Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-01-30

maintain my part to the end there
ought to be no reason why the girl
should not be saved uninjured.
"Why, If thet's all / got ter do fer
a hundred dollars" | said gayly, sI'm
yer man, Jack. An how soon will
Kirby be comm down ter this yer
place on Bear crfck?''
"In day er two, / reckon. SOon's
thar's sum boat headia' down the
river. Yer see, this yer's all camp;
thar amt no fit place whar we kin
hide the CURL, 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; yerll go-hey?"
81 reckon; yer got the money!"
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 We bring back the hosses."
"How many bosses? Who's a-gOin'?"
''Three o. yer. Kirby's fer sendin'
the mulatter CURL long. She's a free
niger an might let her tongue wag.
Now listen, MOffett: I'm a-gOin' out
putty soon ter git things ready an TIL
Sn1 FOL har Erit
this thar's right smart trail back
O. the cabin, leadin' straight down ter
the crick, with spring bout half way.
Thar amt no guard down thar, an
We can't miss 1t, even en- the dark.
The bosses will be thar ct midnight
waitin' fer yer. All We got ter do is
Just put them two gurls on an ride
away. Yer don't never need ter speak
ter 'em. Yer understand? All right,
then; have anuther drink
shook my head.
"But how'm l goin' ter git ter this
aplace-whateve it's called?"
"Thar amt no trouble bout tibet; all
yer got ter do is ride straight south
till yer cum ter the criclS, an yer thar.
It's Jenkins crossing yer after"
II reckon thar amt eny Indians, er
nuthin'?"
"H-, no; they're all t'other direc-
ton; nuthin' worsen wolves. Say,
though, yer might have trouble with
them gurls-got a gUn?"
"No."
He reached back into a small drawer
under the shelf and brought out an
ugly looking weapon, tried the hammer
movement with his thumb, and handed
1t over to me with a grin.
'Some cannon, an I want it back.
Don't fail at midnight"
can thar amt nuthin' fer me ter
do till then?"
mot a thing: take nap, If yer
want'r. Sal kin wake We up. / reckon
l won't be back till after yer Off"
[ sat down in chair and leaned
back against the wall, fitting my hat
down over my eyes and pretending to
fall asleep. Through half-closed lids
managed to see all that transpired in
the room, and my mind was busy with
the approaching crisis.
Rale busted himself for some min
uteS before putting on his hat, count
ing over some money, and filling his
bottles from a reserve stock under
meath the shelf. Tim slept peacefully
on, but had slightly changed his pos
ture, SO that his face was now upturned
s~l~k ..<.l,4 - Ia e.,
features gave me an inspiration. He
was, undoubtedly, an honest fellow,
and had quarreled with Kirby over
this very matter, refusing to have any
hand in it. He had supposed up to
that time that he was doing no more
than his duty under the law. If
could arouse him from drunken stupor
he might even be willing to work with
me in the attempt to rescue ElOise.
Rale disappeared through the rear
door, after exchanging a few words
with the woman, and did not return. |
waited mOtionless for some time, fear
full lest he might come back. Suddenly
the front door opened nOiSeleSSly and
Kirby entered, advancing straight to-
ward the bar. Sal served him, answer
ing bis questions, which were spoken
so low ! could not catch the words.
His eyes swept the ROOM but the hat
concealed my face, and he only recog-
nised Tim. He paused long enough
to bend above the upturned features of
the unconscious deputy, not unpleased,
evidently, to discover him in that con-
ditton.
''The d. old FOOL" he muttered
perhaps not aware that he spoke
aloud. "Rale has got him fixed, all
rfr