Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-14
Randall
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tonight. Here's the story"
told it to him, exactly in the form
it had come to me, interrupted only IL
the recital by an occasional profan'
ejaculation, or some interjected ques
tion. The deputy appeared sober
enough before l had finished, and full!
grasped the seriousness of the situa
tion.
"Now that is the way it stacks up"
ended. "The girl is to be taken to this
fellows shack and compelled to marry
Kirby, whether she wants to or not
They either intend threatening her, ol
else to actually resort to force-likely
both. No doubt they can rely on this
renegade preacher in either case"
"Jack didn't name no name?"
"No-why?" =
"Only thar uster be bum hangin
round the river front in Saint Louee
who he'd preachers papers, en- wore
q lOng-tailed coat. Thar want no low
down game he wudn't take a hand IN
fer q drink. His name wus Gaskins;
he'd him up fer mayhem onct. I'll bet
he's the duck, for he hung round Jacks
place most O. the time. Whatcha want
me ter do?"
"It has seemed to me, Tim," I said
thoughtfully, "that the best action for
us to take will be to let them place the
girl in Ty hands, just as they have
planned to do. That will throw them
entirely off their guard. Once we sue
ceed in getting her safely away, and
remain unknown ourselves, there ought
to be very little trouble in straighten-
ing out the whole matter. My plan
would be to either ride around the
camp in the night, and then report the
whole affair at headquarters, or else
to strike out direct for Fort Armstrong
across country. Do you know any
place you can pick up horse"
"That's q slew ov 'em round ysre,"
he admitted. "These fellers are most
all hoss-soldiers. I reckon I cud cinch
sum sort o critter. Yer want me
s'ong2"
Perhaps not, Tim. Your disappear.
ance might cause suspicion, and send
them sitter US. My plan is to get away
as quietly as possible, and let them be-
lieve everything Is all right. 1 want
day or two in which to work, before
Rale or Kirby discover we have not
gone to Bear Creek. I'll met them alone
at the spring down the trail, but shall
want you somewhere near by. You see
this is bound to mean fight if l am
recognized-likely three against one;
and those men wouldn't hesitate at
murder"
81 reckon,not, an it wudn't be their
furst one nuther. Looks ter me like
yer wus takin' big chance. I'll be
thar, though; yer kin bet on tEet an
ready fer fight er a foot race. This
is how I size it up-if thar amt no
row, I'm just ter keep still an low; an
If fracas starts I'm ter Jump in fer
all I'm worth. Is thet the program
"Exactly-that's my idea"
oval then, I'm q prayin' it starts;
want just one crack ct thet Kirby, the
ornary cuss."
We talked the whole matter over In
detail, having nothing better to do, anu
endeavoring to arrange for every
probability, yet did not remain togeth'
er for long. -
I felt nervous, anxious, eager Tor
action. The time dragged horribly.
What if something unforeseen should
occur to change Rale's plan? My God
if I only knew where it was they had
concealed the girl.
The two of US explored about the 81
lent cabin, but discovered nothing.
There was no light visible in the rear
room, nor any sound of movement with
in. The two windows were closed, and
the door locked. We found conven-
lent stump in the woods and sat down
to wait where we could see all that
occurred about the cabin.
1t was nearly twelve before even the
slightest sound near at hand Indicated
the approach Of others. was already
in an agony Of suspense, imagining
something might have gone wrong,
when the dull scuffling Of horses hoofs
being led cautiously up the trail to
my right broke the intense silence. l
listened to assure myself, then shook
Tim into wakefulness, leaving him still
blinking in the shadow Of the stump,
while I advanced in the direction of
the spring. saw nothing of Rale until
he spoke.
"That yer, Moffett" Ill
"Yes; whar's yer partyW
I caught view Of his dim outlines,
as he stepped slightly forward, reas-
Sured by my voice.
"They'll be yere; thar's a bit o. time
ter spare yit. l aimed not ter keep 'em
waitin'. Here, this is yer hoss, an
yere's the leadin' strap fer the others.
Better tie it ter yer pommei, reckon,
SOS ter leave both yer hands free-yer
might hav' need fer 'em. Well tend
ter mountin' the gurlS, an then all
yell hav' ter do will be ter lead Off.
Better walk the hosses till yer git
crost the crick, so the sojers won't hear
yer. Got that?" -