The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-08-06
~Th, A...,..er the better !.

see Us. Let me 60 first"
The log was at the other end of the
/ little island. but there was consider
able rift in the rock surface, not deep,
but of sufficient width TO permit the
passage of body. The Jagged stone
made the way rough IN the dark. and
4 Westcott found himself at the upper
extremity. gashed and bruised by the
contact
! Brennan lowered himself into the
water assisted in the downward climb
! by some low. tough bushes whose ten
drills chung tenaciously to the smooth
rock Westcott followed silently. and
found footing in about three feet of
water where il swirled around the
4 base of the island. Brennan put his
1 lips close 10 his companions ear.
Got yer cartridges tied up? That's
all right: hand EN- over. You hang
on to the outside. an I'll push off. If
yer have ter paddle ter keep in the
current. don't let yer hands er feet
come TO the surface-understan
/ Certainly"
"All right then; are you all set?
Holy smoke, this is going TO be some
yacht ride"
The log did not even CRATE as il lOos-
ened its slight hold on the rock. and
began the voyage downstream. The
current was swift enough 10 bear
it and its burden free from the island.
although it moved slowly and noise
lesSly on its way The two men deep
~ submerged on either side, with heads
held rigidAgainst the wet bark, were
indistinguishable. Out from the deep
err shadow. Brennan gently controlled
the unwieldy affair. and keeping it as
nearly as possible TO the center. by the
noiSeleSS movement of a hand under
water. No alarm greeted its progress,
and ar last. confident that they were a.
ready safely below the extent of the
guard line. the two men, clinging to its
wet sides, ventured to kick out quietly.
and thus hasten its progress. 1t came
ashore ut the extreme end of the curve.
and. after a moment of intent listen
ing. the vOyagers crept up the sand,
and in whispers discussed the next eff
fort of their escape. The belts were
unstrapped from about the log. reload
ed with cartridges. and buckled around
dripping waists. before they clambered
cautiously up the low bank. The road
was just beyond, but between them
and it arose the almost shapeleSs form
of q small house, a mere darker
shadow in the gloom of the night
"Where are we?" questioned West
colt
"Just back of old Beecher's shack.
He's trucking down Benson way, but is
liable to have some grub stored inside.
was countin' on this for our com
missary department. Come on, jim;
time IS money just now"
The door was unlocked, and in less
than ten minutes they emerged once
more into the epen bearing their spOils
-Wescott. a slab of bacon and a small
frying pan; Brennan a paper sack of
cornmeal, with a couple of specimens
of canned goods. He had also resur-
rected gunny sack somewhere. in
which the things were carefully
wrapped. and made secure for trans
portation.
Didn't feel no terbaccO, did yer.
Jim?" the marshal questioned solic-
itously. 81 reckon not, though: OF
Beecher never would leave nuthin'
like that lynn round Well Lord we
ought ter be thankful fer what we've
got. Now. if we can only get away
with them bosses"
They wormed Their way forward to
the edge of the road through a fringe
of bushes. Westcott laden with the bun
die Except for the sound of distant
voices and an occasional loud laugh,
the night was still. They could almost
hear their own breathing, and the
crackle of a dry twig underfoot
sounded to strained nerves like the /
report of gun. Crouching at the
edge of the road they could see
fairly we'll what was before them as
revealed by the lights shining forth /
though the dingy windows of the /
saloon. a hum of voices echoed out /
into the night, but the platform in /
front of the door was deserted. Oc- /
casionally some wanderer either en-
tered or departed, merging into the
crowd within or disappearing through
the darkness without To the left of
the building, largely within its shadow,
stretched the hitch rail to which were
fastened fully dozen cOw-pOnieS. most
of them revealed only by their restless
although the few nearest
the door We're plainly enough visible
in the reflection of light. Brennan's
hand closed heavily on the arm of the
other.
Wen pick out the two critters far
thest from the light" he muttered.
an trust ter luck. Wen have TO lead
'em ways afore we mount Shall we
try it now?"
The sooner the better"
That's me- Blamed if l thought I'd
be a boss thief, but when a Teller as
Sociates with Bill Lacy there's no
KNOWN what ne will come to. We
better try the other side o. the road.
Jim"
They were in the flicker of light for
an instant, merely two dart
ing shadows, vanishing once more
swiftly and silently into the gloom.
Nor were they much longer in releas-
ing the two cow-pOnies. Westcott tied
MS bundle to the cantle of the saddle
and then bride reins in hand. the do
cile animals following their new mas
,oric+oDaa 90 man lad /