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BORDER ROGUES OUTWITTED. ’ 13
he held, the faithful negro bounded in the
direction of the scream. it did not take him
long to come in sight of the man he hated.
Frank Harris held the senseless form of
little Carrie Warner in his arms and was
about to mount a horse that had evidently
been brought to this part of the country for
the identical purpose to which it was being
put, when Gum rushed savagely toward
him, uttering a yell that would have done
credit to a South Sea Islander. In his im-
petuous dash he failed to see that the scoun-
drel had pulled a pistol, and when the bullet
glanced along his forehead, the negro fell
like one dead.
“Here am de place, massa Warner. Dar
dis nigga lied ’bout ten minutes I ’spect.
Dis heah am de tracks dat debble left. Look
at ’em. You done ’member de mark I show
you afoah? Dar it am.”
The doctor threw himself upon his knees
and intently examined the curious footprint
by the light of the afternoon sun. Then he
arose, looking stern and solemn.
“ Gum, you are right. It is Frank Harris,
and this is his boasted revenge. We must
pursue.”
CHAPTER VII.
nonnnn noouss ourwrrmn.
‘- I am John Medhurst, the detective! Now
what do you propose to do about 1t? ”
When the self-styled Red Sumter had
given vent to this astounding declaration, he
had gained his feet and stood erect, his tall
form showing to advantage even in the tire-
li ht.
g'l‘he four border’ ruffians eat like so many
statues. At first it seemed to work upon
their minds that this new companion was
simply having what one might call a superb
“jeauque” at their expense, and the faintest
suspicion of a smile had already made its
' appearance on Wash Purdy’s face. This
quickly vanished and there came instead a
look that was a curious conglomeration of
chagrin, fear, rage and wonder.
With the dexterity and coolness that made
itself so apparent in his every movement,
the pseudo Red Sumter raised his hat. made
a sli ht move, and instantly the false wig,
whis ers and heard that had been so artfully
fitted in their places, fell into his hand.
Without a word he thrust them out of sight
in some secure hiding place.
His coat, which had simply been turned
inside out, he did not touch, but, folding his
arms lightly across his breast, a favorite
movement of his, by the way, he smilingly
looked askance of his four acquaintances.
Black Dan and his mcnhad seen the ex-
detective of London, in Cincinnati where
they had been on a professional visit when
en aged for this business. He had been
” pointed out to them, and each man had sworn
that he could discover John Medhurst at
any time and place, and yet they found how
woefully mistaken the keenest of men can
be at periods. -
When they saw that smooth, stern face
make its appearance from behind the frowsy
red whiskers, one and all felt somewhat
alarmed. It was that feeling which gener-
ally assails the wrong-doer in the hour of
discovery. These men had attempted to
make way with the lawyer in Cincinnati,
but it so happened that either Providence
watched over and guided his movements, or
else he got wind of the plans of his enemies.
At any rate he gave them the slip and they
had to follow him down the river. There
was something embarrassing in the situation,
and not only this, but an actual demoralizing -
flavor. For perhaps a full moment the
tableau remained a striking one. Then
Black Dan, always in the lead, arose to his
feet with a deep growl that sounded like the
muttering of distant thunder.
“This hyar business war purty well
played, my fine English cock, an’ ye’ve got
real grit now I swear, ter run yer head
among sich men az we uns, .but my young
Bantam, did it ever strike ye that ye’d got
inter a leetle the wust scrape’ azhez ever
happened? P’raps ye might az well be in-
formed 0’ the fack that ye‘ll never leave
this place alive.”
“ N ow really is that your candid opinion ?"
said the quiet man.
“ I don't know or keer a cent ’bout candied
’pinions, but I kin swar ter what I say, an’
ye don’t leave this place alive, my fine
chicken." Black Dan was growing excited.
"Well,now, I'll tell you what I think of
the matter. There are four of you, strapping
fellows every one of you, and et Pm going
to leave this place and your inviting com-
pany without a hand being raised against
me, do you hear?" demanded John Med-
hurst.
“Yes, I hear, and by thunder I'm going
ter show ye how I'll stop it.”
Black Dan began tugging at a monster
pistol that was in his belt, but the weapon,
proved obstinate, as it caught in some pro-
jecting portion of his dress.
The Yankee school-teacher had sat with= t
his mouth agape during this brief but start-
ling interview, and he now made a motion as
if to raise the gun that lay near him.
The London lawyer’s arms became unfolded
and one hand was outstretched. In this
hand there gleamed a small‘deadly duelling
pistol, of English make, its large muzzle
frowning warningly at the scoundrels. It
was really wonderful to see how quickly the
New England chap drew his hand away
from the gun as if it was some contagious
disease, and how suddenly Black Dan ceased'
his struggles with his refractory pistol. .
As for Wash Purdy and Silas Ropes, they