Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-08-07

| around low rock, at sight of whom the
captive grunted.
Heres Captain Jim. Mind your
manner now, for he's the perlitest man
[ ever met.
The captive shivered. When boy he
was detected in an act that brought upon
him the wrath of the teacher of the
school in the New England village he
would never see more. The eagle eye of
the teacher singled him out from "a
score of mischief makers, and he shiver-
ed as he felt that the punishment
awarded incorrigibles was unavoidable.
But he braced himself, walked out
promptly to the middle of the floor the
moment his name was called, and to his
lasting surprise, was let 60 with mild
rebuke. In much the same manner
Dick Hartford braced himself for the in
tervlew with the leader of the most des-
perate gang Of miscreants that ever lev
led tax upon the travellers who crossed
the plains. This was the man be had
dreamed Of circumventing. The case
was reversed.
Their agents rode forward without
order, and surrounded the horseman and
captive.
| w HdG nave yOu SOI, DdTHdIu
Make your bow. It's Captain jim" ,"
said Barham. Then to Capt. Jim's que
ry: "That's for you to find out. l obey
ed orders"
What a 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
self, anyhow" Captain Jim's sinister
face clouded still more as he met the
gaze of the captive.
Nothing" replied the captive as he
walked in front of the leader.
"You are locked up and the keys are
lost" said Captain Jim, sneeringly. Il
think 1 know your business. I've a
mind to send Ben Halliday your ears.
No, I'll send him your heart. This
trips failure, and Ben ought to know
it. If you won't talk"
"I1l die firstl" The words were flung
at him so passionately that even Captain
Jim was moved to admiration.
"Die it is, Them exclaimed one of the
gang.
"YOu are seven to one" said Hartford.
"We are in the majority mostly" said
Jim. "But I'll give you chance. You
are plucky. Now, what does milkshOp
do for you? Come along with US, share
and share alike, and we'll give you ex-
citement, and an 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.
One of the gang at that moment level
ed his pistol at HartfOrds head, but the
leader ordered him to keep his fire un-
til 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. "We'll 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
twenty minutes, when the defile deepen
ed, narrowed, and the rocks shut over
the horsemen's heads. Then at a word
from jim the men diSmOunted. Adyan-
cling to Hartford, he said, with cruel
smile:
"Say your prayers; you have got five
minutes to live. Mount that stone" J"
There was ledge above the captive's
head, with jutting point, over which a
rope was thrown, and moose made at
the end of it.
Will you allow me to speak"
"Blow away" answered Captain jim.
81 may as well tell you we know all
about you. You've Travelled fifteen hun
dred miles to trap us. Ben Halliday
tried that game often. You gave your
self away. You expected to master the
road, and the biggest BOBBY among US
mastered you. Now fire away"
"Well, then, let me predict what your
end will be-" said the captive. With the
moose round his neck, and gloating eyes
and fierce faces for his audience, he
spoke out clearly, defiantly. when you
have murdered me you may prepare for
the hereafter. There will be no rest for
you. A man will come after me who
will hunt you down like the cowardly
dogs you are. He will never rest until
you are out of the country, and his reach
will sweep to California. Once he
marks a man that mans fate is sealed.
He is my friend. He knows my
mission, and, if it fails, he will shoot
every man down with his own hand
whom he suspects of knowing anything
about me or my death. That's all. I'm
ready now"
whats that? ?" exclaimed one Of the
gang, listening.
up with him." The rope frightened
around Hartford's throat, he felt him.
self strangling, the color faded out, he
was in a void, then shooting pains
pierced his temple, myriad sparks play
ed before his eyes, blended into bril-
liant colors, and still he could hear the
voice of Captain Jim. Now it was
stream of Oaths, an exclamation, '"The
Vigilants are upon us" a blurring OF
sounds, as he swan, or rather tioated
out upon the great void, and all was
over.
1t was true. A cloud of dust rolled
up from Overland City, swept down to-
ward the narrow defile from the rear,
and sent shiver of fear through the
road agents, who scrambled hastily to
their saddles and galloped off in the op-
pOsite direction-all but one, Captain |
Jim, who deliberately approached Hart |
ford as he lay on the ground where he
fell when the crowd dropped the rope,
and placing revolver against his |
temple, pulled the trigger. The pis-
tol snapped fire, and Captain jim rode
off, turning in his saddle and aiming a
second shot at the apparently lifeless
body of the prisoner and shot him in
the arm.
But it would have been better for
Captain Jim had he never met the pris-
oner. For another party, also Vigilants,
armed TO the teeth and superbly mount
ed, encountered the road agents as they
emerged from the defile, and although
the latter put their steeds to the gallop,
urging them on with oaths and spurs,
the Vigilants surrounded them with
ightning-like swiftness. and standing
up in their saddles, opened fire upon the
yang, who returned it and died like des-
rs they were, either in their
saddles or dropping from their horses
lecks. Captain Jim proved the most
l. =