together that even to-
days sun could hardly come through the
bare branches. 1t was dark there, and
gloomy enough for such men,"
That same afternoon there was much
excit ment all round that part of the
county. The sheriff being distant on his
searching tour Of the adjoining county,
his deputy, with an able posse, went to
the woods and surrounded the would-be
train wreckers. Dan led the way, going
cautiously. The posse came in upon the
men unaWares and found them at their
banquet" of little squirrel. They
had just time to leap to their feet and to
cock their guns in the faces of the
Claw
But the deputy and his men-among
them Dan and his father-had got the
drop on the train Wreckers before thew