Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON THE TRAIL OF A MYSTERY. farts to restrain a disposition to laugh, which raised the suspicion, if they did not bring the conviction that Mont- gomery was playing a part. “You did it well, Dick; you would have deceived the elect, but what the mischief led you to keep it up so long? Why didn’t you give me the cue when we were alone in the wood? ” ‘“‘ The trouble was, I couldn’t be cer- tain we were alone; I had a horrible suspieion that one of those devils, Pet- ers, Harbridge or Sawyer, would sneak back, and the least slip on our part would have been death to both of us. As it is, I think Peters is becoming sus- picious and he won't let this farce go on much longer. Are you here for The Pioneer?” “Yes, but my main business upon which Forsythe sent me is to find out what became of you, for you’re consid- erably behindhand in your copy.” “ But how [ll make up for it, if I ever get back to the office! I’ve been waiting for the first good chance to give you the tip.” “ How did this all come about? ” “ It is too long a story to tell now; curb your impatience for a little while, and you shall help me write it up for The Pioneer. Meg will be back in a few minutes, and we must take no chances ; these scoundrels are watching me all the time, and, as I just said, one ship on my part and my goose is cooked, and yours too.” What does that call of Mrs. Wick-. hffe on the Peters family mean? ” “It means trouble—the worst kind of trouble; it means death to us both, unless——”’ “Unless what?” “We get out of here.” ‘“ What’s to prevent our getting out? Why can’t we start at once?” “ No, no,” he replied, speaking rap- xily and in guarded tones, continually glancing about and listening for the sound of returning footsteps: “ I haven’t got a firearm and can’t get any; how about you?” 49 ‘Jim Sawyer has my revolver; I am as unarmed as you.” “ That’s the worst of it; old Wickliffe was robbed of his Winchester before he was done kicking, and his son took his to jail with him; there isn’t a gun in the house, I can’t get my hand on one and | daren’t make a start without a weapon. Besides, I haven’t fully re- covered from my illness.” “You seemed to have pretty well recovered when you were driving me up the mountainside,” I said grimly. “ It was the excitement I was under; you saw me go to pieces while playing the fool with Meg.” “You rallied quickly.” “IT am improving fast—am better _ today than I have been for weeks—but, Joe, I repeat, if we don’t get out of here before sun up tomorrow, we're dead men.” “And I repeat,” I said impatiently ; “we'll get out.” “Yes ; if we are given the chance.” “ You haven’t told me the meaning of the widow’s call of Zach Peters.” ‘‘ She went to tell him you are here.” “ But he knows it already, or at least suspects it.” “Perhaps; the Howards haven't a bitterer partisan in Kentucky than the widow—and she has become a wild cat since they put her son in jail; that hurt her more than the death of her hus- band.” ‘“ But we are not partisans of the Bakers, any more than of the How- ards.” ent excited state of feeling these people class all strangers as enemies. I think she would have been able to stand me a little longer, but it was the last feather when I brought you in. It was a mistake; I ought to have told you to make a run for it when in the woods, even at the risk of our being watched.” “T wouldn’t have run, Dick, until you could run-with me.” “ Well, we’ll make a break tonight, if we live that long.” ECORRIC OO© ‘“ It makes no difference ; in the pres-. Ss eco