The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-02-10

can be-" He paused renectively. "It'n
he ike hunting needle in the haystack,
jim, but l reckon you an I'll have to
get out that way, an we might have
luck enough to stumble onto the old
devil"
Westcott changed his position, in
advertently bringing his head above
the protection of the rock. Instantly
there was sharp report. and a speed
ing bullet grazed his hair. flattening
out against the stone. The rapidity
with which he duckcd caused the mar
shal to laugh.
Not hurt are your No. That was
rifle; Mike isn't such n bad shot with
that weapon. He's over there behind
that tree-See the smoke? If the cuss
pokes his mead out, I'll try the virtue
OF this 45; 1t ought to carry that fur.
Hah! there he is; made the bark fly,
anyway"
The afternoon wore away slowly,
the two men realizing more and more
clearly the nature Of the siege Their
only safety lay in the protection of
surrounded and fred upon from
either bank the moment either raised
head. No attempt was made, how
ever, TO assault their position. nor did
they often return the fire. desiring TO
preserve for future use their small
supply of Ammunition. Brennan re-
maincd watchful, hut silent, brootling
over his plans for the night, but West
colt became overpowered by fatigue
and slept quietly for several hours.
The sun was already sinking behind
the range of mountains when he finally
arnnS"d himself, and sat up. Brennan
greeted him with good-natur"d grin.
"Well, do you feel better. Jnm?" he
asked pleasantly. "ThUught Td let you
sleep as long as could for we've got
some job ahead Of us. Sorry thar ain't
no breakfast waitin', fer wouldn't oh
ject ter bit O. ham bone myself.
reckon If Lacy coOps me up much long
or he's liable ter win his bet; I'm
plumb near starved out already"
I'm afraid they've got us, Dam"
"Oh, / don't know; leastwise l amt
put up no white flag yet. You're
game fer try at gettin' out o. yere
ain't yer, old mann I've sorter been
reckonin' on yer"
"Tll take any chance there is re-
turned Westcott heartily, staring into
the others face. "Have you some
plan?"
Maybe faint that exactly, but I've
been d0in' powerful lot O. thinkin'
~
we might beat these fellers with II
fair show O. luck. This is how figure
1t out. Thar won't be no attack ::
that's a cinch. Lacy knows we can
shoot. an he also knows we're
marooned yere without food. The eas-
lest thing is ter starve us out"
But there are good men I'm this
camp, lnw-abiding men," interrus ed
the miner. "WOnt they take n hand?''
maybe they might If was free ter
get 'em together: but amt. Most O.
'em are out in the mines, anyway
they don't know which party is right
I'm this rumpus, an they amt got no
leader Lacy runs the town. an he's
I got big gang O. tOughs behind him.
! There amt nobody wants to buck up
against his game. OF course the boys
might get mad after while but ]
reckon we'd be starved plumb tel
death long afore that happened. An
that amt the worst NV it, Jm--the
sheriff Is Lacy's man. wouldn't never
dare turn you over ter him-not by
jugful."
"Then we are blocked at every
turn"
ave sure are, unless we can dig out
ourselves" sravely. "My notion is to
' get q f:.Ir start, drift out into Sho
shour. whar we'll leave no trail, an
then hit tor over the ine."
"On footY
"H---l, no! amt no such walker
as all that. Come over yere keep yer
head down; now look out between
these two rocks. Do yer see them
cow-ponieS hitched ter the rack along
side O. the Red Dog? Well, they've
been thar fer matter o three hours
1 reckon, an their riders amt liable
ter leave "a long as thar's any ex
citement in town. They're XI. men
and mostly drunk by this time. It's
my aim ter get leg over one o. them
animals. Here's my scheme. an
RECKON it'll work. Naturally Lacy will
I think wen try to get away-make a
break fer 1t in the dark. He'll have
both them banks guarded, an ther fel
fers will have orders ter shoot. HE'D
rather have us dead than alive. But
to my notion, ne won't expect us tel
try any getaway before midnight
Anyhow, that's how I'd figure If was
In his place. But my idea is to pull
one Off on him, an start the minute
1t gets dark enough so them lads CAM
see what's goin' on out yere"
"We1l fight our way through2"
"Not fight, my son; Wen make
1T 80 softly that not a son-of- gun vii