The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-01-15
II Romance of the
Black Hawk War
by RANDALL PARRISH

"Contraband, ""Shes Of the Irish Brigade
when Wilderness Was King" etc.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY IRWIN MYERS

Observation-Disclosures 2cXZiS2SHcA2S
fer 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?"
at has seemed to me, Tim" l 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 out direct for Fort Armstrong
across country. Do yu know any
place you can pick up horse?"
''Thats a slew ov 'em round yere,"
he admitted. "These fellers are most
all hoss-solders. reckon cEd cinch
sum sort o. critter. Yer want me
cong"
Perhaps not, Tim. Your Disappear
ance might cause suspicion. ard send
them after us. My plan is to gel away
as quietly as possible, and let them be-
lieve everything is all right. I want a
day or two In which 10 work. before
Rale or Kirby discover we have not
gone 10 Bear Creek. I'll net them alone
at the spring down the trail, but shall
want you somewhere near by You SEQ
this is bound to mean fight IL l am
recOgniZed-likely three against one;
and those men wouldn't hesitate AZ
murder"
81 reckon NOT. an II 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 tibet. an
ready fer fight er ~ foot race. This
is how | size il up-if thar amt no
row, I'm just ter keep still an low; an
II fracas starts I'm ter jump in fer
all I'm worth. Is tibet the program
"Exactly-that's my idea"
"War then. I'm prayin' 1t starts
want just ole crack eft tibet Kirby, the
ornary cCss."
We talked the whole matter over In
detail. having nothing better to do. snd
endeavoring to arrange for every
probability, yet did not remain togetb
er for long.
I felt nervous, anxious, eager for
action. The time dragged horribly.
What IL something unforeseen should
occur to change Rale's plan? My God |
If l only knew where il 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 a conven.
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. l was already
in an agony Of suspense, imagining
when the dull scuffling Of horses hoofs
being led cautiously up the trail TO
my right broke the intense silence.
listened to assure myself, then shook
Tim into wakefulness. leaving him still
blinking in the shadow of the stump.
the spring. saw nothing u. Rale until
he spoke.
THAT yer, MoffettT
Eyes; whar's yer partv7'
caught a view of his dim outlines
as he stepped slightly forward, reas
sured by my voice.
They'll be yere; thar's bit o. time
ter spare yit. l aimed not ter keep 'em
waitin'. Here. this is yer boss. an
yere's the leadin' strap fer the others.
Better tie II ter yer pommel. | reckon,
SOS ter leave both yer hands free-yer
insight hay need fer 'em. Wen tend
ter mountin' the gurls, an then all
yen hav' ter do will be ter lead OF
Better walk the bosses till yer gl'
crost the crick, so the sojers won't hea,
yer. Got that?"
81 reckon | hav', an sense 'nough
ter know 1t without bein' told. Did yer
think wanted ter be catched on this
/ job?"
"All right, but thar's no harm q
tellin' yer. Whar's Tim gone tor"
II reckon he don't even know his
SELF he's sure sum drunk"
Rale chuckled. patting the side Of
the horse next him.