aaa i | § | i GE} S8O1MIS 10105 JEsUNW Aq sO} ZP'z oN THE OLD LOG CABIN. Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year 1897 by Street & Smith in the Office of the Librarian of Oongress. Entered as second class matier at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. Isswed Weekly. Subserrption price $5.00 per year. September 3, 1897. No, 442, NEW YORK, I0 Cents. ‘The Tolbert Feud ‘The Outlaws of Mississippi. By JACK TALBOT. STREET & SMITH, Publishers. 29 Rose 8t., N. Ye CHAPTER. | His hands and feet were securely bound with cord, BEGINNING OF A FEUD. **Hello, sheriff! Hello, there, wake up, old man! Here’s a prisoner!’? Sheriff Ross was awakened by a loud knocking at the door of the jail office. The sheriff was sleeping in the office of the jail that night for special reasons. He took his own time about getting up when he heard the knocking at the door. When he finally reached the door he held his pistol in his right hand. ““Hello, out there! Who are you?’’ Dan Ross had been sheriff of Kemper County, Mississippi, long enough to know better than to open the jail door at night unless he knew who was out- side, and what was wanted. : “It’s Spinks with a prisoner!’’ was the answer to the sheriff’s query as to who was outside. The sheriff unlocked the door, and cautiously opened it a little way, when in a moment the com- bined weight of half a dozen stalwart men was thrown against it, and it was forced open. Then the men outside crowded into the office. Sheriff Ross had been knocked almost off his feet by the sudden opening of the door, and before he could recover he was seized by half a dozen masked men and disarmed. _ The sheriff was guarding the jail alone that night, so resistance would have been useless. and he was thrown into a corner on the floor. ‘‘What do you fellows want? There is no one here to string up.’’ The sheriff had seen lynching parties before, and had no trouble in recognizing the purpose of this” midnight visit to the jail. ‘Where are the keys, Dan?’ asked a tall, gaunt- looking old man who appeared to be the leader of | the party. 2 “‘Go find them. Who are you after?’ ‘“We?ve come for Jack Cole.”’ ‘“The devil you have! He ain’t done nothing.” ‘‘He shot Jim Tolbert, and the doctor says Jim will die.”? ‘‘But, man, you know Jim shot first. We only locked Jack up for form; he’ll get bail to-morrow.”’ ‘‘He won’t need no bail when we get through : with him,’’ the tall man laughed. : ‘‘Man, you surely don’t mean to hang Jack Cole 2 “That’s just what we do mean. Where are the — keys ?”? Sheriff Ross was bound and helpless, but he had no intention of giving up his prisoner toa mob. There was not a braver man in Kemper County than Dan Ross, and it is a localty where it is dangerous to question any man’s courage. The men who had succeeded in getting into the jail office by a trick, all wore black masks that con- | cealed every part of their faces. | S35 THE OLD LOG CABIN. They were all heavily armed, carrying Winchester rifles in addition to their pistols. “Vou men have got a grudge against Jack Cole, and don’t mean to give him a nigger’s chance,” said Sheriff Ross. ‘Come now, old man, we don’t want any talk. Tell us where the cell keys are, and be quick about , it, too.” ‘You can’t get the keys and you can’t get Jack Cole,’’ said the sheriff, firmly. “We'll show you about that mighty quick. Search him, boys!’’ _ The sheriff was not able to offer any resistance, | put the masked men did not find the cell keys in the pockets of the sheriff, and a thorough search of _ the office was equally fruitless. : ‘*Tell me where the keys are, or I'll blow your head off,’ said the leader of the gang, putting the muzzle of a pistol in the sheriffs face. ‘*T shall tell you nothing of the kind. Go on with “your shooting!’’ said Ross, quietly. The man in the black mask did not shoot. He uttered a long string of curses, and then turning to his men, he said: ‘*Boys, we’ll have to break i an!” The men hunted about the jail office until they found a sledge hammer and a crowbar that had been. left behind by a lynching party that had visited the jail a year before. _With these they began the work of battering down the inside door leading to the iron cells. **Maybe you won’t tell us what cell he is in?”’ said the leader, again turning to the sheriff. “Certainly not. Ill do nothing to help you mur- der as square a white man as ever lived in Kemper County.’’ After that the lynching party paid no further attention to the sheriff, but continued their efforts to break down the strong iron door. It was slow work, and as time passed Sheriff Ross began to hope that they would be unable to effect an entrance before vet It was then long past midnight. There had been a shooting affray on the streets of Fort Stephens that day, which was not a rare occur- rence in that section. Jack Cole, one of the most popular young men in the place, had shot and badly wounded Jim Tolbert, a young countryman, who was noted for his guarrel- ome nature and his readiness to shoot. Tolbert had provoked a quarrel with Cole, and had fired the first shot, when he saw that the young|a ‘man would not be imposed upon. 2 Cole fired in self-defense, and every one in town 3 Rectified, even if Tolbert’s wound should was not probable. | (been suspected of worse crimes negroes, but there was never any positive evidence No. 442. But as a matter of form, Sheriff Ross had arrested Cole, and locked him up until the matter could be investigated next day. Tolbert was sent to his home, as it would be im- possible for him to get away, wounded as he was. No one suspected that anything would ever be done with Jack Cole for the shooting, and certainly no one dreamed that an attempt to — him would be made that night. But for some reasons Sheriff Ross remained on duty in the office of the jail. While all the men in the lynching party were | carefully masked, Sherifi Ross pete he could guess their names. Jim Tolbert had five brothers, and his father was living. There were just six men in the lynching party. a The Tolberts were notorious throughout the country. They were lazy and shiftless, and also quarrelsome and ugly. Both the old man and the boys had several times than shooting against them. No one lived near the fail: so the sound of the hammering on the iron doors aroused no one except the prisoners inside. : Among them it created the wildest excitement, for all knew what it meant, but they did not know which of their number the lynching party was after, Many of the prisoners began to pray. -Others were rendered weak and helpless by fear. Jack Cole was the coolest man inside the jail. He did not suspect, when he heard the breaking down of the outer doors, that the lynching party was after him, | It was a good two hours’ work for the masked ‘men to. get through the outer door that led to the cells. Then it took them another two hours to batter down the door of Jack Cole’s cell. Some of them wanted to shoot him dead in his cell and save so much hard work, but their leader would not let them do it. Cole was startled when the masked men began to batter down his door, but he did not beg for mercy, knowing it would do no good. ' Day was breaking when the masked men at last got the cell door open and dragged out their in- tended victim. Sheriff Ross’ eyes flashed fire, and he tugged hard at his bonds when he saw Cole in ae hands of the little mob. ‘‘Keep up your courage, Jack. I'll see that you are avenged if the worst happens,’’ the _ sheriff | shouted to Cole, as he was carried out of tlie ofiges 7 eS * mob. eiiiis OLD - Ko. 442. LOG CABIN. eS g At this one of the masked men turned and momred | his gun at the sheriff, and would have shot him had ‘he not been restrained by the leader of the gang. The masked men were evidently surprised when they saw that day was breaking. Even then lights were glowing in several houses, a8 showing that some of the residents of the little town were awake. The lynching party had left their horses near the jail, and they lost no time in mounting and getting out of town. . Jack Cole’s arms were bound, and he was forced to mount behind one of his captors. Then, putting spurs to their steeds, the lynching party galloped out of town and away toward the Oktibbeha swamp. In their hurry and excitement they did not see a | : figure that came out from behind the jail as silently _ as a shadow, _ saddled and bridled near by, follow their trail. and, mounting a horse that stood Jack Cole was a cool and resolute young fellow, but when he saw the lights of the little town fade from view, as his captors rode toward the swamp, he made up his mind that his time had come, and there was nothing leit for him to do but face death) bravely. He suspected the identity of the six men who had taken him from the jail, and he knew that if his | Suspicion was correct there was no hope for him. There was a reason why Jim Tolbert wanted him = ut of the way. ‘Three miles out of town, and just at the edge of _the great Oktibbeha swamp, Cole’s captors reined up their horses and dismounted. . The sun was up now, and they acted in -hot haste for fear of discovery. =e _ Jack Cole looked up at the sky and at the sunlight stealing through the branches of the trees, and thought he would never behold those sights again. One of the masked men carried arope. A noose ‘was soon made in one end of it, and then the other end was thrown over the limb of a tree. ‘“Get under here, young fellow, and, if you want to do any praying, do it quick!’’ said the leader of the gang. “What have I done that you want to fae me without a trial?’’ asked the prisoner. “Vou know well enough what you have done. We've got no time to answer questions now,’’ was | _ the brutal reply. Jack Cole muttered a prayer as his captors bound his arins tighter and placed the noose about his neck. ‘Pull him up, boys!’’ shouted the leader of the In a moment Jack Cole felt the rope tighten about is ae and then he felt himself being drawn up. ‘There was a terrible roaring in his head. and he could feel his senses leaving him, but he made one last desperate struggle for life. * With a pull that tore the skin and flesh from his wrist, he wrenched one hand loose and caught the rope above his head. He pulled up enough of his weight to relieve the terrible pressure on his throat and enable him to breathe. ; But in amoment he felt his hand slipping, and he knew his hold on the rope would soon give way. ‘‘Rasten the rope, Doys, and give him a dose of lead !’’ shouted the leader of the mob. The rope was made fast to a tree, leaving Cole hanging ten feet in the air. ; The buzzing and roaring in his ears had come back, and millions of stars were dancing before his eyes. His hand was slipping again, and he was barely conscious, when he heard the order given to shoot him. Fastening the rope, the masked men stepped back a few paces, and raised their guns. Before they could take aim at the swaying body, the sharp report of a rifle rang out, the rope snapped in two above Jack Cole’s head, and he fell to the [ground in a heap. The six masked men sprang into their saddles and rode away as fast as possible, without waiting to see whether their intended victim was living.or dead. ee ee CHAPTER 11. THE ORIGIN OF THE FEUD. A week before the events related in the opening chapter of this story there was a ball at the house of John Carter, a well-to-do planter. The ball was given by his daughter, Nellie, who was known as the prettiest girl in Kemper County. A sort of general invitation had been extended to all the young men and women in the neighborhood to attend the dance. Such affairs are very common in that section, and a written or printed invitation is not necessary. All the young people who are on visiting terms with the one giving the ball consider themselves invited, without any special formality about 1t, and they usually attend. So Nellie Carter’s ball was a big success in point of numbers. Half the young men in the foe beeised were in love with her, and these were all present. Ainong the others was Jim Tolbert who was an ardent admirer of the Kemper County beauty. Jim Tolbert at that time enjoyed the distinction of being regarded as a trifle better than his family. He was received where the door would have been shut in the faces of his father or his brother “a and hea + THE OLD LOG CABIN. The two most persistent suitors for the hand of Nellie Carter were Jim Tolbert and Jack Cole. To every one except young Tolbert it was epparcns that the Kemper.County beauty favored Jack Cole. Tolbert was very jealous of his favored rival, but he| was unable to see that Miss Carter did not divide her sniiles equally between them. Nellie Carter did not like Jim Tolbert, and was annoyed when he caine to the dance. She knew he was of a jealous and vindictive temper- ament, and, knowing the character of his family, she feared tr ouble when the time should come that he must learn he had no place in her affections. - A colored string band from FortStephens had been en- gaged to furnish the music. Pretty Nellie Carter was the belle of the ball, but she did allin her power to make the occasion as pleasant as possible for the other young women present. Jim Tolbert took little part in the dancing or merry- -making, and stood alone most of the time and closely watched Nellie Carter and Jack Cole. Tolbert had been drinking a little, and was in bad humor. The fact that Jack Cole never once looked at him, or noticed him in any way, did not heJp Tolbert’s feelings. It was near midnight before anything occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion. Nellie Carter, who had danced but little during the evening, had just seated herself at the end of the room near where Jim Tolbert was standing. The band struck up a lively air, and Tolbert stepped quickly to the side of the pretty hostess. “Ts this dance engaged ?” he asked. With a flush that hardly concealed her displeasure, Nellie Carter glanced at a card she held in her hand, and slowly shook her head. “Then dance with me, please? —Jim Tolbert wheeled around and glared at Jack Cole, who had come up and had anticipated the favor he was about ask. Cole smilingly looked at Miss Carter, and took no notice of his would-be rival. ““T’ claim this dance, Miss Nellie,” said Tolbert, and bis face flushed with anger. “But Mr. Cole asked me to dance first,” answered the itl: . _“T first asked if you were disengaged. e “But you had not asked me to dance.” ‘“‘T was going to. You know that very well,” said Tol- bert, hotly, for he was fast losing control of his temper. “JT don’t know anything of the kind. You only asked if I was engaged.” “Well, this man won’t insist, I guess.” “But Ido insist. Miss Nellie must decide who gets this dance,” said Cole, quietly. “T insist that the dance belongs to me, and I want fair treatment.” This angered the pretty girl, and decided her answer. “T shall dance with Mr. Cole; he asked me first,” she said, quietly, and, rising, she took his ar m, and they were soon whirling over the floor among the other dancers. Jim Tolbert ground his teeth with rage. He soon left the room, and took a seat in the darkest corner of the broad veranda that extended half-way around the big house. There he nursed his wrath in silence, and planned to get even with Jack Cole. In a short time the dance ended, and a moment later Tolbert saw a couple come out of the ball-room and walk down the veranda toward him. They were so much occupied with one another they did not see him there in the darkness. The couple were Nellie Carter and Jack Cole. Tolbert recognized them by their voices, and, without making, known his presence, he listened to what they - were saying. The words he heard soon aroused the demon in his soul. Jack Cole was telling the story of his love for the pretty girlet his side. Jitf@mbert heard him offer her his hand in marriage, answer accepting it. 99) It was a terrible effort for him to control fie anger then, but there was more to come that made him bite his lipste __ keep back the hot words that were on his tongue. “You did not want to dance with Jim Tolbert a while o 4 ago, did you?” Cole asked. “No, I don’t like him.” “T thought not. That is why I asked you to dance be- fore he could do so.” “That was kind of you. I always feared and distrusted | that man. I was suprised at his coming here to-night. He ought to know I don’t care for him.” “T’ll see to it that he don’t trouble you again.” “Be careful what you do, Jack. Don’t anger him.” “T am not afraid of him.” “T know that, but you must be careful. I tell you he is dangerous, and I am afraid he will try to do you harm when he learns that we are engaged. He pretended to be in love with me once.” “Have no fear, little one. not harm either of us.” Jack Cole and Nellie Carter turned to go back vo the ball-room, then, for they knew their absence would be noticed if they staid out too long. As they entered the door, a hand was laid on Jack Cole’s arm. “T want to see you!” a voice whispered in his ear. Wheeling around, Jack Cole found himself face to face with Jim Tolbert. The face of: