Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-18
f the Black Hawk Mass
by.
Randall
Parsish


headed gink?"
succeeded in reaching my feet, and
stood there moment, gaining what
view I could through the dark
ness. The short struggle, desperate
rs it had been, was not noisy one,
and could hear nothing about us to
indicate any alarm. Kennedy hhd one
hard knee pressed into Rale's abdomen
and the star-rays reflected back the
steel glimmer Of the pistol held threat
eningly before the mans eyes. The
horses beyond stood motionless, and
the two women in the saddles appeared
like silent shadows. I stood up once
more, peering through the darkness
and listening. Whatever was to be
done must decide, and quickly.
"Have Rale stand up, but keep him
covered. Don't give him any chance
to break away; now wait-there is a
lariat rope hanging to this saddle; I'll
get it." .
1t was q strong cord and Of good
length, and we proceeded to bind the
fellow securely in spite Of his objec-
tions, 1 taking charge Of the pistol,
while Tim, who was more expert, did
the Job in q workmanlike manner.
"Now gag him, Tim," said quietly.
eyes, use the neckerchief. That will
do; all we can hope for is a few hours
start"
"Is Kirby dead?"
"Im afraid not, but he has got an
ugly bump and lost some blood; his
head struck rock when he fell. 1t
will be while, I imagine, before he
wakes up. How about your man?'
He crossed over and bent down
above the fellow, feeling with his
hands in the darkness.
"I reckon he's a goner, cap" he ad-
mitted, as though surprised. "Gosh, l
must'r hit the cuss harder than /
thought-fair caved in his he'd, the
pore devil. I reckon it's no great loss
ter nobody"
will put different aspect on all this,
Kennedy" 1 exclaimed gravely, facing
him as he arose to his feet. "That and
the belief l now have that Kirby has
already consummated his plan Of mar
riage with Miss Beaucaire."
You mean he has"
"Yes, that he has forced the girl
to assent to some form of ceremony,
probably legal in this country. over
heard enough between him and Rale to
suspect it, at least, and she is even
now under the influence of some drug.
She hasn't spoken, nor does she seem
to know what is going on about her.
They strapped her into the saddle"
"The h they did"
''It has been heilish affair all the
way through, and the only way in
which l can serve her, if this Is so, is
by getting her away-as far away as
possible, and where this devil can
never find her again. What bothers
me right now is your case"
mine? Lord, what's the matter with
m2?"
considerable, I should say. You
can't he left here alone TO face the re-
suit OF this nights work. If Gaskins
is dead from the blow you struck him
these two fellows will swear your life
away just for revenge. Even If you
told the whole story. what chance
would you have? That would only ex-
pose us, and still fail to clear you. It
would merely be your word against
theirs-you would have no witnesses,
unless we were caught"
~ reckon thets true; I wasn't
thinkin' bout it."
Then there is only the one road
to take, Tim" l insisted. "We've got
to strike the trail together"
WHARF"
81 cannot answer that now / haven't
thought it out yet. We can talk that
matter over as we ride. have q map
with me- which will help us decide the
best course to choose. The first thing
is to get out of this neighborhood be-
yond pursuit If you only had horse >
That's two critters down in the
crick bottom. I reckon thet Kirby an
| GnSkinS muSt'r tied 'em thar"
Good; then you will 60; you agree
with me?"
THAR amt nuthin' else fer me ter de
-hangin' amt never bin no hobby o
mine"
Then let's start" deciSively. "Picl
up cno IF those horses down on the
bottom and turn the other one loose
I'll lead on down the trail and you car
meet us at the ford-once across the
creek we can decide which way tc
travel; there must be four hours OF
! darkness yet" 60
/ ! picked up the trailing rein OF my
horse and slipped my arm through 1t
Tim faded away in the gloom like &
vanishing shadow. The young woman
next me, strapped securely to her sad
/ die, made nc movement, exhibited ne
sign Of interest; her head and body
dropped, yet her hands crasped the
pommci as though she still retained
Some dim conception of her situation