The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-02-16
BY Courtney Ryley Cooper
Copyright by Little, Brown a Co.

~ ia ~ NbS hOOl III IL IlIC
g~rudgingly. The three slipped past,
following along the line of the tram
track in the darkness, Harry's pick
handle swinging beside him as they
sneaked along. Rods that seemed
miles; at last lights appeared in the
distance. Harry stopped to peer ahead.
Then he tossed aside his Weapon.
There's only two of 'em-Blindeye
and Taylor Bill. / could whip 'em
both myself, but I'll take the big 'un.
You" he turned to Fairchild-"you
get Blindeye."
"Tll get him"
Anita stopped and CROPPED about for
a stone.
I'll be ready with something In case
OF accident" came with determination.
"Tve got a quarter of a million In this,
myself"
They went on, fifty yards, a hun
dred. Creeping now, they already
were within the zone Of light, but be-
fore them the two men, double-jack-
Ing at a swimmer" had their backs
turned. Onward-untll Harry and
Fairchild were within ten feet of the
"high-jackers," while Anita waited,
stone In hand, In the background.
Came a yell, high-pitched, iendish,
racking, as Harry leaped forward. And
before the two "high-jackers" could
concentrate enough TO use their sledge
and drill as weapons, they we've
whirled about, battered against the
hanging wall, and swlrling In a daze
Of blows which seemed to come from
everywhere at once. Wildly Harry
yelled as he shot blow after blow into
the face Of his ancient enemy. High
went Falrchild's voice as he knocked
Blindeye BOzeman staggering for he
third time against the hanging wall,
only to see him rise and to knock him
down one more.
Dizzily the sandy-haired man swung
about in his tracks, sagged, then fel :,
unconscious. Fairchild leaped upon
him, calling at the same time to the
girl:
Find me a rope! I'll truss his
hands while he's knocked out |"
Anita leaped into action. to kneel
at Fairchild's side a moment later
with a hempen strand, as he tied the
mans hands behind his back. There
was no need to worry about Harry.
CHANGING out OF a corner OF his eye,
Fairchild saw now that the big
Cornishman had Taylor Bill fiat on
his back and was putting on the finish
ing touches. And then suddenly the
eXultant yells changed TO ones of COM
mand.
Talk English Talk English, you
bloody blighter! Talk English Ear
NELL knock the bloody ell out Of
you If you don't. Talk Engllsh-like
this: Throw up your 'andsr Ear
me?" -
Anita swerved swiftly and went to
her feet. Harry looked up at her
wildly, his mustache bristling like
the spines of a ~porcupine.
did you ear i'm sye itT he asked.
"No? Sye 1t againw
Throw up your 'ands y. came the
answer Of the beaten man on the
ground. Anita ran forward.
"It's a good deal like It." she
answered. But the tone was higher"
"Raise your toner commanded
Harry, while Falrchild, finishing his
job of tying his defeated opponent,
rose, staring In wonderment. Then
the answer came:
that's it-that's It. It sounded
just like 1t"
And FairchIld remembered too-the
English accent Of the highwayman on
the night of the Old Times dance.
Harry seemed to bounce on the pros
trate form Of his ancient enemy.
"Bill," he shouted, 1--WE got you on
your back. And I've got a right to
kill you. 'Onest I ave. And I'll do
1t too-unless you start talking. /
might as well kill you as not. It's {
~penitentiary offense to 1t a man un-
foreground unless there's a good rea
son. So I'm ready to go the ole route.
So tell it-tell 1t and be quick about
1t. Tell it-wasn't you himT
"Him-who?" the voice was weak,
frightened.
you know 'oo-the night OF the
Old Times dance! Didn't you pull
that 'old-up?"
There was a long silence. Finally /:
where's RodaineT
"In Center City," 1t was Anita who
spoke. Hes getting ready to run
away and leave you two to stand the
brunt Of all this trouble"
Again q silence. And again Harry's
voice:
"Tell II. Wasn't you the manT
Once more a long wait. Finally:
"What do / get for itr
Fairchild moved to the mans side.
"My promise and my partners
promise that II you tell the whole
truth. Wen do what we can to get you
leniency. SO tell the truth; weren't
you the man who held up the Old
Times dancer"
Taylor Bills breath travelled slow
ly past his bruised lips.
"Rodaine gave me q hundred dol.
lars to pull It." came finally.