the latter was white with anger. ‘What is it, Jim?” asked Cole, quietly. “T want to speak with you.” “Very well, ’ll be back herein a moment. me.” Nellie Carter had heard all that was said, and saw the white face of Jim Tolbert. Jack Cole led her back to the ball-room, and’ then he ex- cused himself. “Are you going back to meet him?” asked the girl, ag she laid a trembling hand on the arm of her lover. “Yes, I told him I would come.” “Be careful, Jack, for my sake. do you harm.” “Have no fear, I can take care of myself.” With that Jack Cole left the room, and went back to the veranda to see what Jim Tolbert wanted with him. He found Tolbert waiting near the door. “What can Ido for you, Jim?” asked Cole, pleasantly, for he was in too good a humor now to be cross with any one. ‘“You did me a mean trick to-night,” Tolbert hisseé through his clenched teeth. “What do you mean, Jim?” “That dance! You knew fi meant to ask the girl to dance with me.” “IT am not a mind reader. If you had asked for the dance first it would have been yours.” “You owe me an apology, and I demand it, now.” ~ “T owe you nothing. If you feel that way about it, I don’t care to talk to you.” “You'll give me an apology or satisfaction, and you’ll do it to-night.” Tolbert: came closer to his successful rival, and Jack Cole could see that his right hand was in his hip-pocket. “T’ll give you no apology, or any other satisfaction to- night, or any other time,” said Cole, quietly, and he turned to go back to the ball- -room. “You are a rank coward !” Quick as a flash Jack Cole wheeled around, and struck Jim Tolbert a stinging-blow in the face with his clenched hand. “111 kill you for that!” and Jim Tolbert snatched a pistol from his pocket, and thrust it in the face of the man who had struck him. But he was not quick enough. With aightning-like motion Jack Cole caught the barrel of the pistol in his hand, and wrenched it from the grasp of Tolbert. The manner of the latter changed in an instant when he found himself unarmed. “You have the advantage now, but I’ll get even with you,” he growled. “If you were aman you’d give mea square deal.” Tll take care that he does Wait foe I am sure he means to a THE OLD LOG CABIN. ~ 5 — “What do you calla square deal? What do you want?” “Fight it out on even terms. Ill give youa show. You need not be afraid.” Jack Cole hesitated a moment, and, then handing th pistol back to Jim Tolbert, he said, quietly : . “Come on!” ~ The two men left the house, and walked out into the open road a short distance away. The moon was shining brightly, but the trees in the yard cut off a view of the road from the house. a you want to shoot this out?” asked Jack Cole. &e es. 9 * s a 2 “Then I’ll accommodate you. Back off five paces. I'll walk back an equal distance and then we fire. Is that fair ?” z 66 Yes. 99 ““Toes it satisfy you ?” 6 Yes. 39 “Ready! One! Two!” A slender figure suddenly sprang into the road from under the trees in the yard. “Oh, Jack, what are you going to do?” “Nellie, you here?” “Yes, he will kill you. You shall not go on with this fight,”.and the girl threw her arms around Jack Cole, placing her body between him and Jim Tolbert. “Jim Tolbert, you shall not shoot. I know your pur- pose,” cried Nellie Carter. Tolbert lowered his weapon, and came up close to the — eouple. “Take your lover back to the house out of danger. I won't hurt him while you are around. Il’ll spare your feelings more than you did mine,” said Tolbert, with a - gneer. : “T’]1l see you again!” said Jack Cole, as he started back toward the house with his sweetheart. ‘“Yes, you'll see me sooner than you want to. Don’t be in any hurry about sending out your wedding cards.” With this parting threat, Tolbert turned and walked away. -He did not go back to the ball-room again. The next day Jim Tolbert was in town, and it was noticed that he was drinking heavily. : _ Late in the afternoon he met Jack Cole in a store on the main street. As the two men came face to face, Tolbert uttered an oath and applied a lot of vile names to his successful rival. For answer Jack Cole caught Tolbert by the shoulders, and turning him around, kicked him into the street. As soon as he could recover himself, Tolbert wheeled around, and, drawing his revolver, fired at Cole. His aim was bad, and the ball went wide of its mark. When he started to fire again Jack Cole knew that he was inforit, and would be compelled to shoot in self- defense. He quickly drew his pistol, and fired one shot, which _ took effect in Tolbert’s right shoulder. : The wound, while not dangerous, was sufficient to dis- able Tolbert’s right arm for a time, and caused him to drop his pistol. That ended the fight. Jack Cole was arrested on a warrant sworn out by a brother of the wounded man and locked up. Such was the origin of the bloodiest feud in the history of Kemper County. > CHAPTER III. TOM TOLBERT, SR., PLAYS A LONE HAND. Sheriff Dan Ross was an angry and much disgusted man, when his jailer finally got around about sunrise and released him. ; He had been taken completely unawares by the six masked men, and thev had bound him so securely he was sore in every limb when released. He did not care so much for that or the broken and bat-! - tered jail doors as he did for Jack Cole. | ward his hip-pocket. The popular sheriff was a warm personal friend of the young man, and he felt very badly that he had not been able to save Jack from the hands of the lynching party. Ross had no doubt that Cole was by that time swingirg from some limb in the neighborhood. “Tll avenge his death, if they have murdered him, or die in the attempt,” said the sheriff, with a mighty oath. ‘“Maybe those scoundrels think I did not recognize them through their black masks. If they do so much tbe better for my plans.” A few hours later Sheriff Ross was sitting at a desk in his office, filling up an affidavit for a warrant. The door opened, and some one entered very quietly. “lve come to give myself up again, Dan, if you want me. Sheriff Ross leaped out of his chair at sound of the voice, and wheeled around to face his visitor. “Jack Cole! Well, I’ll be hanged! How'd you get away from ’em ?” ‘Didn't get away.” “Ts this your ghost, then ?” “No, I am still in the flesh and blood. See my neck! I was rescued.” “None too soon, I guess, from the looks of your throat.” “No, it was aclose call. A few minutes more and it would have been all up with me.” “Tell me all about it.” “Not now. My neck is too sore to talk much. Better lock me up or I might escape.” “No, Pll not lock you up. There is a bond here for you, sign it, and you can go home. I may want you later.” Jack Cole signed the bond that his friends had made out, and brought around to the jail before they learned of the mob the night before. Sheriff Ross filled up and signed an affidavit, and then going to the office of the nearest justice of the peace, he got a warrant. He had changed the form of the ‘affidavit after Jack Cole had returned alive. The sheriff put the warrant in his pocket, and spent most of the day about the main street of the town. He was looking for a man, and knew that he would be on hand before the day was over. . Late in the afternoon old Tom Tolbert rode into town, and, hitching his horse to a post, joined a group of idlers in front of the principal saloon. The men all knew him, and, after exchanging greetings, he invited them all in to take a drink. The crowd was talking of the attempted lynching of Jack Cole when Tolbert came up, and he became an inter- ested listener. He said he had just heard of the affair on his way to town, and was anxious to learn all the particulars. Tolbert had just paid for the round of drinks when Sheriff Ross came in. , The sheriff walked up to Tolbert, and, laying his hand on his shoulder, said in a low tone: “‘T want ‘you, Tom!” “What for, Dan?” asked Tolbert, turning a trifle pale. “T’ve got a warrant.” “You are joking, Dan.” “Not much. This is no joking matter.” “ What’s the warrant for ?” “That little affair last night.” “What little affair are you talking about?” “Now, don’t try to play innocent with me, Tom. It don’t go. You forgot to put a black mask over your voice last night.” Tom Tolbert glanced at the sheriff, then at the door of the saloon, and then his right hand moved stealthily to- “Come now, old man! None of that. I’ve got you cov- ered. Come along, and don’t attempt any foolishness.” Old man Tolbert glanced at the sheriff’s right hand, and saw that it held a cocked revolver. Then he quietly submitted to arrest, and the two left the place before the other men present had time to realize exactly what had occurred. It was well enough they did not know that Tom Tolbert, Sr., had been arrested on a warrant, charging him, with ce THE OLD LOG CABIN. breaking into the county jail and attempting ‘to lynch Jack Cole. Most of the men in the saloon were friends of Cole, and they would have made trouble for Tolbert if they had sus- pected the truth. The news of old man Tolbert’s arrest spread rapidly after he was locked up, and created no end of excitement. Many friends of Jack Cole wanted to goto the jail at once and hang him, but Cole and Sheriff Ross persuaded tiem not to make the attempt. The Tolherts had few friends in the town. The old man was securely locked in a cell, and there he remained until morning. By that time the news of his arrest had reached his boys, and they all came to town heavily armed and ac- companied by a few friends, coming with the intention of releasing the old man by force, if necessary. But when they got to the jail they changed their minds. Sheriff Ross had taken the precaution to swear in about twenty trusty men as special deputy sheriffs, and the jail was surrounded by a strong guard, Sheriff Ross was satisfied the five Tolbert boys were the same men who had helped in the attempt to lynch Jack Cole, but he was not vet ready to arrest them. He had a strong case against the old man, and. he wanted that to come to trial first. The sheriff went out and made a little talk to the boys and their friends, telling them the old man should be pro- tected and would get a fair trial. If he could prove his innocence, he would be set free, and the sheriff quietly advised the young men that it would be better for them to let the law take its course in this case. S “All right, sheriff. If you say he gets a fair trial that goes,” said John Tolbert, the eldest of the brothers, “Well, boys, I give you my word for it.” ‘We can prove a good alibi for him.” “Then go and get your witnesses.” With this the young Tolberts and their friends left town to hunt up men who could be hired to swear to an alibi for the old man. Sheriff Ross suspected their game, and was determined it should not succeed. .. Without further delay, he arranged for his prisoner to have a hearing before a magistrate that afternoon. — At four o’clock old man Tolbert, under a strong guard, was taken from the jail to the court-room for trial. Business in the town had been practically suspended, so great was the interest in the case, and the court-room was crowded with spectators when the prisoner was brought in. No one except Sheriff Ross knew what the evidence against old man Tolbert was, but his previous bad charac- . ter was against him. There were no lawyers for the prosecution or the de- fense, and the sheriff managed the case for the State. “Well, Mr. Sheriff, what evidence have you against the prisoner?” asked the justice, when the warrant had been read. Sheriff Ross took the stand, and after being sworn, he told how a crowd of masked men had come to the jail and after getting the best of him by a trick had battered down the doors and carried off Jack Cole, who was a prisoner. ‘“Was the prisoner one of the masked men?” asked the justice. “Yes,” answered the sheriff, promptly. “ How do you know 2” “T recognized his voice.” “You are positive in your recognition of his voice?” ae iE am.”’ “Have you any other evidence against the prisoner, Mr. Sheritf?” “T have.” “What is it?” “This!” and the sheriff held up a scrap of torn cloth on which there was a button. “What is that?” ec “A bit of cloth torn from the coat of the man who led the mob. I tore it out during ascuffle when they first attacked me.’ — * Cupvou connect that with the prisoner in any way ?” Ww eee uy ee So. Siand ae ‘Tom. ei Tolbert got up slowly, and with evident reluctance. Sheriff Ross stepped forward, and took hold of his coat. He held up one side of it,.and showed a torn place where a bit of cloth and one button were missing. Into this torn place he fitted the bit OF cloth he held in his hand, The cloth was the same, and the fone piece fitted the | tear in the coat perfectly. : Tolbert said nothing, but his face showed that he kneve | he had been caught. “Any other evidence?” asked the justice. ; “Yes, | have another witness. Nellie Carter.” ; The witness came forward from the rear of the court- room, her face covered with blushes, and took the witness- stand. There was much excitement in - the court-room, and every one leaned forward to catch every word the Prey, witness might say. When Nellie Carter took the witness-stand she held in a her hand a black object, which she kept partly concealed ~ and fumbled nervously. “What do you know about the case?” asked the justice. “T have here a black mask, which I can identify as the: one worn by the prisoner at the time he attempted te lynch Jack Cole.” ““How can you identify it.” “TI saw him drop it near the scene of the attempted lynching, and I picked it up there a few minutes later.” — ‘“You.are positive the prisoner is the man who wore the mask ?” Sa eli “What were you doing at the scene of the lynching? — How did you happen to be there at the time ?” =] followed the mob from the town. ‘I wanted to save the prisoner.” = “Was it you who fired the shot that cut the rope and — — saved Jack Cole’s life?” Nellie Carter blushed and bowed her head, and instantly there arose in the court-room a cheer that shook the building. Sheriff Ross made no attempt to suppress the enthusi- asm when Nellie Carter modestly acknowledged the thrill- ing part she had played in the rescue of Jack Cole. “What have you to say, Tom?” asked the justice of the prisoner, when the applause had subsided. “Nothing,” answered the prisoner, sullenly. os “Then I ‘shall send you to jail to await trial in the Cir- cuit Court,” said the justice. At this Tom Tolbert raised his head, and glanced about the court-room as if he expected to find some one there who would come forward and do or say something for him. But there was no one there to help him. “Dan, it looks as if I was playing a lone hand to-day,” said the prisoner, as Sheriff Ross took his arm to take him back to jail. “Looks that way, Tom,” replied the sheriff, briefly, “Lone hands win sometimes, though,” Tolbert muttered, under his breath, as he again glanced about the court- room in search of a friendly face. “The crowd of spectators had crowded around pretty Nellie Carter, and paid no attention to the sheriff and hie prisoner as they started to leave the court-room, which was on the second floor of a two-story building. As they passed an open window, Tom Tolbert, with the agility of a cat, leaped to one side and at a single bound sprang through the window to the ground below. “ A lone hand wins, Dan,” he shouted back to the sheriff, as he disappeared around a corner of the building. CHAPTER IV. OUTLAWS AT BAY. Tom Tolbert, Sr., was nearly sixty years old, but he was strong and wiry, and could outrun many yOu men. ; The leap he made through the court-house window was — a risky one, but he landed on his feet unhurt. we THE OLD LOG CABIN. By the time the sheriff and his deputies could get down stairs and out into the yard Tolbert was a hundred yards away running like a deer. He soon reached arock, where a ace of country- -men had hitched their horses, and selecting the best-look- ing one of the lot Tolbert leaped into the saddle, cut the bridle and kicking his heels irto the animal’s sides rode out of town at a break-neck. speed. It was ten minutes before Sheriff Ross and his men could get horses and start in DUTSHIG, and by that time Tolbert was three miles away. His trail was followed by the sheriff’s posse to a point ~gome five miles from town. There the outlaw had dismounted, and, Ibaving the ue ed horse loose in the road, had taken to the sw amp on oot. There the curs could not follow him on horseback, and as night was coming on they turned back to town. But Sheriff Ross was determined that the old man should not escape so easily. He had also made up his mind by this time to arrest all the boys except Jim. - Sheriff Ross swore out warrants for the Tolbert boys, and then he summoned a large posse to report at dusk and assist him in making the arrests. No time was.to be lost, fur the men might leave the county, or, if they decided to stay and fight it out, they could get together a score of relations and friends who would stand up for them. Sheriff Ross determined to make the arrests that night. The entire Tolbert family lived in a small log-house on ~a@ little cotton farm owned by the old man, which was sit- uated about ten milesfrom the town. The house was close to the Oktibbeha swamp, which would afford an excellent hiding-place for outlaws. Old man Tolbert and all his boys were familiar with this swamp, because they spent more time hunting there than they spent working on their little farm. At nine o’clock that night Sheriff Ross and _ his little army started for the home -of the Tolberts. The ride was made in an hour, and leaving their fio necs tied in the woods some distance from the cabin the offi- cers approached on foot as cautiously as possible. There was no light-visible, but Sheriff Ross was not de- ceived by that. He cautioned his men to be very careful and not expose themselves, if fired on. The house was partly surrounded, and while the back _ door was kept covered by a dozen rifles Sheriff Ross and | some of his men approached the front. Among the members of the posse were Jack Cole and | Tom Carter, a brother of Nellie. These two were atthe side of Sheriff Ross when he walked up to the front door, and knocked. There was no reply. “Come, boys, no nonsense now. Come out and give yourselves up. I’ve got warrants, and you can’t get away because the house is surrounded.” Not.a sound could be heard to indicate that there was any one inside the house. “Come, boys, don’t make any trouble for yourselves,” went on the sheriff, rapping loudly on the door; but still there was no r@monse: Then the sheri:. examined the door, and found it locked on the outside with a padlock. ‘Well, I guess we got here too late. It looks like they had given us the slip,” said the sheriff to his men. “Tt may be a trick,” suggested Jack Cole. Then Sheriff Ross and his men listened intently at the door for several minutes. Not a sound broke the stillness within the cabin. “They are gone. We'll have to run them down in the swamp,” said the sheriff, turning away. His men followed him. They had gone less than a dozen yards from the house, when from every crack and window burst a sheet of. flame followed by the roar of guns. Half a dozen men in the sheriff’s posse sank to the} ground shot in the back. The posse had walked into a trap set for them by the Tolberts. . The latter had at last shown their true character. They were at bay, and were going to make a fight for life and liberty with the advantage all on their side. - The members of the sheriff’s posse, who had not beers | hit, scrambled for cover before they stopped to return the deadly fire. A Half of the men who had fallen were dead, and the — others were badly wounded. Among the latter was Tom Carter. Jack Cole and Sheriff Ross escaped unhurt. A low rail fence surrounded the yard in front of the cabin, and behind this the members of the sheriff’s posse took refuge, and for two minutes they poured a hot fire into the log-house. The fire was not returned, and the officers suspected | that the outlaws were preparing to make arush under cover of the darkness. 2 Sheriff Ross shouted commands to his men, who were scattered on all sides of the cabin. He warned them not to expose themselves, but the warning was not needed. The groans of their wounded companions was warning | enough for the men. They. kept as closely as possible under cover. After the first round of shots, the officers ceased noe and awaited developments. They could hear no sound from the cabin. One young man in the posse rose Le from behind the fence. es Instantly there was “another ely from the cabin, and — the reckless young fellow sank to the ground dead, his. body riddled with bullets. = Again the posse returned the fire, but no groans or cries 2 came from the cabin to indicate that any one on the in- © side had been hit. ae After a few moments they ceased, fired again, and them | one of the wounded men lying in the yard could be heard — calling for help. : “Ts that you, Tom?” asked Jack Cole, who thought he © recognized the voice as that of Tom Carter. “Yes, Jack, Can’t you help me?” “ Are you hard hit?” “T am shotin the arm and legs. death, and can’t stop the blood.” “Don’t get out of heart, Tom. sake,’ Cole answered. He whispered something to the sheriff, and the latter passed an order to his men in a whisper to open fire again : and aim high. = Under cover of this fire Jack Cole climbed over the | fence, and, crawling on his hands and knees, he made his way toward the spot where Tom Carter was lying. — It was a perilous undertaking, but there was a life at: stake, and Jack Cole did not hesitate a moment. = He reached the side of his wounded friend in ‘safety. Ther, tearing his shirt into strips, he made bandages and bound up Carter’s wounds enough to stop the flow e : blood. ey “Now, old man, I’ll get you out of this,” said Cole. It was slow and difficult work. Cole helped his friend along in such a way that his OW: body would act as a shield in ‘the event the ousaws agai | opened fire. - In this way he got Carter back to the fence in patel. a As the wounded man was lifted over, and Jack Cole — climbed over after him, the men who nad witnessed the deed of daring broke into a loud cheer. a Tom Carter’s wounds were not really serious, and wher — the flow of blood was stopped he was in no immediate danger. Again the firing ceased on both sides, and calling some — of his men around him, Sheriff Ross held a council of | war. To storm the cabin was regarded as fool-hardy, and, while some of the men were willing to attempt it, Sheriff 2 Ross would not let them. | The loss of life had already heen too heavy. Back of the cabin and adjoining it there was a long, ‘low shed used for storing seed cotton as it was gathered — from the field. Some one suggested that they might get | ‘into this shed at the lower end, which was beyond the line of ees and in that ae get up to the ca bin, I am bleeding ta a I’ll save you for Nellie's: THE OLD LOG CABIN. But this plan was abanaoned almost as soon as sug- gested. me : “Tve got a better one, Dan,” said Jack Cole, when the _ other men had ceased to offer suggeStions. “What is it, Jack?” - “Set fire to the cabin and burn them out.” _ “A good plan, no doubt, but how are you going to set _ the cabin on fire without getting shot while you are about ary iv 20? _ “Leave that to me. If you approve the plan, I’ll du the _ job easy enough.” “All right, Jack, go ahead.” _ Without telling any one the details of his plan, Jack _ Cole crept down the fence until he was opposite one end of the cabin. = hen, climbing over the fence, he crawled forward on | his hands and knees, making no noise, and he could not have been seen by a person ten feet away. _ Cole reached the end of the cabin without being discov- - ered by the outlaws. | He then crept around to the cotton shed, and got a - quantity of dry seed cotton. eS ‘ This he piled under the floor of the cabin near the back | door. p Then, striking a sulphur match, which made no noise, fhe applied it to the dry lint. ' There was a flash, and in a few moments a bright blaze shot up above the roof of the cabin, lighting up the scene _ for a hundred yards around. Instantly Jack Cole bounded to his feet and ran back to _ the shelter of the fence. Not a shot was fired at him, and he had accomplished a task that few men would have undertaken for any consid- eration. The officers held their rifles cocked, and ready for in- - gtant use. _ Both doors of the house were watched, but when the flames had eaten through the floor and roof and lit up the entire interior of the place, it was seen that the house was deserted. The outlaws had escaped without a scratch. Sheriff Ross and his men rushed forward, and by the light of the burning cabin they could see how the outlaws had got away. A hidden door opened from the inside of the cabin into the cotton shed, which was almost empty. y Through this shed the outlaws had silently made their way out beyond the line of officers around the house, and then it was an easy matter to reach the swamp near by without being seen. At the lower end of the cotton shed the officers found the tracks of the outlaws. They found something else. On the open door was tacked a hastily-scrawled note addressed to Sheriff Ross. It read: 4‘We are the bold Outlaws of Mississippi. Let us alone. oe “Tom ToLBERT AND His Boys.” CHAPTER V. A WEDDING INTERRUPTED. Jack Cole was an eager and impatient. lover, and in- sisted that Nellie Carter should name an early day for their wedding. This she finally agreed to do; soit happened that the) invitations were sent out soon after the bloody fight with the Tolberts, in which Jack Cole had taken such an im- portant part. Jim Tolbert, who had been shot and wounded by Cole, his successful rival, had been carried away from the house by his brothers when they made their escape through the eotton shed on the night of the fight. you, wasn’t they?” he asked of his sweetheart, when she wanted to argue the matter with him. : For answer Nellie Carter blushed and hung her head. “Well, they could not marry you, could they?” “No, of course not.” — : “Then the next best thing, in my opinion, is to ask them all to come to the wedding. They can, at least, see you married. That may be some consolation to them.” “Well, have your own way about it.” So it was agreed that a sort of general invitation should be extended to all the young people in the neighborhood to come to the wedding of Jack Cole and Nellie Carter. The fact was Jack was so proud of the pretty and lovely bride he had won, the brave girl who had saved his life, he wanted every person he knew to see them married. His love had put him ina good humor with all the’ world, and he would have been willing enough to have had the entire Tolbert family come to the wedding and then return to their hiding-place in the swamps unmo- lested, if it could have been arranged. But, after the bloody fight with the sheriff's posse, Tom Tolbert, Sr., and all his boys had been officially declared to be outlaws and fugitives from justice, and a price had _ been set upon their heads. Sheriff Ross kept a sharp lookout for them, and searched the big swamp where they were supposed to be hiding, but without success. The wedding was to take place in the evening, at the home of the bride, the big farm-house where the young: people of the county had enjoyed so many pleasant dances. Relatives and friends of the young couple, who lived at a distance, began to arrive at the house early in the after- noon, and by sundown there was a crowd. Pretty Nellie Carter, who looked as happy as a bride could look, was just starting to her room to dress when a negro boy came to the house with a letter. It was addressed to Miss Nellie Carter, and he said he was to deliver it to her and to no one else. She heard the boy talking at the door, and ran out for the note, thinking it was from some of: her friends who could not come to the weddiny. : As soon as she took the note the boy slipped away, and _ was soon lost to sight in the darkness. Nellie Carter tore open the envelope, and read the fol- lowing: aa : “J wish you much joy. Fonce swore you should never marry Jack Jim TOLBERT.” Cole. Sorry I can’t be at the wedding. The girl’s face flushed with anger at first, and then she turned a trifle pale as she felt a vague foreboding of danger. But Nellie Carter was a resolute girl, and was not easily frightened. ‘With a little laugh of contempt for the man who would send such a note on her wedding night. she tore the bit of paper in two, and threw it on the floor. Then she went back to her own room to begin dressing for her wedding. Several of her girl friends were waiting to assist’ her, but she sent them all out, telling them she wanted to be alone for a little time. The invited guests were arriving every minute, and in a little while the big front room was filled, and then the crowd overflowed out into the hall, then to the veranda, and, at last, to the yard. It was afew minutes of eight o’clock when Jack Cole arrived, accompanied by some of his closest personal friends. He looked as happy as a man could, and every one pres ent crowded around to congratulate him. | At the hour appointed for the wedding the minister came into the front room, and took his position at the - His wound proved to be much less serious than was at center-table. first supposed, and in a very short time he fully recovered rom the effects of it. _ have it. eS | Nellie Carter wanted a quiet wedding, because her She was slow in comin - brother had not yet fully recovered, but Jack would not to | “All the young fellows in the county were in love with same time calling her by name. Jack Cole and his best man were waiting in the hall outside for the coming of the bride and her maid of honor. g, and some of her girl friends went- that it was time for the wedding. her room to tell her at the Thev knocked lightly on the door of her room, THE OLD LOG CABIN 9 é There tvas no response, and then they knocked. again, this time louder than before. Still there was no reply, and the girls tried the door, and finding it locked on the inside, they valled loudly, for they were beginning to feel seriously alarmed. Again there was no response, and the girls, now thor- oughly frightened, screamed, and their screams brought the assembled guests to the scene in a hurry, Jack Cole being the first to arrive. “What is it? What has happened?” he asked, ex- citedly. “The door is locked ! girls in chorus. Jack Cole threw his weight against the door ; it yielded with a crash, and he bounded into the room. A single glance around showed him that the room was empty. Nellie Carter was gone ! L- The room was on the ground floor, and a large window on one side was open. It was. only a few feet from the sill of this window to the ground. Any one on the inside of the room could easily reach the ground through this open window ata single bound without danger of breaking a limb. Nellie don’t answer!” cried the In a moment the room was filled with the guests, who|. were thoroughly alarmed, although many of them did - not yet fully realize what had happened. Jack Cole was pale and trembling with anxiety, but he did not lose his presence of mind. He made a hurried search of the room for some clew that would explain the sudden and mysterious disappear- ance of the woman who was to have been his bride. All he could find was some evidence of a slight struggle and a faint odor of chloroform. - That was enough to give him a good clew to the real cause of Nellie Carter’s disappearance. Without a word to any one of his suspicions, Jack Cole sprang through the open window, and, striking a match, he glanced atthe ground. A single look sufficed to con- firm his worst suspicions. Nellie Carter had béen abducted. What Jack Cole had discovered was soon apparent to all the assembled guests, and in a few minutes the wild- est excitement prevailed. Women were crying and wringing their hands, while most of the men gathered about Jack Cole in a helpless sort of way, and began to sympathize with him. “Don’t stop to sympathize with me, now,” said Jack, sternly. “We must find Nellie. This is a time for action ~and not for words.” Inspired by his brave bearing every man _ present vol- unteered to aid Jack Cole in any plan he might suggest to find the missing girl. In the midst of the excitement some one thought of the note Nellie had received early in the evening. This person had seen her tear it in two, and throw it aside. The fragments were soon found, and placed in the hands of Jack Cole. He put them together, and read the note from Jim Tol- bert. “This only confirms my worst fears,” said Cole to his friends. ‘‘Nellie has been carried off by Jim Tolbert. We must find her without delay to save her from a fate worse than death.” Most of those present knew that ta Tolbert, one of the outlaw band, had been a suitor for the hand of Nellie Car-. ter before his real character was known. These men understood the situation at once, and then they knew why’the Tolbert family had broken into the jail and.tried to lynch Jack Cole. Intess time than it takes to tell it several searching parties had been organized to follow the trail of Nellie Carter and her abductor. Jack Cole was made commander-in- oh and all agreed to follow his orders. While suffering the most intense ee of thought, Cole was very cool arid never once lost his presence of mind. Every man who went out was armed, and they were all prepared to make short work of the man who had stolen 2 Jack Cole’ 8 oS if he was s found. - But it was hard work to follow the trail in the darkness. oa By the ligbt of torches the party could see the foot-prints of a man leading away from the window of Nellie’s room. The foot-prints sank deep into the soft ground, showing © 4 that the man was carrying his fair prisoner, who was probably unconscious from the effects of chloroform, — which had been used to keep her from making an outery. The searching party made slow progress after they reached the woods. In many places the face -prints could not be made out, because the ground was covered with dead leaves, and then much valuable time would be lost in sear