The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-11
II Romance of the
Black Hawk War


SALS
fer n 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 doT"
ut 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 my hands, just as they have
planned to do. That will throw them
entirely off their guard. Once we sue
coed 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 ont direct for Fort Armstrong
across country. Do yu know any
place you can pick up a horse?"
That's a slew ov 'em round yere,"
he admitted. These fellers are most
all hoss-soldiers. | reckon I cud cinch
sum sort o. critter. Yer want me
r'0ng?"
Perhaps not, Tim. Your disappear
ance might cause suspicion. and send
them AFTER us. My plan is TO get away
as quietly as possible. and let them be-
Iieve everything is all right. I want a
day or two in which 10 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 a fight If | am
recognized-iikely three against one:
and those men wouldn't hesitate at
murder"
II reckon not. an IL wudn't be their
furst q nuther. Looks ter me like
yer wus takin' a big chance. I'll be
thar, though yer kin bet on tibet. an
ready fer a fight er a foot race. This
Is how I size IL up-if thar amt no
row, I'm just ter keep still an low /: an
If a fracas starts I'm ter jump in fer
all I'm worth. Is tibet the program"
"Exactly-that's my idea"
WAL then, I'm a prayin' it starts !
want Just one crack ct tibet Kirby. the
ornary cuss."
We talked the whole matter over in
detail, having nothing better to do. and
e~ndeavoring to arrange for every
probability. yet did not remain togeth-
er for long.
I felt nerve Is, anxious, wager for
action. The time dragged horribly.
What If something unforeseen should
occur 10 change Rale's plan? My God!
If | only knew where il was they had
concealed the girl.
The two of us explored about the ST.
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 "A cOnven.
lent stump in the woods and sat down
to wait where we could see all that
occurred about the cabin.
Ii was nearly twelve before wen 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 scuiiiing of horses hoofs
being led cautiously up the trail TO
my right broke the intense silence. I
listened 10 assure myself. Their shook
Tim into wa%kefulness. leaving him still
blinking In the shadow Of the stump,
while | advanced In the direction OF
the spring. saw nothing OF Eale until
he spoke.
THAT yer. Moffett:"
Yes; wiiar's ser partyr
I caught a view Of his dim outlines,
as be stepped slightly forward. reas-
sured by my voice.
They'll be yere: thar's a bit o time
ter spare yit. I aimed not ter keep 'em
waitin'. Here. this is yer boss. an
yere's the ieadin' strap fer the others.
Better tie II ter yer pommel, reckon.
SOS ter leave both yer hands freezer
might hav' need fer 'em. Wen tend
ter mountin' the gurls. an Their all
ven hav' ter 10 will be ter lead of.
Better walk the bosses till yer git
crost the crick. so the sojers Won't heal
yer. Got that?"
Il reckon | hav'. an sense 'nough
ter know II without bein' told. Did yer
think ] wanted ter be catched on this
job?'
AN right, hut thar's no harm a
tellin' yer. Whar's Tim gone to-"
IL reckon he don't even know his
self; he's sure sum drunk"
Rale chuckled, patting the side Of