News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-08-27

tempted to send erroneous messages,
Remember" Bull shouts, 81 car
read Morse. No fooling."
"All right, Mr.. Brooke" called
back, "then I'll use semaphore."
I heard Whiskers in tears directing
his two youngsters to put Mr.. Brooke's
head In the meal sack, and sit hard
on top SO I began to.signal, explain
Ing each word to Whiskers.
Swim. THAT" says I. "meana
Dale"
Pool. "That's FOOL" says I, be.
cause he don't give the answer"
Below. That's Hello"
Rapids. THAT'S Hello again."
"You lie," says whiskers, miserable,
through his teeth. "You made six let
ters."
Sorry" says I, at got spelt wrong
first time"
Float. "That's skunk says I, "be-
cause he's polecat not to answer me"
Guns.
whats that?" asked Whiskers,
heaps suspicious because I couldn't
think of another word Of four letters.
HE'LL" says I.
"Quite right" sighed Whiskers, ito
think Of your future home"
Dale signaled, Coming.
Tell Dale" says Whiskers, and his
6ereaved voice kind of Jared me now,
we're just goin' to keep gun at your
ear-hole while we march up the trail.
If Dale's men fire, your wife will be
widow, Mr.. Smith"
At that l wagged my arms and sig
nailed. mo call to get wet. Hold-ups
marching to Georgia. Kill man with
gun. If you miss, ware Widow Smith"
You see if Dale squinted and missed,
my widow was apt to reproach. So
added, "Allow windage for squint."
Dale answered, you bet your life l
will"
Then I swung. round facing the
cabin, and saw the barrel Of my own
revolver just peering round the door.
By its height from the ground Judged
that poor young Ginger was the artist.
[ wished it had been Bull, for I'd taken
fancy to Ginger.
well, gents" says 7, "your umbrel-
las is in the hat rack. All aboard
for Robbers Roost, and don't forget
the lunch"
Whiskers wanted me into the cabin I
but I'd taken dislike to catgut, so |
Ginger got orders to shoot me. AT
that I fared up. "Shoot," says l, "you
skulking towards, scared to show your
noses at the door. Hold your off ear,
Whiskers. Charge, you curs!"
The chief came first, straight at me,
and seemed to climb over my foot on
to his nose. Mr.. Bull Brooke got hurt
on the nose too, and I'd just time to
hand the greaser left handler behind
the ear, before I went down on top
of Whiskers, and the four of us rolled
in heap. I learned when I was
sailor how to argue.
Then I struggled, dragging my pile
Of robbers off sideways, SO that to
keep us covered with the gun, poor
Ginger showed his red head in the
doorway. 1t was his life or mine, yet
when thesshot rang out from across the
river, and l saw the lad come crashing
10 the ground, felt sort Of sick. Or
course that shot slackened the grip Of
he three robbers, so I wrenced loose,
struck hard, and jumped high, gain
ng the north wall of the cabin. When
turned round, our boys across the
liver were pouring hot lead after the
'obbers as they dived through the door
If the shack. Ginger sprawled dead
IN the doorstep, and my gun, six PAGES
IF, lay in the dust. The robbers were
lisarmed, and 1 was free.
"Say, Whiskers," I called, ri want
o save your lives, you and the greaser.
Come and throw up your hands before
'ou're hurt"
There was no answer. Rocky Noun
ain outlaws may be mean and bad,
tut they fight like Americans, and
hey know how to die. I'd only one
way left to force their surrender, and -,
ave their lives, so I hustled brush |,
wood, cordwood, coal oil from the shed,
'iled up the fuel, and got a sulphur
match from the bunch in my hind
'ocket.
Boys" I called, sold Brown sort ,,
# values this place. It's all the home I,
les got, and it amt insured"
No answer.
The little flame lep' up and caught .
he brushwood, the cracking lifted to )
roar, and the robbers must surely ,.
now that their time was come, for II
hey showed at the door they would
e shot. grabbed my gun from the 7.
round to stop our boys from firing. :
hen shouted above the noise of the
ames, Come out and throw up your
amidst"
They came, poor fellows, and made
hem prisoners, marching them down
0 the ferry.