ching around in a circle until the trail was found again. Jack Cole was all the time in front, but he rarely spoke to any one. All night the search was kept up in this slow and ex- asperating way, and when morning came the searching party was only five miles from the home of the Carters. The trail led straight toward the big swamp, where the Tolbert outlaws were known to be hiding, and this was enough to convince every one in the searching party of the identity of the man who had carried off Nellie Carter. . Near the edge of the big swamp there was a small log-. cabin that had been erected several years before by a — hunting party from New Orleans. This cabin was still used by parties who came to hunt bear and deer in the swamp. Of late it had been utilized by the Tolbert band of out- ~ laws. They did not dare to stay there any length of time, but their friends and relations in the neighborhood fine ; have provisions and cartridges there for them, and at night, when the place was not watched by the sherifi’s men, they would slip out of the swamp and get the things. Jim Tolbert’s trail led toward this cabin, and Jack Cole for a time felt hopeful that he would find his sweet- heart there, and would be able to save her before the out= law could get into the swamp with her, or be joined by his brothers, which would mean another bloody fight. The sun was just rising when the searching party came in sight of the cabin. The trail led straight toward the cabin, and the foots a prints were very fresh. There were now the foot-prints of the girl as-well; as those of her captor. She had recovered from the effec of the chloroform, ard was able to walk. ! Jack Cole gave a few brief orders to his friends, and the el entire party pressed forward on the run, 2 They were within two hundred feet of the cabin when aa the back door was suddenly opened, and Jim Tolbert ran out, carrying Nellie Carter in his arms. The swamp was only a hundred yards away, and the o outlaw ran for it, as fast as possible, incumbered as he was with his burden. He held the girl in such a position that her body was — between his own and the pursuing party, so they could — not fire on him without danger of hitting her. Nellie Carter was fully conscious now, and knew her danger. s She had seen the pursuing party with Jack Cole at their - head, and she cried out: s “Oh, Jack, Jack, save me!” : With a repeating rifle in his hand Jack Cole ran for- | ward, and was soon some distance ahead of his friends, — and fast gaining on Tolbert. But the latter was a powerful fellow, and*did not seem to feel the burden with which he was handicapped. Tt was plain that he had no thought of giving up the girl, unless compelled to do so to save his own life. The swamp was now only afew yards away, and Jack Cole saw that he could not overtake the outlaw. He droppped on his knees, and raised his rifle. His friends behind, who saw the movement, shouted to him not to shoot, that he would hit the girl; but he paid no attention to them. 4 A few steps more would have brought Jim Tolbert to the shelter of the dense swamp with his fair prisoner, ; when there rang out the sharp report of a rifle, and witha ery of pain the outlaw fell headlong to the eround, with | one leg broken by a bullet from Jack Cole’s fun ae : ~ The girl v was also rows down. y the 10 THE OLD LOG CABIN. \ _ ut she escaped unhurt, and, getting up quickly, ran back to meet her lover. e Jim Tolbert was struggling to getup, and the other _ gmembers of the rescuing party were coming up on the run when a sharp volley of rifle-shots was fired at them from the edge of the swamp. Jim-Tolbert’s.friends were close at hand ready to aid him, and it was clear now that Jack Cole’s wonderful shot was not fired a moment too soon. Both Nellie Carter and Jack Cole were now exposed to @ new and unexpected danger. They were within easy range of the guns of the out- __ daws, who were concealed in the swamp. : At the first fire the other members of the rescuing party had turned and run back to the cabin for shelter. _. There was an open space of two hundred feet between wack Cole and the cabin. -A second volley from the swamp was fired just as he - met Nellie Carter and clasped her in his arms. The girl was half-fainting from fear and excitement. Jack Cole did not stop or hesitate a moment. Taking the half-fainting girl in his arms, he turned around so his own body was between her and the swamp, and started on arun for the cabin with his precious bur- den. Half a dozen volleys were fired at him by the out- laws, and bullets whistled all about him as he ran, but he reached the cabin without a scratch. When she realized that her terrible danger was over, and that she was safe with her lover and her friends, Nellie Carter, woman like, fainted away. She was made as comfortable as possible on the floor of the cabin, and soon revived. Then the men present crowded around the young couple to congratulate Nellie Carter on her escape from: the hands of the outlaw, and Jack Cole on his coolness and dravery. : As soon as the rescuing party had got into the cabin, the Tolbert boys, who had been firing from the Gover of athe swamp, ran out and picking-up their wounded brother made a hasty retreat. No attempt was made to follow them. The minister, who had been called to marry Nellie Car- ter and Jack Cole, was one of the rescuing party, and when thé excitement was all over he suggested that a prayer of thanks should be offered for the safe rescue of Nellie Carter. “Now, what’s the matter with the wedding going on,” some one suggested, after the prayer, “I am sure it won't de interrupted this time by any one stealing the bride.” Nellie Carter blushed, but offered no objection, and Jack Cole smilingly consented to have the ceremony per- formed then and there. So in the log-cabin, with only armed men present. the minister made Jack Cole and Nellie Carter man and wife. It wasa happy wedding party that returned to the home of the bride in time for a wedding-dinner at noon. CHAPTER VI. THE OUTLAWS GO ON THE WAR-PATH. “VWello, Dan! Have you quit hunting the Tolbert boys?” “For the present, but I’ll catch them before I quit.” “Sure of it?” * Certainly. But why do you ask, Tige? the job?” e Ww ell, I might arrange to help you, if there is any- - thing in it.” “™here is a big reward for each and every one of the ‘family. Bring them in, and you get the reward.” Say, Dan, old Tom and the boys ain’t bad fellows -avhen let alone. Suppose they come in and surrender, _avill you let them get bail?” _ “The judge would have to decide that. email” _ “When are you going after them again?” When I get done collecting the taxes. Do you want He might fix Want to go - No, the boys never done me no harm. Taxes coming in pretty fast?” “Yes, nearly all in now. ‘in a few days.” “You couldn’t say what the bail would be; if the boys : should come in and give themselves up?” “No. They might not get a chance to make bail. There are plenty of men who would like to pull on a EDS; if one end was around the neck of a Tolbert.” “That’s too bad.” “What do you want here, Tige?” “Just wanted to know if the boys could get bail.” “Did they send you ?” “No; but I feel like this shooting business ought to oO and I could send them word if you say bail could be | xe “Well, I don’t say anything of the kind, and I think you are nosing around here for them to see what you can find out. I’ve suspected that you were on pretty good terms with the gang, and now I’ll keep a watch on you. If you are ever caught with the gang, it will go hard with you.’ “Don’t worry about me, Dan,” and an angry scowl spread over the face of Tige Smith at Sherift Ross’ intima- tion that he was a friend of the Tolbert gang. — “I’m not worrying about you. I know what you are here for. You can go back and tell Tom Tolbert that when I get back from Jackson next week I’ll make it hot for him and his boys, if they don’t get out s Kemper County befora that time.” “Going down to Jackson to get help 2” ‘No, I can get all the help I need right here. I am just going down to pay over the taxes, then J’ll have business off my hands for a while, and I’ll go for a hunt in the swamps.” Tige Smith was a young man who was known in the neighborhood as a one-horse farmer, which naeant that he was an indolent, good-for-nothing fellow, who idled more than he worked. He had married awoman who was related to the Tol- bert family, and was a constant companion and warm friend of the outlaws before they were forced to go in hid- ing in the swamps for safety. Sheriff Ross had for some time regarded Tige with sus- picion, and felt confident he was carrying information to the outlaws. ; When Smith walked into his office one day and began to ask if the Tolberts would be released on bail if they would surrender, Sheriff Ross quickly decided that he would watch the man closer than he had been doing. After Tige had gone the sheriff remembered that a peculiar gleam of satisfaction had come into his snake- ‘like eyes when he heard the tax money mentioned. “Wonder what the duse he was up to, anyway !” Sheriff Ross said to himself, as he locked the big safe in his office late that afternoon preparatory to going home. The sheriff had been collecting the State and county taxes for two weeks, and the safe in his oftice contained more than ten thousand dollars of public money. “T wonder—no, they would not dare,” said the sheriff, as he closed and locked his office. He was thinking if it was possible that the Tolberts were planning some new development, but he soon-dis- missed the thought because he did not believe they would dare venture far from their place in the swamp. Near midnight that night citizens of the little town who happened to be awake were startled by a loud explosion in the direction of the jail. Among those who heard it was Sheriff Ross. He leaped out of bed, and, getting on his clothes as quickly as possible, he took his trusty rifle and started to his office on a run. When he got out on the street, he found several of his neighbors who had also been ar oused by the loud report. No one knew what it meant, but Sheriff Ross told them fo get their guns and follow him. They obeyed without question, and soon a seore of armed men were on their way to the court-house. The sheriff’s office was in a small building, half- -way between the court- house and the jail, and this Sheriff ‘Ross visited first. ; Ill be ready for another hunt oe _ by the head of the sheriff. amore before they stopped to return the fire. THE OLD LOG CABIN. ie As he eG he saw that ie front door was open, | and he could see the outline of aman, who stood just s Who is that?” demanded the gheriif. ‘The answer was a pistol-shot and a bullet whistled close. He returned the fire, but the man in the door jumped back in time to dodge the bullet. The sheriff fell back to await reinforcemerts. A crowd of citizens were coming down the main strect ward the court-house. Several of them carried lanterns to light the way. They were within fifty yards of the court-house when fey heard the shooting at the sherift’s office. | They started forward on the run, but before they had | advanced a dozen paces, a volley of shots was fired from. the court house and bullets tore up the ground all around | the men who carried lanterns. This caused. the crowd to retreat in n haste for a block or There Sheriff Ross joined them, and they were Goins ready to make a charge on the court- house, when there was a second explosion. This one was over at the jail, and was followed bya erashing of walls and timbers. By this time the entire town was fully aroused, and armed men were coming frorn all directions. No one knew what had happened, and only Sheriff Ross suspected the truth. All the lights were put out, and fifty determined men, led by Sheriff Ross, started toward the court-house, ad- -yvancing as cautiously as possible in the darkness. They had gone only a few yards, when streaks of fire suddenly burst out at the four corners of the building. They leaped up like a flash, and almost before the as- - tonished citizens could realize what had happened the building was enveloped in a mass of flames. At the same time flames burst out of the jail a block away, and by the bright light of the two fires the as- tounded citizens could see what had happened. The jail had been wrecked by an explosion, and that and the court-house had been set on fire in numerous places. Both buildings were of wood, and, it was evident, fron | the great rapidity with which the flames spread, that oil | had been poured on both in large quantities. The moment Sheriff Ross realized what haa happened his first thought was of the fax money in the safe in his office. This office had not yet been set on ae and, calling to the men with him to follow, he ran as hard as he could go in that direction. | He was within a few feet of the door, when half a dozen men ran out, most of them carrying packages. - hen the sheriff knew that the safe had been robbed. The first man out of the office was old Tom Tolbert, the leader of the outlaw band. He and Sheriff Ross met face to face in front of the door. “What are you doing? Hold up your hands!” said the _ gheriff, raising his gun. Before he could pull the trigger the old outlaw drew back a pistol he had in his hand, and using it as a club, struck.a vicious blow at the sheriff. The butt of the pistol struck the sheriff on the head. It was a glancing blow that did not break the skull, but it felled the sheriff to the ground senseless. “Get out of the way! Come right on, boys!” shouted Tom Tolbert, as he dashed ahead straight at the crowd of men, who were hurrying to the assistance of the sheriff. Every one now recognized the outlaws by the light of _ the burning buildings. “Shoot them down, boys!” cried Jack Cole, who had just arrived on the scene, and he opened fire on the flee- ing outlaws. The fire was returned, and the citizens saw that the ~ Folberts had been reinforced by half a dozen men, most of whom had previously been suspected of being on friendly ferms with them. Tige Smith was one of the new recruits. In a moment the firing had become general, and several The outlaws oo as ae ran, ond they were goon out of the circle of light from the burning buildings. : Once out in the darkness, it was an easy matter Ae the outlaws to get safely away. Then the citizens turned their eo to the Dorning buildings. They ran to the jail with the intention of “aye the prisoners. A glance at the cells chewen that they were empty, the prisoners having all been released before the jail was — | set on fire. Then the crowd ran over to the sheriff's office. There they found that the door of the safe had Rec blown off by an explosion. A hasty examination of the money drawers showed that _they were empty. The Tolbert gang had stolen the tax money, and burned the court-house and jail. a CHAPTER VII. A CORRESPONDENT’S WILD RIDE, Billy Butler was known as a good reporter in Chicago, where he worked on one of the leading papers. He was fond of adventure, and would take any risk to get a good story that would be a “beat” on the rival papers. Among his friends Billy never grew weary of telling stories of his adventures out on the plains, during the Indian outbreaks, where heserved a syndicate of West- ern papers as a special correspondent. As he told the story no man ever passed unscathed - through greater dangers, and he had killed and scalped a score of Indians, all in the line of his duty as a special correspondent. So when Billy was assigned to go down to Kemper County, Mississippi, to write the story of the Tolbert family, and the daring deeds of those bold outlaws, his |friends felt confident he would distinguish himself. Butler pretended to be well pleased with the ae ment, but, at heart, he felt some misgivings. He had never met Mississippi outlaws, and he did not Se know just what sort of men they were. But, like a good reporter, he packed a few things ina satchel, and caught the first train for Mississippi. It so happened that Butler got to Fort Stephens the day after the raid of the outlaws and the burning of the court- house and jail. He was the first newspaper man on the scene, and he knew he had a good piece of news. It was half a day’s ride to the nearest telegraph office, so getting all the facts as quickly as possible he rode back to the railroad station, and wired his paper a long ac- count of the exciting events of the night before. His dispatch finished’and on the wire, Butler began to feel pretty good, for there is nothing makes a reporter | feel better than to score a good “beat.” At the end of his dispatch, Butler added a message to the night editor to the effect that on the following day he was going out to find the outlaws and get their side of the story. Butler had brought along a big pistol, one he had car- ried on the plains, and sitting by the stove in the little telegraph office that night, he felt as if it would be an easy matter to find and interview outlaws. At daylight the next morning Butler started for Fort Stephens again. He was mounted on the best horse he could hire at the one small livery stable in the town. Arrived at Fort Stephens, Butler was surprised to learn that the outlaws had not yet been arrested, in fact, no one had even started in pursuit of them. “That will make it so much easier for me to find them # said the correspondent to Sheriff Ross, “and then I will - get another good beat. 2 “ Are you going out to look for the Tolbert boys?” asked | the sheriff. “Certainly. them.” I came down here on purpose to interview 12 THE OLD LOG CABIN. a “Any messages you want to leave hohe when you ane himself on his good luck in “finding. some one so start?” Butler looked at the sheriff closely, but there was no trace of humoz in his face. This question made the correspondent a trifle nervous, but he did not change ‘his mind. The sheriff kindly pointed out to Butler the direction in which the outlaws had gone after their raid on the town, and. told him where he would mostly likely find some trace of them, if they were not hiding in the swamps. “Better leave me your home address,” said the sheriff, when Butler mounted his horse to startin search of the outlaws. 