The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-21
on you. He makes short work OF spies.
/ reckon that's your line."

the END OF rope. he half turned ms he
thought of the end.
"None O. that, unless you want your
early pill, in which case I'm bound to
accommodate ye. Porter didn't say we
were to run risks. He does like friendly
chat, and he pumps some people as dry
as imekiln."
"I'll make you an Offer"
"Crack your whip"
"I'll fight you fair, like man. Tie
one arm down, give me pistol, and let
lis take shot about, you the first"
s&ho', now."
I ~ 9k Eli allow you two to one."
i 20 y&I see you can allow most any
thiif Ebut unless you move right on, and
keep movin', I'll make short work
Of ie."
AAcoyote rose slowly from sage
bresh, looked at them sneakingly over
Ills shoulder, then trotted slowly away.
4 noisome bird of prey rose slowly from
the carcass of a mule, tapped its wings
lazily, sailed slowly through the air,
then settled down upon rib that pro-
truded from the sand. The suns rays
dust and sand seemed tomelt in the fer
vid heat. And, to crown al, the captive
suddenly experienced the agony of ex-
cessive thirst.
A faint sound in the distance arrested
his attention. Was that not the sound
of horses feet d? What if it should prove
to be his friends-the Vigilantes I'M
possible. His morning stroll was I'M
known to them. The sound came nearer
and nearer to him. Then he observed
or the first time a rocky defile further
to the left, as though q chasm lay there,
| or a stream chiseled out it's course across
the plains. Now there could he no mis-
taking the sound. The steady trot of
horses feet and the clsnking of spurs
could be heard. Suddenly half dozen
horsemen swept around low rock, at
sight of whom the captor gruuted.
"Heres Captain Jim. Mind your
manners now, for he's the perlitest man
you ever met"
The captive shivered. When boy
ne was detected in an act that brought
npon the wrath of the teacher of the
school in the New England village he
would never see more. The eagle eve
If the teacher singled him out from
score of mischief makers, and he shiver-
ed as he felt that the punishment award.
ed incorrigibles was unavoidable. But
he braced himself, walked out promptly
10 the middle of the floor the moment
his name was called, and, to his lasting
surprise, was let go with q mild rebuke.
In much the same manner Dick Hart
ford braced himself for the intervied
with the leader of the most desperate
gang of miscreants that ever levied tax
upon the travellers who crossed the
plains. This was the man he had
dreamed of circumventing. The case
was reversed.
The road agents rode forward without
order, and surrounded both horseman
and captive.
"What have you got, Barham ?"
"Make your bow. It's captain Jim,"
said Barham. Then to Captain Jim's
query: "That's for you to find out. I
obeyed ORDERS"
What magnificent front the captive
presented. His gaze was as clear and
steady and level as though he were look.
ing right through Captain Jim, away
beyond the rancho, and off to the noun
tains in the distance.
What have you got to say for your
face clouded still more as he met the un-
wavering gaze of the captive.
"Nothing," replied the captive, as
he walked in front of the leader.
"You are locked up, and the keys
lost" said Captain Jim, sneeringly. "I
think I know your business. i've a
mind to send Ben Halliday your ears.
No, I'll send him your heart. This
trips a failure, and Ben ought to know
it. Ii you won't talk"
"Lll die first % The words were flung
at him SO passionately that even Captain
Jim was moved to admiration.
"Die it is, then 7" exclaimed one of
the gang.
"You are seven to one," said Hart
ford.
"We are in the majority mostly"
said Jim. "But I'll give you a chance
You are plucky. Now, what does
milksop life do for you? Come along
with us, share and share alike, and we'll
give you excitement, and opportunity to
show the stuff you are made Of"
To make one of gang of murderers
who are afraid to cope man to man."
said the captive.
Wv VI piiO 5chS fV level
ed his pistol at Hsrtford's head. But
the leader ordered him to keep his fire
until there was need for it. "Let us do
this thing in ORDER" said Captain Jim,
as the scar on his cheek became livid.
then dull red. "Well ride down to
the old place and pull him up like
dog. You got what was on him ?" to
Barham. Barham nodded. There was
not word said further. The party
rode on perhaps twent, minutes, when
the detile deepened, narrowed, and the
rocks shut over the horsemen's heads.
Then at word from Jim the men dis
mounted. Advancing to Hartford, he
said, with cruel smile:
+" Say your prayers. you have got Ave
minutes to live. Mount that stoue."
There was ledge above the captive's
head, with a iutting point, over which
a rope was thrown, and moose made at
the end of it.
"Will You allow me to speakP"
!" Blow away" answered Captain Jim.
" l may as well tell you we know ali
about you. You've travelled fifteen
hundred miles to trap us. Ben Halli
day tried that game often. You gave
yourself away. You expected to master
the road, and the biggest BOBBY among
N q ocia