Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-10-04


Sleepy Cat, and, as everybody else
was for it, Selwood gave in. 1t was
arranged that Pardaloe should ride
with Selwood and Scott, and that Nc
Alpin should follow in the wagon with
Tracy.
While Tracy's cot was hastily set
back in the wagon and the horses were
being got up, Selwood took the am
munition out from under the seat
slender store, but, like shower, a
life-saver in a drought-and appor-
toned It into three parcels among
Pardaloe, Scott, and himself.
It lacked but little Of daybreak
when the three men reached the river
again. Fording the stream, the horse
men secreted their horses in the I'M
dergrowth below the river bench, and
climbed up the nearest gully to the
fats, that were being laid out for a
railroad yard. Spreading out again,
the three men circled this open space
singly and without molestation, and
came together on higher ground,
where they could reconnoiter the
town.
The fires that had lighted the sky
earlier in the night had died down
chiefly for lack of material for the
flames. An important part Of Sleepy
Cat lay in ruins, though the extent
Of the destruction was hidden in the
darkness. One quarter Of the stray
Cling settlement had escaped the torch
and the Vigilantes and the reprisals
Of the outlaws-this was the corner
embracing the stage barns, Carpy's
hotel, and the new railroad station.
From the hill where they had
halted, Selwood and his companions.
recovering their horses, made their
way under such cover as they could.
singly, to the stage barns.
Lefever met them. Selwood asked
for the news. Lefever pointed to
pile Of smoking ruins down the hill.
"Some of them river rats have burned
the bunk-house on US, john" said
Lefever. THAT'S the way they keep
their promises!''
''McAlpin told me nothing of that"
exclaimed Selwood, looking angrily
down the hill.
Didn't know it was on fire when he
started" returned Lefever. "But I'm
telling you the teamsters are rarin'
to 60. They're only waiting for you"
"Just hold 'em till get some
bearings" was all Selwood replied.
Bull Page took the steaming horses
back to their stalls, and Scott was
sent out to scout. Lefever told Sell
wood and Pardaloe what more he
could Of the situation; Starbuck, who
had been missing for a time at the
outset, had taken the gamblers fight
In hand at a moment when the Vigi-
lantes were driving all before them,
turned the tables on the cleanup men,
and now held the survivors Of their
disorganized force at bay in the un-
finished railroad station. Starbuck
had sent word by messenger that he
would give them an hour to get out
of the station and out Of the town
coupled with the threat that If they
didn't move they would be burned out
by daylight. Starbuck's men, Lefever
added, held the only building left In
the River Quarter, where most Of the
burning had been-Bunty Bartoe's
place down next the river; 1t had es-
capped the flames. In the upper town
Carpy's hotel, which had been Quilted,
the gamblers had spared. He knew
nothing about Christie.
Pardaloe had been dispatched to
the station with the ammunition. He
came back with long face, but long
face was nothing new for Pardaloe.
Carpy, wounded, was there treating
the wounded, who lay on the floor In
the freight room. There was only
pretense of guard kept about the
building; within 1t, disgruntled Vigil
lantes nursed their grievances, railing
chiefly at one another; and In one
corner, with nobody to command, ow-
ing to lack Of ammunition, Old Gener-