The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-08-19

behind MN, wei hiuuen w the nluck
laurels watching him and watching
Bill Dale. crouched BY Heck
Dale's guardian had not gone for
help. because lie feared 10 leave Dale
utterly unprotected In the hands Of
the gang Of cuttlrOaiS. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself.
When the first watch became u little
more drowsy. he would steal up he
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
Then he realized that Con had dis
appeared entirely. he crepi forward
silently, hts eyes alert. and n moment
later he saw Con stealing toward the
walnut tree. lie climbed noiselessly
uown over he face Of the clif and
followed Con like shadow. When
COTS hands touched the tree. BY Heck
was within ZEN feet OF H. Heck made
sure his rife was ready and took an.
other step forward. watching, listen
ing.
The slyster coal man leaned around
the tree To the left. In the glow OF
the lOw-burned hre the blade Of q
small knife In his hand cleaned dull
red. lie whispered cautiously:
you're la nI. Dale. And its
none Of my doing, either. Give me
your word thar III get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll slash
the rope. How about IL? 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 tinkle Of the little
creek, after which Con muttered dis
appointedly:
well, then, hang"
And Heck knew that Dale had re-
fused 10 sell the Morelond coal for
song even Ia snye his life. As Con
tall hlIman's rifle went against the
small OF his back, and the tall hlllman
whispered hoarsely, through teeth
tightly clenched:
"Slash ut rope d--n wore soul
Slash ut rope. or | wlsht ! may drap
dead II ! don't shoot yore backbone
into -four thousand pieces, igod Slash
IT.
Con Strengthened in surprise. The
rifles muzZle went harder against his
back aud he knew IL for exactly what
IL was. lie moved hand upward.
then downward and the cotton rope
was severed IN half dozen places.
"Stiddy thar now" whispered BY
Heck, and he began TO back away.
Come along wi me. We dadsiatted,
banjerbcllicd skunk Bill he'll foller.'
The three OF them hurried into the
deeper shadows Soon Heck halted
Con and turned to Dale.
"S'arch him 10 gun, Bill, old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Cons
right-hapd coat-pocket blued and
stub-uosed magazine pistol.
Dang my eyes and HAST my for
rard," Heck exclaimed in a muffed
voice. Hes plumb death on them
little popguns. ain't het Say, Gof,
81 ever We shoots me with thing like
that aud find y out. DANCED ef | don't
spank ye on,el wore nose bloods; Now,
les 20 you'uns. And If We jest cheep
out n noise. Mister Con, the buzzards
viii pick the meat ofren yore bones
afore tomorrer night"
Move, ,hyster" frowned Bin
Dale.
by Heck led The way to the line 81
cliffs to the westward. They had
climbed the rugged wall and were
about 10 set ont through the pitchy
dark woodland. when voice that
they knew wei! hailed them softly
from ihc laurels to their left:
"llold on. thar"
John Moreland, 10y iiggers.' NUT
tered Heck.
Alor,und FASTENED somdleSslv To-
them. - reckon We didn't mean no
harm. Hy." Dee said Ia tones that cX-
pressed 81 deep regret, but yit shore
vi>ht ye nndL', la done IT,"
samuel Heck was very proud Of
himself. lie Strengthened there IN the
darkness.
"Whatn the name a the devil makes
We wiSht sech q thing as that, john
lac demanded in half angry voice.
Cause" rroWled the big hillman,
you went aud spilled HI out O the
main big picnic. We meant to wipe
out all % them thar lowdown Balls
and Torrcys, BY. When they went 20
hang BIN Dale iu tne mornln' we'd la
had a good reason 10 a-killin' EN- every
one-lhe weaselS Nc see. By, every
man Moreland nu. caleb. and every
man o the l.itilc;"rds, is hid here IN
these laur,ls. and has been ever sense
that thar fool trial begun. We was
Jest a-waitin' Row did we happen
70 know II!
"At's easy, BY. Me and Ben Lit
lleford was on our way after more
dynamite. when We seed Bill Dale
s-follerIn that stranger man, aud Con
a-follerin Bill, and YOU a-fOllerin Con.
We knowed somethln' ongodly mean
was in the wind. so follered you.
BY, a.breaklp' of bushes az | went