Year: 1872

:
next stake p


r II haven't cenl," I groaned.
J, "I'll play Ave dollars against your
saddle bags"
= l knew they would be his anyway,
and therefore .taked them Need | cay
l lost


As eilas rose to procure some more
whisky, took the opportunityo of serib-
bling few lines on the back of an en-
velope. which l slipped in slit i'll my
coat lining.


lie made me stake my horse, my coat
and waistcoat in fact everything that
possessed. l lost all. and then threw
myself back in despair, bewailing my
bad fortune and rashness in having trust
ed to cards Silas seemed highly de.
lighted with my melancholy, consoling
me with the assurance that there were
plenty more banks in the world, and l
might regain my fortune. After bearing
his taunts for some time. pretended to
cry myself to sleep, but took care to
place my face in such a position that /
could see all Slas did without appearing
to watch him.


No sooner had my firat anore sounded
than Silas rose from the ground, and.
drawing his revolver, advanced iowa I'd
me.


.'Of all the fearful darne6 fools ever
did meet, this one beats them all He is
chief Bah he is disgrace to the
profession. Ispose it's na use potting
him he can't bring anything against
me. lie lost all his money in play.
! Besides, he won't care about kicking up
a noise in case of the bank finding him.
And yet he would be safer
! As he spoke he held the pistol straight
at my head. | shall never forget that
terrible moment. knew that the slight
est movement would be the signal for
my death, aud so remained perfectly
mo,ionless; but the strange, horrid,
cold calm that passed over me will never
pass from my memory.


Bah T. he said, putting up the pistol,
'let him live; I've got the other to at
tend to-"


lie turned away and left the hut, care
fully closing the door behind him. l lis
tened to his retreatIng footsteps, and
when they sounded distant l spraug to
my feet. My first idea was flight. but a
moments consideration told me that
would be certain death. l crept to the
door and peeped through the chinks in
the wall. The storm still ragged, and by
the constant flashing of the lightning l
was enabled to see for some distance.
Silas was coming toward the hut carry
ing a heavy burden on his shoulder.
He stopped by the sice of a pond about
ten yards from the building and threw
down the load-it was the body of a
man. Slas then took some cord from
his pocket, and with it bound a huge
stone to the body. When this was done
he picked up the ghastly object, and
with more than human strength hurled
it into the pond. The lightning CLEANED
out brightly, the pale, CHASTITY face SEEM
ed turning one appealing look to heaven
for revenge; the cold, dull water closed
over it, aud all was still again.


Struck with horror, cocld scarcely
move, and with difficulty regained my
position by the fire b fore Silas returned.


Quickly taking off his own coat and
waistcoat, which were as bad as they
could be, he threw them into one conner
of the ro6nt, and then with all the cool
nes. imaginable, dressed himself in my
garments. He again left the hut with
my saddle-bags.. and few minutes after
ward I heard the ring Of my horses feet
as he galloped away.


In a moment had seized his coat and
putting it on, dashed from the hut in pur-
suit.


| ran until l was almost ready to
drop Still | pressed on; the spirit Of
revenge had entered my soul and bore
me up At last saw horseman cross
ing the hill knew the figure but to
well-it was Silas Cass.


Till morning l lodged from bush to
bush. keeping as close to him as l burst.
Had l had pistol with me fear Silas
would have stood very poor chance.
At last ] preceived party of horsemen
riding toward US, aud in minute burst
from my hiding place and commenced
shouting as loud as | could


"Stop him, stop him +! he is a mur-
derer"


Silas looked quietly behind him. and
seeing me running, drew his revolver,
presented and fired. The bullet whistled
close to my head. but did not damage.


By this time the horsemen heard my
cries and were close upon Silas, who
hesitated for a moment whether to at
tack me or not, but seeing the party of
horsemen were armed, he turned hie
horses head as if to gallop across the
country but the leader of the horsemen