Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-11
his recklcssness of speech.

IlldI ain uulHlh 1CA Shy " oS ~
cit skeered about. We got 1t all
planned. We don't want this affair
talked about none, 10 we? 1 reckon
not. So we planned it out this way
Thar's a frien' o. mine got shack
down on Bear creek, bout twenty mile
below yerc. He sells red-eye ter barge
an keel-boatmen what tie up thar
nights. Wal, he's all right-a HI O
good feller. What we aim ter DO
is run the gurl down thar ternight, I'M
bekno'nst fer enybody. I reckon yer
Tin ride q hosS?"
"Tss. 30 thet's my job?"
7'Thei's the whole O. 1t. Yer just
got ter stay thar with her till Kirby
kin git away, without noboddy thinh
in enythlng bout it. It's d-n easy
money, ter my notion"
l thought swiftly. There were sew.
eral questions I wanted to ask but
dare not. 1t was better to trust to
luck, for l must lull, not arouse sus.
picion. Thus far the affair had played
wonderfully into my hands; If 1 could
maintain my part to the end there
ought to be no reason why the girl
should not be saved uninjured.
'"Why, if thet's all got ter do fer
a hundred dollars" said gayly, "Tm
yer man, Jack. An how soon will
Kirby bo comm down ter this yer
,1ooo o, Door nrinl- ou
"In day er two, / reckon. Soon's
thar's sum boat headin' down the
river. Yer see, this yer's oil camp;
thar amt no fit place whar we kin
hide the gurl, an make her keep her
mouth shet. Them blamed soldiers
are a-moosin' bout everywhar, an If
she onct got talkin' our goose wud be
cooked. Furst thing we got ter do
is git her outer this camp"
"Ternight, yer sed?"
"'Bout midnight; yern go-hey"
81 reckon; yer got the money"
With his eyes fastened on the two
men eating he counted out some gold
pieces on the bar and showed them
over to ME, keeping them under cover
Of his hand.
eThar's half o. it, an the rest is
yers when We bring back the hosses."
GLOW many hosses? Who's a-goin'?"
'Three O. yer. Kirby's fer sendin'
the mulatter gurl long. She's a free
niger an might let her tongue wag.
Now listen, Moffett: I'm a-goin' out
putty soon ter git things ready, an I'll
leave Sal yere ter tend bar. Now git
this: thar's a right smart trail back
o. the cabin, leadin' straight down ter
the crick, with q spring bout half way.
Thar amt no guard down thar, an
We can't miss it, even en- the dark.
The hosses will be thar ct midnight
waitin' fer yer. All We got ter do Is
inst put them two gurls on an ride
away. Yer don't never need ter speak
ter 'em. Yer understand? All right,
then; have anuther drink"
shook my head.
"But how'm I goin' ter git ter this
place-whateve it's called?"
."Thar amt no trouble bout thet; all
yer cot ter do is ride straight south
till yer cum ter the crick, an yer thar.
It's Jenkins crossing yer after"
81 reckon thar amt eny Indians, er
nuthin'?"
"H-, no; they're all t'other direc-
tion; nuthin' worse'n wolves. Say,
though, yer might have trouble with
them gurls-got a gun?
mo"
He reached back into small drawer
under the shelf and brought out an
ugly looking weapon, tried the hammer
movement with his thumb, and handed
it over to me with q grin.
"Some cannon, an want 1t back.
Don't fail at midnight"
can thar amt nuthin' fer me ter
do till then?"
"Not a thing; take a nap, II yer
want'r. Sal kin wake ye up. I Ireckon
1 won't be back till after yer off,"
sat down in a chair and leaned
back against the wall, fitting my hat
down over my eyes and pretending to
fall asleep. Through half-closed lids
managed to see all that transpired in
the room, and my mind was busy with
the approaching crisis.
Rale busted himself for some min.
utes before putting on his hat, count
ing over some money, and filling his
bottles from a reserve stock UNDER
meath the shelf. Tim slept peacefully
on, but had slightly changed his pos
ture, so that his face was now upturned
to the light. The sight Of his familiar
features gave me an inspiration. He
was, undoubtedly, an honest fellow,
and had quarreled with Kirby over
this very matter, refusing to have any
hand in it. He had supposed up to
that time that he was doing no more
than his duty under the law. If !
could arouse him from drunken stupor
he might even be willing to work with
me in the attempt to rescue Eloisc.
Rale disappeared through the rear
door, after exchanging a few words
with the woman, and did not return. l
waited motionless for some time. fear
full lest he might come back. Suddenly
the front door opened noiselessly and