Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-08
CHAPTER xIII-cOntInusd.

awake aE1 on guard until midnight
and the other was to go on duty from
midnight until dawn. The second
watch, with which was the factions
leader, had nightcap of the vitrioliC
whisky, flung itself sprawling on the
ground and straightway went to sleep
The first watch sat around the
cracking brushwood fire and played
cards for chews Of tobacco, cartridges
and pocket knives, sang strange and
outlandish songs and drank more
whisky. One very drunk Torrey gam
bled away all his tobacco, all his cart
ridges, his knife, his rifle and his belt,
his coat and his hat his boots and his
shirt--and offered to bet his trousers
and his ears on the turn of a single
card 1t was funny, and it was dis
gusting, too. 1t was all the work of
whisky, which Bill Dale had always
hated because 1t made men fools, made
them mouth their secrets and made
them commit murder.
After some two hours of these worse
than bacchanalian orgies the first
watch, heavy with drink, stopped play
ing cards and singing outlandish
songs, forgot all orders and began to
nod. Then 1t was that Dale thought
Of the man who had been his faithful
guardian for many days, the lanky
By Heck. Why hadn't he thought Of
Heck befOre1 He wondered If Heck
had followed him to the trap, If Heck
was near him even then, If Heck had
gone for help.
BY Heck had not followed Bill Dale
to the little basin. But he had fol-
lowed Henderson Goff, and Henderson
GOff had followed Dale to the little
basin. Cor had returned to the Big
Pine Mountain country only that day
and he knew nothing of the plans of
the Ball Torrey faction until he wit
messed the mockery of trial. Goff
was now crouching in the darkness on
the low line of cliffs to the eastward
from the walnut tree; and not far
behind him, well hidden in the black
laurels, watching him and watching
Bill Dale, crouched BY Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gone for
help, because he feared to leave Dale
utterly unprotected in the hands Of
the gang of cutthroats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself.
When the first watch became a little
more drowsy, he would steal up be-
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
Then he realized that Goff had dis
appeared entirely. He crept forward
silently, his eyes alert, and a moment
later he saw Goff stealing toward the
walnut tree He climbed noiselessly
down over the face Of the cliff and
followed Golf like a shadow. When
Goff's hands touched the tree, BY Heck
was within ten feet Of it. Heck made
sure his rife was ready and took an
other step forward, watching, listen
ing.
The shyster coal man leaned around
the tree to the left. In the glow of
the low-burned fire the blade Of
small knife in his hand cleaned dull
red. He whispered cautiously:
you're in a fix. Dale. And It's
none of my doing, either. Give me
your word that TIL get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and III slash
the rope. How about lit Sick of
this country, aren't your
There came a few seconds OF silence
save for the lusty snoring Of the sleep
ers and the musical tlnkle Of the little |
creek, after which Goff muttered dis
well. then, hangr'
And Heck knew that Dale had re-
fused to sell the MoreIand coal for a
song even to save his life. As Goff |
stepped backward. the muzzle Of the
tall hillman's rifle went against the
small Of his back, and the tall hillman
whispered hoarsely, through teeth
tightly clenched:
"Slash at rope, d--n yore soul
Slash at rope, or l wisht I may drap
lead ef l don't shoot yore backbone
nto four thousand pieces, igodi Slash
tv'
Con Strengthened in surprise. The
rifie's muzzle went harder against his
back and he knew it for exactly what
I was He moved a hand upward,
hen downward and the cotton rope
vas severed In half dozen places.
"Stiddy thar, nOwl" whispered BY
Heck. and he began to back away.
Come along WI me, We dadslatted.
Danjer-bellIed skunk. Bill he'll fOller.r
The three OF them hurried into the
ieeper shadows. Soon Heck halted
ION and turned to Dale.
-S'arch him 70 a gun, Bill, old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Gofrs
ight-hand coat-pocket q blued and
Itub-nosed magazine pistol.
Dang my eyes and blast my for
nrdl" Heck exclaimed IN a mufied
l0ice. Hes plumb death On them
little p0pgunA amt hef Say, Con.
{ ever ye shoots me with thing like
hat and ! find It out DANCED ef don't
pank ye ontel yOre nose bIoods; Now.
- 20, you'uns And ef ye lest cheep
n noise. Mister Con-, the buzzards
I'LL pick the meat often yore bones
fore t0mOrrer night"
Move. shysterr frowned Bill