The Saline County journal., 1889-02-14
CHAPTER v.


II
Harding went mp to his lonely tent
Like . wounded animal. he sought hi
lair, and the memory Of the MANY soli
tary hSaIrs he had passed there. even a
this sad moment, refreshed his Eplrit
There he could lie slone - away from,
mems eyes-free from their curiosity,
from their comments, or, what would bs
worse, frUm their pitT.
he had made himself comparatirely
rich: he had built up home. as Il were,
In the wilderness: he had even tried,
and with come success. TO gain mens e.
teem-and what were all these worth 20
him now.
| Such bitter thoughts as these filed
Herdings mind as ne arranged his coarse
pallet, and then, throwing himself upon
u. sought TO forget his grief during the
short space that remained beiure day
light. He was awakened. almost In
stantiy, Il seemed to him-although, In
tart, three hours had passed-by the
sharp crack OF q rife. Harding ieaped
up and ran to his door.
lt was = dull, gray dawn-the skv
overcast, but the air free frIm wind or
rain. A little below Harding's tent there
spread plain about q mile wide. This
extended along the bank Of the river,
and terminated In clump OF redwoods
which grew far up the mountain beyond.
Here and there on the plain were scat
tered Q few small trees and copses of
manEanita: but for the most part IL was
clear from the outskirts Of the village up
10 the redwoods.
On this plain Harding now saw A re-
markable sight. A man was running
from tree TO tree, striving always 10 gel
nearer the mountain. PERHAPS 800 Yards
behind him were five or six armed DUR
suers trying TO close in ON the fugitive.
and occasionally firing at him. AsHard.
ing gaZed, three shots were DISCHARGED
In rapid succession. Yet the man still
held On his way, apparently unhurt, and
II looked as II he would quickly gain the
cover OF the forest But there was one
behind him far swifter than the rest
who ran like an Indian on the river or
further side from Harding. and who
threatened in few moments TO get dan
gerously near. 10 was because this man
was so distant from himself that Hard
ing did not at first recognize his own
partner, Jack Storm. although he was in |
his usual well known Mexican dress.
Now, Storm was the best rife shot on |
Bullion Flat.
II appeared that the fugitive knew
this. At all events, as II suddenly real.
izing his peril, he turned and ran
straight toward Storm. resolved 10 /
draw his hre, apparently, and by
confusing his aim 10 have o better
chance OF escape. Storms ready rife
new up to his shoulder instantly, and
Harding saw the pale blue ring Of smoke
md heard the quick report. Still the fu-
sitire sped on. He was plainly tln-
,Cathed, or in any case not disabled; and
N his hand there now flashed a briGbt
which Harding knew was a
1owie knife. With that, although the
were q mile away, Harding
'eiLed q revolver and dashed at his high,
ut speed down the hill Almost at the
anne moment there also started In com
ANY from Bullion Flat three figures ON
horseback These were Miss TinseI, the
Demon" Mr.. Bellario and Judge Car
'oy. All who were now making for the
Gene Of the combat heard In sharp rep-
tition five or six shots from reyOlvers;
,iIt after the last Of these all was still.
When they got 10 the spot they found
ack Storm fainting from loss Of blood,
ut hurt only with flesh wounds; and
hey were told that the other man. his
pponent, was moTteny wounded, and
ad been taken. by his own request, up
q the mountain side. among the red. |
roods, TO die.
With q choking cry Miss 1Insel gal
1ped on, and In few moments Chester
larding and she were again face to face
yer the dying mans body. Ghastly
Thite as he was, all dabbled with blood. /
nd the foam oozing from his lips, he. .
yver at once knew James visitor Of the | !
ight before. What had happened had .
cen hurriedly revealed 10 Harding-iu | I
roken whispers BY the bystanders-bs- e
ne Jane came up. n
The man had robbed several rooms Al !
10 Bella Union" during the night. and q
I'd succeeded In gathering a large sum. | d
mong the treasures stolen were all the n
ose funds belonging to the Combina- d
on troupe, the nights winnings Of Mr. 2
operas faro bank and Miss De Mon !
gees diamonds. But Just a. the rob :
Y. toward daylight, was on the point B
making Oh In safety, he met lion In | /,
% path In Jack Storm. II happened d
at Jack wanted to have q talk 4,
ith his partner. Harding. and, as n
ey were then very busy on :,
Q claim. made up his mind 20 !,
mpass this purpose bright and earIV, =
fore getting 20 work. Stumbling on :,
Q marauder. the latter was secured :,
ser struggle, and "the boys" speedily 4,
termined 20 make an example Of him. =
70 man begged for chance of life, and :,
Ter some debate, had been given the
tion OF the halter or running the gaunt-
. with 300 yards' start. In the way we 4.
ve described. In the Subsequent
uggie be had been shot through the
1gs, and terribly cut with his own ID
vie knife-wrested from him by JACK m
,rm-and his life was now fast ebbing u
'sy.
IL she came up Jane sprang from her
ne, and threw herself on the ground
'sde the dying man They had prupped