66 Why? 97) : > In case you find the Tolberts we could send your re- mains home.” Butler turned pale, but eroheccicuit pride would not al- low him to turn back now, He gave the sheriff his address, and rode away. The correspondent had gone five males from the town before he met any one. At aplace where there was a long stretch of dense woods on both sides of the road Butler found a young man sitting on a log by the side of the road. He looked like atarmer. Billy Butler tried to express his thanks to the young - outlaw, but the old man cut him short. “We can giv> him a coat of tar and feathers,” gested the old mau. ‘“‘T tell you this chap sha’n’t be harmed,” said Tom Tol- bert, Jr., and two of his brathers backed him up. This cooled the anger of the old man, and with an oath he told the boys to do as they pleased. “You want to get some news, sonny?” asked Bill, turn- ing to the trembling corr espondent. “That’s what I was sent down here for,” Butler answered. “Well, this ain’t news, but you wait around here until morning, and you may get some ?” “There you go again, you fool,” roared the old man. “You'll be in jail, or the buzzards will be eating you in jess than a month if you keep on like you have started.” - “Don’t be a fool, dad. If we do the chap a good turn he may do us one some time. He won’t give us away. It’s - money in his pocket not to do it.” “Well, he ain’t going to send this stuff,” and the old man tore Butler’s dispatch to pieces. ' Then Butler’s pistol was taken from him, and the out- law leader warned him to go home on the first train. “Don’t mind the old man; he’s excited,” said Bill Tol- bert, taking Butler aside. “ You stay around here until morning. Keep your eyes and ears peeled and your mouth shut. You may hear of something big.” “T]] never forget you,” said the correspondent. “That’s all right, young feller. But remember, thisisa _ aighty unhealthy country down here for them that ain’t used to it.” : Butler understood the hint, and he promised that if he got away with his life nothing could induce him to come back to Mississippi. - With that the outlaws left Butler and turned their attention to the station agent and telegraph operator. “What time does the express train going south get bcked the elder Tolbert. ere a few minutes after tweive o “clock. o <9) night.” sug- “Not without orders.” “Well, I order you to stop that express train here to : take on some passengers.’ “Who are yeu?” “Tom Tolbert.” “JT ean’t stop the train, Mr. Tolbert, without orders from the superintendent or train dispatcher.” “Well, I'll act as train dispatcher to-night, and I tell you to stop that train.” “I’m sorry; but I can’t recognize your authority.” “Will you recognize this?” As the outlaw spoke he drew a long pistol and leveled it at the head of the operator. “That is good enough. I'll stop the train.” The operator put his finger on the key, and the telegraph instrument gave a sharp click. “No, you don’t! Stop that right now, or I’ll shoot your head off.” “You told me to stop the train.’ “Not that way. I knowa fen something about rail- roads myself, if I have lived in the backwoods all my life. You put out the red lights, and the train will stop. You don’t telegraph no warning to the train, not unless my gun misses fire, which it ain’t never done yet.” _ The operator removed his hand from the key. ee “Now get out and set your red lights.” The operator obeyed, and Tolbert put one of his sons by the telegraph instrument to see that no dispatch was sent that would warn the crew of the express to look out for train robbers. The red signal lights were soon in place, and then the outlaws kept the station agent closely guarded to see that he did not give any warning of their presence. No one ever came to the station at midnight, because the express train was never known to stop at that station, so the outlaws were not discovered. It was five minutes past midnight when the roar of the express train was heard. There was a long stretch of straight track just above the station, and the engineer saw the red lights in time. He br ought his train to a stand-still geet in front of the station. “What's the trouble?” asked the engineer and con- ductor,-in chorus, as they looked out toward the station. ‘‘No trouble, go ahead,”. answered voices behind them. The outlaws had crossed the track just before the express came up and boarded it from the other side. Bill Tolbert got up in the cab with the engineer and putting a pistol to his head, ordered him to go ahead at full. speed. Tom, Jr. took charge of the conductor. He caught that official unawares, and at the muzzle of a pistol forced him to go into the baggage- -car, where he __ and the baggage-master were held prisoners. The outaws were then in possession of the train. The express messenger had opened the door of his car and looked out when the train stopped, but he did not see the outlaws; and when the train went.on be was ignorant of the cause ‘of the stop. When the messenger heard a knock at the door of his ear he opened the door without question. The conductor often came in to talk with him on the long night run after the tickets had all been taken up, and he had no suspicion that anything was wrong until the door swung open and he found himself looking into the muzzle of a big revolver held by an old man. Close behind the man with the pistol were two younger men, and they, too, had pistols leveled at the head of the startled messenger. “What does this mean?” asked the express messenger. “Tt means that we want all the money you’ve got in here, and we want it quick,” said the old man. The express messenger had never heard of the Tolberts, and he did not recognize the robbers. His pistol was in his desk several feet away, and he was entirely at the mercy of the outlaws. “Come, now, young fellow, where i is your cash? Hurry up, we’ve got no time to waste.’ The express messenger looked around ina helpless way. He saw there was no escape, and he pointed to the safe. “The money is in there; eo and get it.” ss Bye it Et foe a i . : ‘ ( “THE OULD LOG CABIN, 17 _ “No, we won’t. You’ll get it out and hand it over.” | _ The order was backed up by three pistols, and the mes- senger had to obey. Slowly and deliberately as possible he unlocked the _ safe, and handed to the robbers packages containing more _.than ten thousand dollars in cash. The messenger was playing for time in the vain hope - that something would happen to save the money from the robbers. “But the outlaws had laid their plans well, and no help came. When the robbers got the money they put the packages in their pockets, and making the messenger walk in front of them, they went back to the baggage car. Then the old man pulled the bell cord as a signal to the engineer and to Bill to stop the train. While the robbery was going on’there was a different scene in the cab of the engine. As soon as he saw the pistol of the man who got in the cab the engineer suspected the train was in the hands of ~~. robbers. . He at once determined to do all he could to bring about their capture. He pulled out fast, but before the train had gone many miles he began to slow up. | Bill Tolbert was not accustomed to riding on engines, | and did not notice that the speed had been reduced until the train almost came to a stand-still. “There is something wrong with the ma plained the engineer. He kept pulling open and closing steam-cocks and _ valves in the cab, swore at his fireman, and made a great _ fuss, but the engine did not go any faster. The result was that when he got the signal to stop the | train was less than ten niles from the station where the | robbers got on. : They thought it was fully thirty miles away. The robbers jumped off and shouted to the engineer to _ go ahead. Le - He obeyed at once, and the train pulled out ata high rate of speed. _ The engineer had accomplished his purpose. He had left the robbers close to the scene of their crime. | } { chine,” ex- | i 1 ' The agent who had been forced to set the signals that stopped the train was not long idle after it pulled out with the robbers on buard. _ There was a freight train standing on the side-track. As soon as he could wire a report of what had happened - to headquarters, he went out and made up a posse from | the crew of the freight train. Most of them had pistols, and the agent had a repeat rifle. Then the engine was uncoupled from the freight train, and with the posse in the cab it started down the road . after the express. | The agent thought they might reach the point where’ _ the robbers would leave the train beforesthey had time to get for away. | He was right in his calculations. ~The robbers had just left the train when they saw the _head-light of the engine up the road, and knew that they | were pursued. _ There was a sort of siding at the place w > got-off. “ What shall we do, dad?” asked Bill Tolbert, when he saw the engine coming. “Tl fix that gang,” said the old man, with an oath. Close by the track he found a piece of broken rail. With this he broke the switch-lock, and with a jerk turned the switch just as the engine came up, running at a high rate of speed. With a terrible crash the flying engine broke over the rails at the end of the siding, and rolled down an embank* ment, ing here they had “CHAPTER XL THE OUTLAWS BETRAYED. - eapture of old Tom Tolbe _ ten thousand dollars. rt and five of his sons aggregated | ‘close watch was kept on their movements, which made you. do?” | them unawares so that they cannot fire a shot. get them dead to rights, and with ten men to back you up it will be easy to take them all alive.” The rewards offered by the State and county for the pre _ “Why, don’s let any one know I gave t ‘The rewards that had been offered for Jim Tolbert Lad been withdrawn after he surrendered, and it was found there was no evidence to connect him with the crimes of the other members of the family. : These big rewards were enough to start a score of ama- teur detectives at work trying to devise some way of catching the outlaws. Most of these detectives worked alone, because they did not want to share the rewards with any one, and as a matter of course, they did not find the Tolberts or any trace of them. Sheriff Ross suspected a number of men in the county — of secretly giving aid and information to the outlaws, if they did not actively participate in their crimes. It was hard to get evidence against these men, but a $5 some of them very angry. One of the suspected men was Jack Savage, a worthless young fellow, whose reputation had long been hard. Sheriff Ross was a little surprised one day when Savage walked into his office. “T’ve got ’em located, Dan said Savage. “Got who located ?” “The Tolberts.” “I suppose you have, and I don’t mind tellin ve had you located some time.” ‘What do you mean, sheriff ?” Sao “You have been with the Tolberts in nearly all their — raids and in their fights with the officers.” Se “Now, sheriff, don’t be hard on me. Ihad to doit, and — I’m honest now.” a “Why did you have to do it?” “To get evidence against them.” “So you admit you have been with the gang?” Savage changed color as soon as he saw that he had been caught in a trap. “Cap, I never done nothin’, never fired a shot in any of the fights. I had to run with the boys a while so I could find their hiding-places. I’ve been working for the rewards all along.” I believe you'are lying, Jack.” “No, sheriff, honest, I ain’t.” ‘And you want to turn traitor to the gang now?” “No, it ain’t that. I’ve got a grudge ag’in old Tom, and I want to get even with him. I’ve been waiting two yearg for a chance to get at him.” “What has old Tom done to you ?” ‘“He stole a hog from me once.” “Now I know you are lying, for you never owned a hog. in your life. If you ever had one you stole it from some one else.” a Again Savage changed color and shifted his wei from one foot to the other uneasily. “Now, say, sheriff, give me a chance. ain’t never found a bill ag’in me.” “Well. that was not your fault, Jack. They ought to have found a dozen against you if they could have got the evidence.” “It’s a big thing for you, sheriff, if you catch the gang.” “Yes, that is true.” “You can’t get them without a fi locate their hiding-place.” “Well, what is your proposition ?” “They are hiding in the swamp not far away.” “T know that. Tell me something new.” : **I know the place and I can guide you to it.” “Well, don’t you suppose they will make a fight if , and I want the rewards,” = g you that 8 2 ght The grand jury ght, unless you can “No, I can fix that.” “ How will you fix it?” _“T can show you a way to surround the camp and take You can . “What are your conditions?” “I want you to divide the reward with me and then tect me.” : “Protect you in what w 7d ay. ” a he bg - that at the first sign of treachery on the part of Savage | THe Oly LOG CAG, = _ When I get the reward I’ll go to Texas and grow up with the country.” “Why don’t you want it known that you gave them ‘ away oe : iB is “Some of their kin folks would do me if they knew.” “Jack Savage, I’ve a guod notion to lock you up on gen- eral principles. I believe you came here thinking you eould lead me and my men into a trap, but you can’t do it.” : e me “Sheriff, I swear to you Iam honest. I tell you I’ve got a grudge agin’ old Tom Tolbert, and I ain’t going to throw away a chance to get even and earn five thousand dollars. I can buy a ranch in Texas with the money, and settle down for good. Better go in with me. The detec- tives will give me more than half the reward for what I know, but I want you to have the honor of bringing in the gang. You’ve always been square with me, and I'll be dead square with you.” “See here, Jack. If I go into this thing with you there is one point you want to uriderstand and think over be- fore we start out after the Tolberts.” “What is that ¢” ‘At the first sign of treachery on your part you will be | filled so full of lead your hide won’t hold shucks.” “Sheriff, I swear I’m giving this thing to you straight. I know Id be killed if I tried to fool you and your men. I would not come here if I did not mean all I say.” “When do you want to make the raid ?” “The old man and all the boys will be in camp to-mor- row morning. Some young fellows who want to join the gang are to be there to take the oath.” “All right, Jack. Ill try you this time, but remember, _iI give you fair warning that if you attempt any trick you will never get back alive.” “You can trust me.” Sheriff Ross talked the matter over at length with Sav- age, and the latter, to prove his honesty, agreed to stay with the sheriff until they started on the raid, so that the latter would know he had no chance to communicate with the outlaws. When all the details of the affair had been arranged, ~ the sheriff went out to summon a posse to go with him on the raid. © z Jack Savage left the office with him. As they went out they saw Jim Tolbert standing in front of a saloon across the street. No attention was paid to him at the time, but after- ward Sheriff Ross had occasion to remember that Tolbert was not seen about the town again that day or night. It was settled that the start for the swamp where the outlaws were hiding was to be made at daylight the next morning. Sheriff Ross made his arrangements as quietly as pos- sible, and he srmmoned only such men as he could trust in any emergency. He warned all of them to say nothing about the trip. A score of well-armed men were at the sheriff’s office the following morning when the first sign of dawn ap- peared in the eastern horizon. - Jack Savage was on hand to act as guide. — The posse got out of town before any one else was astir. Before thev reached the place where they were to enter the swamp, Sheriff Ross called his men around him and told them all about the connection of Jack Savage with the raid. . Savage was present while the sheriff talked. -. To his men Sheriff Ross freely expressed his own doubts about the honesty of