Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-11-21


He wus d-n glad to, after told
him how 1t cud be done. But Tim
he wudn't go in with us, VAN thet's
why we got ter have anuther man.
Come on over ter the bar an have
drink, Moffett; them other fellers are
goin' ter eat now"
The diversion gave me opportunity
for moments thought. The plan was
a diabolical one. cold-blooded and des-
perate, yet saw no certain way of
serving Eloise, except by accepting
Rale's offer. did not even know where
she was concealed, or how 1 could lay
hands on Kirby. The genial Rale
pushed out a black bottle and we
drank together.
"Wal," he said, picking up the con-
versation where 1t had ended, quite
satisfied with his diplomacy, and wip-
ing his lips on his sleeve. 'What ye
say, Moffett? Thar's a hundred dol
lars in this job"
"Whar is the gurlT
"Oh, reckon she amt fur away !;
we kin find her all right. 1 got ter
know bout yer furst. Are yer gamer
I'm game 'nough, Jack" assuming
a familiarity / thought he would ap-
preciate. "Only 1 don't want'r jump
inter this yere thing without KNOWN
nuthin' bout it. What is it yer got
lined up fer me ter do?"
He helped himself to yet another
liberal drink, and was glad to note
that the fiery liquor was already be-
ginning to have its effect, increasing
his recklessness of speech.
"All right, Dan; have another one
on memo? WAL HI; l s'pose
might as wal tell We furst as last
Thar amt nuthln' fer eny O. us ter
git skeered about. We got it all
planned. We don't want this affair
talked about none, do we? reckon
not. SO we planned it out this way
Thar's a frien' o. mine got a shack
down on Bear creek, bout twenty mile
below yere. 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, un-
bekno'nst ter e,ybody. I reckon yer
kin ride a hoss"
"Yes; so theirs my job?'
"Thet's the whole o. it. Yer Just
got ter stay. thar with her till Kirby
kin git away. without nobody think
in enything bout II. It's d-n easy
money, ter my notion"
thought swiftly. There were sew
eral questions / wanted to ask but
dare not. 1t was better to trust to
luck, for must lull, not arouse sus-
picion. Thus far the affair had played
wonderfully into my hands; If could
maintain my part to the end there
ought to be no reason why the girl
should not be saved uninjured.
"Why, IL thet's all / got ter do fer
hundred dollars" said gayly, I'm
yer man, Jack. An how soon will
Kirby be comm down ter this yer
place on Bear crickT
"In a day er two, I reckon. Soon's
thar's sum boat headi:' down the
river. Yer see, this yer's all camp !;
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; yer'll go-hey"
II reckon; yer got the moneyT
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.
."Thar's half O. it. an the rest is
yers when ye bring back the hosses.'
"How many hosses? Who's a-goin' ~
"Three, o. yer. Kirby's fer sendin'
the mulatter gurl long. She's 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 gil
this: thar's a right smart trail back
o. the cabin, leadin' straight down tel
the crick, with spring bout half way
Thar amt no guard down thar, an
We can't miss 1t, even en- the dark
The hosses will be thar ct midnight
waitin' fer yer. All ye got ter do is
just put them two gurls on an ride
away. Yer don't never need ter speal
ter 'em. Yer understand? ALI right
then; have anuther drink"
l shook my head.
But how'm goin' ter git ter this
place-whatever it's icalled?"
THAR amt no trouble bout thet; al
yer got ter do is ride straight soutl