The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-04-22

ger till after We got we're. Sure's yer
live that's true. Only then I didn't
know whit else ter do, so I got bilin'
drunk" -
"You are willing to work with me,
them"
"Yer kin bet l am; I amt no
gurl-stealer." .. 49,.
"'Then listen, Kennedy. Jack Rale
told me exactly what their plans were,
because he needed me to help him.
When you jumped the reservation, he
had to find someone else, and picked
me. They mean to pull off the affair
tonight. Here's the story"
I told it to him, exactly in the form
it had come to me, interrupted only in
the recital by an occasional profane
ejaculation, or some interjected ques-
ton. The deputy appeared sober
enough before I had finished, and fully
grasped the seriousness of the situa-
ton.
"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, or
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 ulster be a bum hangin'
round the river front in Saint LOuee
who he'd preachers papers, en- wore
a long-tailed coat. Thar want 10 low
down game he wudn't take a hand in
fer a drink. His name wus Gaskins l
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?"
1T 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 of 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
Gro country. Do y:u 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. 1 reckon I cud cinch
sum sort o. critter. Yer want me
a'ong?"
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-
lieve everything is all right. I want a
day Of 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 a fight if I am
recognized-likely three against one;
and those men wouldn't hesitate at
murder" ...-
II reckon not, an it wudn't be their
furst one 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 ace This
is how I size it 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
endeavoring to arrange for every
probability, yet did not remain togeth'
er for long.
I felt nervous, anxious, eager fol
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 real
room, nor any sound of movement with
in. The two windows were closed, ant
the door locked. We found a cOnven
lent stump in the woods and sat down
to wait where we could see all thai
occurred about the cabin.
1t was nearly twelve before eve thu
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 scuff1ing of horses hoofs
being led cautiously up the trail tt
my right broke the intense silence.
listened to assure myself, then SHOOT
Tim into wakefulness, leaving him still
blinking in the shadow Of the stump
while / advanced in the direction o.
the spring. / saw nothing of Rale unit
he spoke.
That yer, Moffett" ~.
Eyes; whar's yer partyY
I caught a view of his dim outlines
Il nc ho ctopnod SLIGHTLY foruord roaS