the guide. “Now, men,” he said, in conclusion, “T give you orders you are to empty vour guns into his body. Don’t give him any show. Don’t wait for explanations. Shoot him dead atthe first sien that he is trying to lead us intoa trap. Now, do you all understand the situation and what - you are to do?” “Wedo!” the men answered, in chorus. “Now, Jack,” said the sheriff, turning to Savage, “you acting squarely after all. 8 of the outlaws. gress very slow and difficult. ‘The locality was a splendid one for a camp. Any one who did not know of the existence of this bit of high ground in the swamp would probably never find it without a guide. i They had gone less than a mile into this tall timber, when they found a well-worn footpath. stop. ‘How far away is it?” asked Sheriff Ross. - “Less than a quarter of a mile.” : The men examined the path, and found a number of fresh foot-prints. fe The foot-prints all led in the direction of the camp. “The gang are all there,” said Jack Savage. : Sheriff Ross gave his men a few orders, and separating into two parties they began to make a circle about the locality where Savage said the outlaws were in camp. Sheriff Ross with three of his best men remained with Savage in the path leading to the camp. They waited there until the other men had time to get around and complete the circle. c there is any treachery.” Savage was ordered to keep ten yards in front of the officers until he came in sight of the camp. for the officers to come up. The men moved forward slowly and cautiously. : Jack Savage was kept in sight and one of the men kept the guide constantly covered witha rifle. In this way they had advanced two*hundred yards or more beyond the spot where the posse had separated and oe there wasno sign of treachery on the part of the guide. Sieh aA : Suddenly a rifle-shot rang out sharp and clear from the ront. throw up his hands and sink to the ground. A rifle-shot was the signal that had been agreed upon for a charge on the camp. : The sheriff knew that his men all along the line would advance on the camp:at a double-quick when they heard that shot. — He ran forward with the three men with him. When they reached the spot where Jack Savage lay they | stopped for a moment to look at him. A rifle-bullet had struck him squarely in the forehead, ot as entirely through his head, and he was stone ead. = out a short distance ahead followed by a terrific yelling. The outlaws had been found, and they were making a fight for their liberty. ; Z It was clear now that Jack Savage had not played the sheriff false, but his treachery to the outlaws had cost him his life. - The latter had evidently been warned by some one, and — the attack of the sheriff’s posse was expected. = Selecting that part of the line opposite -where Sheriff Ross was, which happened to be the point where the line body, without waiting to be caught in their camp. : Their first volley of shots cut agap in the line, and — and yelling like Indians as they ran. : sou pre not dealing square. Are you ready to go on?” | The officers rallied quickly and returned the fire, but in : mderstand the position you are in, and what will happen a few moments the outlaws were out of sight and into the o : ‘dense swamp, where it would be both dangerous and diffi- _ Savage, promptly, and, then, for the ‘cult to follow them, ~ i ee oe first time Sheriff Ross concluded that his guide might ee With Savage walking a few steps in front of the shone els and the other men following close behind, the posses plunged into the swamp, and headed straight for the camp For two miles the dense undergrowth made their pro-— a Then they reached high and dry ground, where the tim- __ ber was much larger and there was but little underbrush. It was dry all the year round, and game was abundant. | “This leads to the camp,” said Savage, “as he came to a “Now, go ahead, Jack, straight to the camp,” said tie: | sheriff. ‘‘And remember, your life will pay the penalty if — Then, if the outlaws were there, he was to stop and wait — Sheriff Ross and the men with him saw Jack Savape - While they stood by the body, a volley of shots rang was thinnest and weakest, the outlaws charged onitina _ through this they rushed in a body, firing right and left, —— “THE OLD Low CABIN. Peas 49 Sheriff Ross got his men jogelion. and after making a earch of the deserted camp without finding anything of value, they went back to the place where Jack Savage had been shot down. The body was still there, but some one had visited it since the officers left it. On the breast of the dead man was a roughly-scrawled _ placard, which read: ‘Chis is the way we serve traitors. Tom ToLBERt AND Sons.” CHAPTER XII. JACK COLE’S DEATH AVENGED. ‘Three ronshs had passed since the killing of Jack Cole. His young widow had recovered from the first shock of grief, but her friends noticed that she was a changed woman. She went about silently with a wie, set face and sunken eyes. The bullet that had killed her husband she treasured as -earefully as if it had been a valuable diamond, carrying it with her at all times. Her friends had often asked her Lee she kept it, but She only answered : —** Wait and see.’ One day Nellie was trimming some flowers and shrubs in her father’s yard, for she had gone back to the. old home to live since Jack was killed. Looking down the road she saw Jim Tolbert coming to- |. ward the “house, with a rifle on his shoulder. “ At last,” Nellie Cole whispered to herself, and with a peculiar glitter i in her eyes she walked down to the gate to meet Tolbert. She stood leaning over the low plank by the side of the gate when Tolbert came up and spoke to her. “How’dy, Nellie!” “How’dy, Jim!” Tolbert appeared a little surprised at the woman’s pleasant greeting. _ “T was afraid you might not want to see me, Nellie.” 46 Why 922 E “Because—because. Well, you remember that night at the ball, and then they have been saying so many hard things about me.” “What have they been saying, ik 9” “Oh, everything mean !” “T have not heard any of it.” : “I’m glad of that. You have cause enough to hate me ‘without having any more. I wanted to talk with you, Nellie. CanI?” . “Of course you can. What is it you wanted to say ?” “There’s a lot I wanted to say.” *“Well, go ahead, Jim, I’m listening.” “You remember that night at the ball?” oe ‘Vac . “Well, I was drunk and crazy that night. I did not know what I was doing. It seemed so hard to lose you. I want to say that I did not mean the threats I made that night.” “6 Well. ? “Then—that other night, your wedding nih, ever forgive me for that?” at May be. 7) “It-was the old man and the other boys put me up to that. They goaded me on by telling me I ought not to let Jack take you away from me, because I had loved you first. It was awfully mean. Iam sorry forit, now. I shook the old man and the boys because I would not agree to do anything more against you and your folks, Can you ever forgive me, Nellie?” _ “Maybe so, some time.” “And we may be friends again?” - “That depends, Jim.” _ “Depends on what, Nellie?” _ Jim Tolbert came closer as he spoke, and leaned on the fence close by the side of Nellie. ifle 1 ; TOSS the fence, between them, and he Can you ‘ Nellie Cole was tugging hard at something concealed in 2 the bosom of hei dress. Her face had grown very pale, her breath was coming fast, and her fingers twitched nervously. - . Nellie, you don’t believe any of the stories about me. I mean the ones they tell about the terrible affair at the election?” - : **T don’t know, Jim.” “Then you have heard them ” 6 Yes. >) “They are not true, Nellie.” ‘*T don’t know about that, but I’ll find out.” ‘“When, and how?” = “Wait and see.” Jim Tolbert was so interested in what Nellie was saying - that he did not see the stealthy movements of her hands. She had taken a little package from her bosom, and, a ete it, deftly held in her fingers a battered rifle- a Slowly and cautiously, the hand that held the bullet stole along the barrel of Jim Tolbert’s rifle until it reached the muzzle, ce Then the battered bullet was fitted into the muzzle and drawn out again. Jim Tolbert noticed that Nellie was growing paler, and — that her nervousness was increasing, but he did not = the — moment suspect the real cause of it. : ‘ Answer me, Nellie, do you believe that I had aneihiae to do with——” os Yes. 9 “With the death of Jack ?” ne “Yes, you killed him,” answered the woman, ina voice — go changed Jim Tolbert could hardly believe it was the oe same person speaking. “ You believe that?” “*T know it.” “Nellie, I——” “Don’t lie tome any more, Jim Tolbert. bullet, and I can see the crime in your face.” | ss Nellie Cole held a battered rifle-ball in front of ve Toly bert’s eyes. © — “Nellie, what do you mean ?” Ee “T mean that you killed Jack Cole, my husband. Hoes is the bullet that killed him. See, it fits your gun.” Nellie Cole caught hold of the rifle-barrel, and started — to fit the battered ball in the muzzle again. Jim Tolbert attempted to snatch the gun away, but she held on with the strength of desperation. Just how it happened no one ever knew, for Nellie was never able to tell, but in the struggle. between them. the rifle was discharegd and the bullet passed through the heart of Jim Tolbert, killing him instantly. With a white, scared face Nellie Cole-stood looking at the body of the man who had killed her husband, until her father and brother, who had heard the shot, came running up. “Oh, Nellie, my child, what has happened?” asked the old father. “JT didn’t mean to do it, father. It was an accident, but Jack is avenged. Rest in peace now, Jack, my husband, ye said Nellie. -In her right hand she still clutched the battered bullet that had fitted so well into the muzzle of Jim Tolbert’s rifle. ‘But you must tell me how it happened; child,” said - the old man, taking his daughter in his arms. “Tt was his gun. And the bullet fitted it,” and, taking Here is the | up theyifle of the dead man, Nellie Cole showed her father 4 and brother that the bullet she held fitted into the muzzle. “T don’t understand, Nellie.” “T kept the bullet. They cut it out of my poor Jack’s | body, the bullet that killed him, and gave it tome. IT knew that Jim Tolbert would come to me some day. He came here to-day with astring of lies on his lips to tell me. When he was not looking, 1 tried the ball, and it fit- ted his:gun, and I.saw his face—— It was Jim folber who fired the shot that killed my Jack.” “But, Nellie, how did this happen? Did you- “Don’t ask me, father. I can’t fell 2 al EE told him whe t a had found 9 = \ : Sc aaen ee THE OLD LOG CABIN, == way, I don’t know how, and Jack’s oe was avenged. That is all I know.” Nellie was crying and hysterical, now that the terrible _ Strain was over, and her father and brother led her to the house, and made her lie down. Then they sent word tothe coroner to come and take away the body of Jim Tolbert. of the men in the county said that Nellie Cole had done right. It was agreed that Jim Tolbert was the man who fired - the shot that killed Jack Cole. Many men who saw the fight at the election believed this at the time, but as they were not sure of it they said nothing. - But, when they heard the story of the battered bullet, - they believed it. None of Nellie Cole’s friends thought for a moment that anything would be done with her on account of Jim Tol- _ bert’s death. They did not all believe that the shot that ended his career was entirely an accident, but they all agreed that if it was not Nellie was justified. So there was great indignation in the town when it was ‘learned the following day that Jim Tolbert’s lawyer had sworn out a warrant, charging Nellie Cole with murder. Sheriff Ross looked much disgusted when the warrant ‘was placed in his hands to be served, and he hesitated for a time between his sense of right and his official duty. But he decided finally that he would have to do his - duty or resign, and if he should resign that would not | help Nellie. : - So the sheriff went over to the house of John Carter to serve the warrant. The old man had. not heard of the warrant, so he was not prepared for the news. He shook hands with the sheriff, and told him to sit - down. “Che brave officer was nervous, and ill at ease, for this was a time when he hated to do his duty. “Tg Nellie at home?” Ross asked, after afew moments. “Ves; do you want to see her, Dan?” oe ad have to.” “Why, what’s the matter, sheriff ?” “Tve gota warrant.” “ What's that, a warrant for my Nellie?” (79 Yes. ” “Why, it was-an accident. I didn’t think this of you.” “Tt’s not my doings, John. Heaven knows I wish I could get out of serving it, but his lawyer swore out the paper, and I can’t get around the law.” For a moment old John Carter stood still, too dum- founded by the news to speak for a time. At last he managed to ask: “Whatisit for, Dan?” “The warrant charges her with murder.” “Tt was not murder.” “T know that, John. No jury will ever convict her, but the warrant has been put in my hands, and I must serve it.” ‘ -“ And put my child in jail?” : “No, John. I’m sure the judge will let her out on bail when he hears the facts.” Old John Carter arose, and stood facing the sheriff. _ + His face was very pale, and his hands were vlenched. . “man old man now, Sheriff Ross,” he said, “ and in F 6 all my life i’ve never done anything against the la ae | won’t begin now. You can go on and serve the war rant, > child. that may happen.” to Nellie.” ” beriff had come to arrest her. mand _ eyes betrayed his guilt, the gun was discharged in some: The news of the tragedy spread far and fast, ad most | mca she expected it because she believed that the friends moule ae 4 carry on the said, quietly. head,” ‘said Dan Ross. The news of the arrest of Nellie Cole spread on the wings of the wind, and created the wildest indignation The lawyer, who had caused the warrant to be issued, had_ intended to appear before the magistrate and press the charge, in order to have the fair prisoner sent to jail: but he got a warning that he had better get out of town instead, and he discreetly acted on the warning. When Sheriff Ross started to the magistrate’s office street. They hurried over to the magistrate’s office, and met the sheriff and his prisoner just outside the door. “Dan, what does this mean?” asked Dave Robbins, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the town, as he stopped the sheriff and put his hand 6on the official's shoulder. “Why, they swore out a warrant, and I had to serve it,” answered the sheriff. «Let me see that warrant?” The sheriff took the paper out of his pocket, ad handed it to the old man. The crowd pressed closely around the three central fig- ures of the group. Without looking at the warrant, old man Robbins tore feet. A shout of approval went up from the crowd. “Nellie Cole did not murder Jim Tolbert, did she?” with a thunderous “ No.” “Tf she killed him, she had a right to do it, hadn’t she?” “Yes! Yes!” yelled the crowd, in chorus. “And no woman is going to jail in Kemper. County, Mississippi, for killing the man who killed her husband.” Again the crowd shouted approval. Just then aman carrying a big arm-chair foreed hig way through the crowd, until he reached the side of Nellie -| Cole. Then strong hands lifted the woman up, and pinced her in the chair. In a moment the chair and its fair occupant were lifted above the heads of the crowd. A tremendous cheer went up, and Nellie Cole was car- ried home in triumph. “Sheriff, you can go now, you have done your duty. Nellie Cole has been tried and ees ”* said old mar Robbins, turning to Sheriff Ross. “You've got no warrant now, and I’ll wring the neck of anv scoundrel who dares to swear out another.’ Sheriff Ross made no attempt to interfere with the plans of the crowd. that had been foreed on him. “Jack Cole is avenged, and I’ll see that no harm comes to Nellie,” said the sheriff to himself, as he went. back to ‘his office. CHAPTER XIII. A DETECTIVE’S CLOSE CALL. Old Tom Tolbert’s desperate deed, in turning the ite 'and wrecking the engine that carried a party of pursuers but, Dan, you must see to it that nothing happens to My |on the night of the train robbery, enabled the outlaws te If you don’ t, well, don’t blame me for anything | get safely away from the scene of their crime. | But it did not result as disastrously to the men on the “You can trust me, John. As sheriff, I’ve got to do my. | engine as he expected it- would. duty. But, asa man, I tell you that no harm shall come All the men on the engine were railroad men. As soon as the engineer felt his engine lurch from ie Nellie Cole was not even surpr ised when told that the a main track to the siding, he shouted to his companions to | jump for their lives. All leaped off without a moment s delay. “They will try to murder meas they did Jack,” she s Well, I'll see to it that they don’t harm a hair of your among the men in the little country village who had | known her all her life. with his fair young prisoner walking by his side, a great ~ crowd of angry and inaignant men had collected on the © it into shreds, and stamped it into the ground under his asked Robbins, turning to the crowd, which answered — He was glad enough to be rid of the unpleasant cee : ; The engineer shut off steam, reversed his engine, and _ then he leaped off just a moment before the engine jumped — THE OLD LOG CABIN. = : from the track, and went rolling over and over down. the; embankment. Every man who jumped off was badly shaken up, and - gome of-them were severely bruised, but none were seri- ously hurt. It was a badly disgusted crowd that gathered around the wrecked engine. As soon as they could collect their wits, they went back _to the switch that had been turned, and there they found the tracks of the outlaws, who had fled as soon as the switch was turned. They saw the engine plunge down the embankment, but did not wait to learn the result. The railroad men held a council of war, and decided that the only thing left them to do was to walk back to the station. _ They first examined the tracks of the outlaws, and measured them, and then they started on the ten-mile tramp back to the station. Itwas almost daylight when they got there, but the agent at once reported all the facts to headquarters by telegraph. The conductor of the express train had already wired the news of the robbery from the first station beyond where the robbers left the train. Billy Butler, the Chicago correspondent, was still at the station, but he did not wire his paper a report of the rob- bery from there. A train bound north came along early in the morning, and Butler started for home, resolved never to return to Mississippi to interview outlaws. Fighting Indians was tame work compared to interviewing outlaws, he said. The superintendent of the railroad, as soon as he heard of the robbery, ordered Dick Morgan, his chief of detec- tives, to the scene on a special engine. Morgan was instructed to take a good force of men with him, and run down the robbers at any cost. _ He reached the scene of the robbery about twelve hours after it occurred, and was able to follow the trail, which led directly to the swamps a few miles away. Just betore night Morgan and his men reached the banks of a bayou in the swamp, and found evidence that the outlaws had taken to boats there. It was impossible to follow their trail on the water, es- pecially without a boat, so the detectives went back to the railroad station, where they spent the night. On the following morning Detective Morgan ordered his men to go to a near-by town, and remain there until they heard from him. He had decided to go alone into the wilds of Kemper County to locate the hiding-place of the outlaws. He had a good description of the men from the station agent, and he knew he had the Tolbert gang to deal with. As this was their first train robbery, he reasoned that they would goto their hiding-place in the swamps, and keep quiet for a while, until they learned what efforts would be made by the railroad and express companies to find them. Morgan’s plan was to go about the work of running them down so quietly, they would believe no one was ‘after them, and, therefore, ‘be off their guard by the time he got them located< Disguised as an Indian doctor, Detective Morgan started for the locality where the Tolberts formerly lived, and near which they had numerous hiding-places. In that vicinity, where malaria, fever and ague are so prevalent all seasons of the year, quack doctors who sell worthless nostrums and call them Indian remedies, are always numerous, and they do a flourishing business. They travel about from house to house carrying their medicines around with them in a pack. Most of them wear their hair long, and dress in buck- skin clothes. Morgan was familiar with the methods of these doctors, and that was why he selected such a disguise. _ He knew he could go about freely among all classes of people without attracting special attention to himself. He secured a splendid disguise, which included a wig of long, black hair and a buckskin suit. Then, with a large pack filled with harmless pills and _ colored liquids, he set out for the home of the Tolberts. _ many years, and that his remedies were the same as those used by the medicine men of that tribe to cure all ‘kinds — of diseases. The detective did a splendid business, and might have sold more of his remedies only he was ashamed to deceive the poor people so badly, and take their money for stuff he knew would not do them any good. . For this reason he made the prices for his medicines ag low as he could without exciting suspicion. The detective had been in the vicinity of the hiding- places of the outlaws for a week, and had kept his eyes and ears open, but so far had gained little information of value. Several times he had met armed men going about openly, and he felt sure they were members of the notori- ous gang, but he could not get positive proof of it, and was unable to track them to their hiding-place. In his disguise he had to trust largely to such scraps af information as he could pick up by talking with the natives, who were likely to know something of the Tol- berts. nearly all the women in the neighborhood were secretly in sympathy: with the Tolberts, and would not betray them — under any circumstances. Winally the detective decided to try a new and bold trick, which he believed would enable him to find the out- laws ‘and perhaps their hiding place. He quit working among the whites, and, going to the negro cabins, he told them he had a medicine that would make them bullet-proof. He showed them a white powder, and told thenrif they would take that regularly bullets could not harm them, and no matter how many times they were shot, they would — a escape unhurt. At first the negroes were incredulous, but one day he got a big crowd of them together and gave them an ex- hibition that made them firm believers in the miraculous power of his strange medicine. In the presence of the negroes, he swallowed a dese or the powders, then handing his revolver to an old negro told him to fire away, and put each shot in a different part of his body. The negro hesitated. Morgan called himself Comanche Dick, and announced _ that he had lived with the Comanche tribe of Indians for _ wo Morgan soon learned that more than half the men and ~ Morgan had given him a pistol loaded with blank cart- — ridges, and he was depending on his knowledge of an old sleight-of-hand trick to do the rest. “Go on and shoot. I tell you the bullets won’t hurt me! Blaze away!” . Being urged on by Morgan, and a number of the negroes present, the old colored man finally stepped off about ten paces, and taking delrberate aim at the bogus doctor opened fire. He fired six shots, and the detective stood unharmed. Walking up close to the crowd of negroes, the detective proceeded to apparently remove six lead bullets from as many different parts of his body. He was a clever sleight-of-hand performer, and did the trick so well that the negroes were completely deceived. After that he was hardly able to supply the demand for his white powders that were to render the negroes bullet — proof. The fame of the Indian doctor and his wonderful white _ powders spread rapidly, and in time reached the ears of old man Tom Tolbert and his sons. This was just what the cunning detective had caleu- lated on. He knew they were stiffering from chills, and would need some remedy to counteract the effect of the malaria which hung about the swamp. Less than three days after Morgan had given the exhi- bition of the alleged power of his white powders, he met Tom Tolbert, Sr., the leader of the outlaw band. The meeting was apparently accidental, but the detec- tive suspected it had been carefully planned on the part of the old outlaw. Anyway, they metin a lonely road, where th Je not likely to be seen by any one. = Tolbert enveres Ee a Con sorsatto Dn with ' THE OLD LOG CABIN. dian medicine man as though he had only recently heard of him. == So you are the doctor that sells the bullet- “proot pow- der, are you?” asked Tolbert. —— Yes, I have a very wonderful remedy used by the Comanche tribe in all their wars with the best results.” “Tf a man takes the stuff bullets won’t kill him?” “That is the result. So far I have never known a single failure.” “That’s a rank lie, stranger.” What! $77 “I said it, and I meanit. But—don’t get mad. Got any good cure for chills?” - 6b Yes. bh} “Then come with me to the euse. of the stuff.” ¢ - The detective followed the outlaw leader ee a word. - This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. At last he would find the hiding-place of the outlaws. a nay want some Morgan felt confident that the outlaw leader did not suspect his real identity. . Without a word, old man Tolbert led the way through several miles of dense woods and swamps. Sometimes he followed dim trails and winding paths for a short distance, but most of the way there was no path, — and the woods were so dense it was hard to tell in what direction they were going. But Morgan noted all the surroundings closely, and felt sure he could find the way alone afterward. At last they came to a bit of clearing in the forest, in the center of which was a small log-cabin. Lounging around the door of the cabin were half a dozen men, all armed with repeating rifles. a The heart of Detective Morgan gave a hard thump at sight of them. He knew he had at last found the hiding- place of the outlaws of Mississippi, but his face and manner did not betray his feelings. The men atthe cabin looked at Morgan and the old - outlaw a little curiously, but asked no questions. “Boys, this is the Indian doctor,” said the elder Tolbert to his sons by way of introducing his companion. . The young men ‘now crowded around the bogus doctor, and began to ask him questions. “Going to buy some of the bullet-proof medicine, dad ?” asked one of the sons. 66 No. 99 “What then?” “ Bill’s got chills, ain’t he.” “You bet I have,” replied Bill Tolbert. “Well, the doctor can fix you up.” Bill Tolbert turned to Morgan. “Can you?” -he asked. “Certainly.” “Then you’re my man. Sit down.” Morgan sat down on a bench. “Trot out the stuff.” : - Luckily the detective had a very good remedy for chills in his pack, and this he now brought forth and gave to the outlaw. “How about that bullet-proof powder?” asked another of the gang. ; Morgan laughed. “ Have to do something to make a living, ” he said. “T suppose,” returned old Tolbert. “But this chill mixture——” as OK; stranger. i “Tf it ain’t— — Tom Tolbert Anished i MPPs the Lee of his revol- ver. We'll soon see,” said the son. Luckily the chill mixture worked like a charm, and the gang were highly pleased to see their comrade getting over his attack. -- “How much of the stuff have you got?” asked old man Tolbert. _ My stock is low, but I think there is enough for you and your friends.” a give me all you’ve got,” said the outlaw leader, ive aon pure dollar bill. Morgan emptied his Ve and handed « over all of ‘the : remedy for chills he had. 3 Then the outlaws invited him to have something toeat __ ‘and drink with them, and treated him with the greatest a consideration. ; When be was ready to go two of them escorted him to a road two miles away and gave him directions how ta. get to Fort Stephens. They shook hands with him warmly at parting, and it was plain they had no suspicion of his real character. . Detective Morgan lost no time in getting out of the neighborhood. He was well pleased with the work he had accom- plished. CHAPTER XIV. THE OUTLAWS IN A TRAP. While detectives, professional and pate were try- ing all sorts of plans to entrap the bold outlaws of Mis- sissippi in the hope of earning the big rewards offered for _ their capture, Sheriff Ross was quietly setting traps for . them as a matter of business and duty. His reputation was at stake, and some good men had lost their lives in efforts to help capture the gang. No man knew better than Dan Ross the difficulty of running the desperadoes to cover. They had many friends in the county, and many other persons who had never even known the Tolberts now looked on them as heroes, and would be glad of a chance to do them a favor or aid them in getting away from the officers of the law. Sheriff Ross knew all about the feud against Jack Cole and all his friends, and, knowing the character of the ‘Tolberts, father and sons, he knew they would never leave the county or give up their lawless career as long as there was a chance for them to make some one suffer for the death of Jim Tolbert. He knew they would not hesitate a moment to kill Nel- lie Cole if they could get her into their power. | The sheriff set a trap for the outlaws soon after the killing of Jim Tolbert, and he felt confident that sooner or later one or all of them would walk into it. John Carter, the father of Nellie Cole, lived out in the country a short distance from Fort Stephens. Beginning the night after the killing of Jim Tolbert, the sheriff put a guard around the house and kept it there every night, Only old man Carter and his son knew of the guard. No one told Nellie Cole that her life or liberty was in danger, and she had suffered too much already to fear the Tolberts or their friends. The guard around the home of John Carter was one of the traps Sheriff Ross had set for the outlaws. He kept four trusty men, all well armed, concealed at points where they could command every approach to the — house. Sheriff Ross knew nothing of Detective Morgan’s scheme to find the hiding-place of the outlaws, but it happened that the work done by the detective in the end played right into the hands of the sheriff. After the train robbery the outlaws kept quiet in their hiding-places for a long time, so long, in fact, that many men thought they had left the country for good. But finally, when they began to feel sure that they were not being pursued by the detectives of the railroad and express companies, they ventured forth again. This time they were out to avenge the death of Jim. One night Sheriff Ross was just taking off his clothes to go to bed, when there was a loud ring of the bell, and word came that he was wanted at the Carter farm. “They’ve come at last!” muttered the sheriff, as he pulled on his clothes again much faster than he had put them off. It was then only. a few minutes past nine o’clock at night. : In a few omente the sheriff emerged .from his office armed with a big repeating rifle. _ = Half a dozen of ee men who were plvays Ready to act | THE OLD LOG CABIN, - eputies. hae ne oe needed oS Heed near by, a d in a short time he had aroused all of them. ‘Less than half an hour after he got the signal that there was danger at Carter’s, Sheriff Ross was on his way |. to the farm, accompanied by seven other men, all re - armed, and as fearless as himself. ot did not take them long to cover the intervening aia tance, and before eleven 0 ’clock they were in sight of John Carter’s: house. The place was dark, and there was no sign of life visi- ble anywhere as they approached. The officers crept to the front gate, and there they eo stopped and listened intently for a while. Not a sound broke the stillness of the night, and no - moving object was visible anywhere. “Wonder if it was a false alarm?” whispered the sheriff, as he led the way around toward the little house where he knew one of his men was concealed. ‘“ Wish I _ had questioned the man who brought word.” _ They approached the house slowly and cautiously. _ They were fifty feet away when they heard the sharp click of a gun-lock and a voice ask, in a whisper : _“ Who comes there ?” . “Is that you, John?” asked the sheriff, in eee for he had recognized the voice of one of his euard. Oe 66 Yes. bi “What’s the trouble?” asked Sheriff Ross, when he reached the door of the little house where his vigilant _ guard was on duty. “They are coming to- night. e “Who are coming ?* = The Tolberts.” “How do you know ?” ~ “One of them has been here already getting the lay of ‘the land.” “Did you see him?” S “Ves, He walked all around the house, noting the loca- tion of the windows and doors. _ then, and I recognized Bill Tolbert.” _ “Why didn’t you shoot him?” “And miss getting more of the gang? They’ll he here before morning. Don’t be afraid they won’t come back. They have no suspicion of the trap you have set for = them,” Sheriff Ross communicated with the other members of his guard, and gave them some orders. ___.. Then he went back to the shelter of the shed and sat down to await developments. Midnight came and passed, and the sheriff, as well as his men, was getting impatient. “ Guess it was a false alarm, John. to-night,” said the sheriff, in a whisper. Just then there was a bright flash of light at one corner of the big house, within one hundred feet of where the _ officers were hiding. -_. Some one had set fire to the house. A pile of dry wood had been placed under one corner and saturated with oil. _ The moment a match was applied to it the pile blazed up, making a bright light. By this light the officers saw the man who had applied - the match. - _At a glance they recognized Bill Tolbert. - There was no time for parleying now. Quick as a flash Sheriff Ross raised his gun and fired. Bill Tolbert threw up his hands and fell headlong to the ground. : Then four men sprang from the little shed with buckets of water in their hands and ran to put out the fire. They , had anticipated just such a deed on the part of the out- laws, and were prepared for it. - They reached the fire and were just in the act of throw- _ ing water on it when a volley of shots rang out. - Two men fell, badly wounded, but the others succeeded in extinguishing the fire; then turned to run for cover. _ The outlaws were out in force, and it looked as if they They won’t come fad come to make a fight. Sheriff Ross had located them by the flash of their guns when they fired on his men, and he knew they had walked into the trap he had set for them. A Pt of his pores was on cae Bohs side of the outlaws, The lights were not out. ae man ! 1? and when the sheriff gave the signal the Tolberts would be between two fires. Darkness was now the only thing in their favor. The tiring had aroused old man Carter and his som, and, hastily dressing, they took their guns and ran out to the shed to join the sheriff and his men. Sheriff Ross gave a signal to his men, and both: parties opened fire on the outlaws. The latter returned the fire for a few moments, but it was soon evident that they realized that they had walked into a trap. They began to scatter, and their fire became irregular, and then Sheriff Ross or dered a.charge. As his men ran out into the yard they saw that Bill Tol- bert, who had been shot down when setting fire to the house, was getting up, and John Burns, the guard, was detailed to take charge of him, and hold him a prisoner. Burns took the outlaw back into the little shed. ; Tolbert had been struck in the head by the bullet from the sherift’s rifle. Burns failed to notice that the ball had glanced around the man’s skull, making only a slight flesh-wound, and knocking him senseless for a few minutes. Tolbert was groaning loudly, and appeared to be badly hurt, so the guard laid him on the floor of the shed, and telling him to keep still, he turned to watch the progress of the fight going on outside. He did not take the precaution to disarm the outlaw. Outside it was too dark to see one of the outlaws ten feet away, and the shots fired by the officers went wild of the mark. -As the two detachments of the posse began to close in they were in danger of shooting one another. Ross saw this, and at once ordered them to cease firing. John Tolbert lost his beatings and ran right into the arms of the sheriff and his men. He was quickly overpowered and disarmed, and then he was securely bound to prevent any attempt at escape. The trap had so far yielded fairly good results, and Nellie Cole had been saved from harm. The officers were just congratulating the sheriff on the result when a shot back at the shed attracted their.atten-— tion. They all ran in the direction, and as they approached the door, Bill Tolbert, with a pistol in each hand, sprang out. “Git out of my way!” shouted the outlaw, who, with blood running down his face from the wound in his ‘head, presented a hideous appearance. ‘ He fired at the officers as he spoke, but his aim was ad. “Up with your hands,” shouted Sheriff Ross, holding his gun at the outlaw. “Never! The Tolberts die, but they don’t surrender !” cried the wounded outlaw, firing again at the officers as he bounded out of the door and started to run. Again the sheriff called on him to surrender, but an- other shot was the only reply from the outlaw. Then the officers raised their guns and fired. It was a deadly volley at short range, and the fleecing outlaw sank to the ground in a heap. His body was riddled with bullets, and when picked up he was stone dead. The officers rushed into the house to learn the tate of John Burns, the guard who had been left in charge of” Bill Tolbert. A horrible sight met their gaze. : Burns lay at full Jength on the floor, dead, and his brains were oozing from a ghastly wound in the back of [his head. His carelessness had cost him his life. While he was watching the fight on the outside, Bill Tolbert had stealthily drawn a pistcl and shot him from behind. ; The members of the posse, most of whom had known Burns well, were furious. They turned on John Tolbert, and would have riddled him with bullets on the spot us not Sheriff Ross sprung in front of the. ‘prisoner, ae reese facing his men, said. firmly : “Stop! none of that! we must et the law dag THE OLD ee CABIN, CHAPTER AY, DETECTIVE MORGAN MAKES A RAID. © Detective Morgan was delayed in making his arrange- ments for a raid on the hiding-place of the outlaws, which he had taken such desperate chances to find. It was a day after the bloody fight at the house of John Carter when Morgan and his men got into the swamp and started on the slow and perilous journey to the log-cabin where the detective had found the Tolbert family. The detective’s party had not heard of the battle be- tween the outlaws and Sheriff Ross’ men, so they expected to find their game undisturbed. Morgan led his men by secret paths and through dense swamps and woods, to escape observation by any one who ‘might be acting as spy or scout for the outlaws. His men were well supplied with food and blankets, and were prepared to live in the swamp a week if it was found necessary. Just at sundown they reached a point which Morgan recognized as being verv near to the clearing in the center _ of which the log-cabin of the outlaws stood. There the detective ordered his men to camp for the “night. He would not risk an attack on the cabin in the dark- ness, on account of the difficulty and danger. His plan was to surround the clearing at daylight on the following morning, when it was likely only one of the outlaws would be on guard. _. Morgan had twenty well-armed ahd daring men with him, and he had no fear of the result of his raid if he was lucky enough to find the outlaws at home. No fires were kindled by the detectives in their camp in the woods, and as little noise as possible was made. One half of them slept on the ground wrapped in their ~ blankets while the other half kept watch and guard, to prevent a surprise if. their presence should be discovered by the outlaws. At the first break of day next morning, Morgan aroused his men and gave them their final orders tor the charge on the cabin. They divided, and. creeping cautiously through the dense underbrush, they rormgd a complete circle around the clearing. It was agreed that as soon as every part of the line had reached the edge of the clearing, there was to be a charge on the cabin in the event that only one man was seen to be on guard. If, on the contrary, all the outlaws were found astir, the detectives were to remain concealed in the brush, and await developments or further orders. Morgan did not want to expose his men to any more danger than was actually necessary. Once he got the outlaws surrounded he could afford to wait, he thought, because they would have no chance to get away, and could not long withstand a siege. But if only one man was awake, he felt confident his men could dash across the narrow clearing and get into the cabin before the other members of the gang got wake, and in a position to defend themselves. When the posse reached the edge of the clearing, and ooked toward the cabin, it seemed that luck was on their af side for once. A lone man, with a rifle strapped over his shoulder, was pacing slowly up and down in front of the cabin. The doors were closed, and there was no other sign of life about the place. “This is dead easy game !” said Detective Morgan to the - men nearest him, as he gave the order to charge. All the detectives sprang forward at the same time, and - gtarted on a run toward the cabin. - They had gone less than ten paces when the man on guard saw them coming. He fired one shot at those nearest him, and then disap- pee into the cabin at a bound. moment later a dozen port-holes in the log -cabin poened from the inside, and as many rifles pro- mous h ther we oy whistled all about the advancing detectives. faster than they had made the charge. thcy could successfully resist an army for hours. None of the detectives were hit, but some of them had narrow escapes. As soon as they retreated to cover, the port-holes in the cabin were closed, and no sign of life was visible from the outside. made no move. Then some of them stepped out from ihe brush and fired a number of shots at the cabin. They took careful aim at the port-holes, and flying splinters showed them that their shots had gone true to the mark. Then they riddled the door of the cabin with bullets, but still their tire was not returned. he got impatient. for a fight. He ordered another charge on the cabin. tion. tions, keeping their eyes fixed on the small, dark-looking port-holes. 3 But the port-holes were not opened this time. being fired. Half a dozen of them ran to the front door. They pushed against it-and it flew open. It was not even locked. The men crowded into the house with their guns cocked. fight with the outlaws. To their great surprise the cabin was empty. In some mysterious way the outlaws had vanished. The detectives ripped up the floor, searched the loft, and even broke through the roof. But their search was fruitless. waiting in the brush. and walked around the cabin. Then he discovered one thing he had not noticed on the occasion of his first visit. An immense poplar log lay partly buried i in the ground, other reaching out to the edge of the swamp. The detective struck the tog with the butt of his gun. The sound indicated that it was hollow, with only a thin shell of wood under the bark. back of the fire-place. Then the secret of the escape of the outlaws was revealed. of the hollow log fitted into it. his hands and knees, could easily craw] through it. While the detectives had been making their second charge across the open space around the cabin, the out- laws had crawled out to the swamp through this simple but cunning device. Morgan told his men it was no use to stay there. They must try to find the trail of the outlaw and follow them. They had gone only a few steps when a volley of shots were fired at them from the cover of the swamp. They ran back into the cabin, and opening the port- UNE looked out, but they could not see the outlaws. he tables were now completely turned. Instead There was a flash, a roar as of one gun, and bullets They stopped, and wheeling around, got back to cover It was evident that the outlaw band had secured a num- _ ber of recruits, and from their position inside the cabin The detectives waited for an hour and still the outlaws Detective Morgan did not understand the situation, and His men were also getting tired of waiting, and eager The men sprang forward without 2 moment’s hesita- They closed in on the little log-house from all direc- © The officers reached the cabin this time without a shot — 4 They expected. a bloody and desperate hand-to-hand | The game had escaped in some way while they were — s Detective Morgan cursed his luck, and then went out — one end against the back of the chimney of the cabin, the _ 4 The detective ran back into the cabin and tore out the — The back of the fire-place was a false one, and the end The hollow log was so large.a man, by getting down on = . 3 They went out-and started toward the other end of the | +-wooden tunnel. a ‘THE OLD LOG CABIN. — 95 nting the outlaws, ihe outlaws were now after them, had them in a trap. “Git out through the tunnel,” suggested one of the 1en, and this advice was acted on ab once, Detective Mor- = leading the way. ~ It was like playing hide-and- seek, and the situation would have been amusing if there had been less danger in it. _ The detectives all got through the tunnel safely. - They looked around for the outlaws, but they were not in sight. Their trail was found, however, and then the detectives _ knew that while they were crawling through the strange _ tunnel the outlaws had been getting away into the swamp. fs the Tolberts had the best of it. | _ The detectives were able to make out fourteen different oo Fook: -prints in the trail of the outlaws, so it was clear they had picked up a large number of recruits. oe “After them, boys!” was the order of Detective Mor- fan, but it proved a difficult matter to follow them through the swamp, where they were familiar with every _ foot of the ground. A mile away from the cabin in the woods the outlaws had separated, and each one had gone in a different direc- tion. Detective Morgan saw thon that it was useless to attempt to continue the pursuit. - He ordered his men to go to Fort Stephens and wait for him there. Assuming a careful disguise, he started out alone to locate the outlaws again. It was difficult and dangerous work, for by this time’ _ the gang had come to realize that they were hard pressed on all sides, and they would naturally suspect every one they did not know. _-Tf Morgan should fall into their hands his life would not be worth the price of an obituary notice. About five miles from the place where the Tolberts had formerly lived, there was a country store and rum-shop, _kept by a man named Tobe Jackson, who was an old friend of Tom Tolbert, Jr. elie had long been suspected of being a friend of the out- _laws, and of giving them aid. It was known that they frequently visited his place at ~ night when not close-pressed by the officers, and that he kept them informed of everything going on in the county. __ It was like bearding the lion in his den when the _ beast ig aroused and scents danger, but to the tavern of Tobe _ Jackson, Detective Morgan went. He had assumed the character of a peddler of cheap jewelry, and felt able to escape recognition if he enoaid meet any of the Tolberts. 5 Jackson’s tavern was always open late at night. It wasa gathering- -place of the young men who lived in AG vicinity. They went there nightly to drink, play cards, and dis- euss the latest daring deeds of the outlaws. Morgan arrived early in the evening, before many of the regular customers of the place had gathered. He deposited his pack with the bartender, treated the crowd, at the same time displaying a large roll of bills, and then proceeded’ to make himself comfortable. Such liberal customers were not numerous in Tobe Jack- - gon’s saloon, so Morgan was told to make himself at home, and was treated with the greatest consideration, not only _by the proprietor and his employees, but by the idlers in _ the place, who wanted him to buy them more drinks. e The detective talked with the customers and the pro- riclor, and several times invited all hands to drink at his expense. i It had indeed been a game of hide-and-seek, and so far] He kept his eyes and ears open all the time, The principal subject of conversation that night in the town was the bloody fight between the outlaws and Sheriff Ross at John Carter’s farm-house. The killing of Bill Tolbert was generally regretted and -_ eondemned by the hangers-on at Jackson’s, and many of those present predicted that the gang would speedily re release John Tolbert from the custody of the sheriff. In mingling with the crowd that began to collect by wight o’clock, Morgan several times overheard men asking ; one sbther if any of the boys would be around that He soon understood that the boys referred to were. night. the Tolberts and their friends who had joined the gang. He asked no questions, but kept a sharp lookout for the | expected os and scanned the face of every new arrival. It was a little after ten o’clock when a man came into Jackson’s place who attracted more than a passing notice from the idlers gathered there. The man wore long gray whiskers and hair, and carried the pack of a traveling doctor. He was a stranger there, and that caused most of those “present to regard him with interest. The old man had little to say to any one for a while. He. was trying hard to appear at his ease, and to take no special notice of any one, but it was soon apparent that he was looking for some one, for he scanned the face of every new arrival closely. “T’ve seen that chap before,” Detective Morgan said to himself, as soon as he looked at the old medicine man. It. did not take him long to decide who the old man was. “That’s Tom Tolbert, Sr. “He forgot to disguise his hands and his walk,” the de- tective muttered to himself. ‘“ He’s looking for me or my men, and I’m looking for him. It’s another game of hide- and seek, and I think I’U win this one.” His first move was to seeif the outlaw leader could penetrate his disguise. They were both in the long, low back room where the customers of the place had their drinks, seated at small tables where they played cards. The disguised outlaw chief was ata table alone when the detective walked over and sat.down opposite him. “Take one with me, neighbor?” asked the perectG in a pleasant tone. Tolbert looked up quickly, and scanned the face of the detective closely. He was apparently satisfied, and ordered a drink of raw whisky, which he swallowed at a gulp.