The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-24
.He'll be there" said one man in tone

tHe'll be there" said one man in tone
that implied repetition.
eyes, but if he brings three or four fol
Se Vii onls Ssgs
said the first speaker little sharply. No
need to be careful In these dense woods.
They are better than the walls Of the bas-
tile for hiding secrets.
"Then'' fretted the other, ut will be Just
our luck to strike dozen fellows on that
His companion laughed coldly at his
querulous comrade, and together they
walked on toward the dip Of the mountain.
The lieutant stood bolt upright on the
why they're going to jump the mail
promised to be even more Of . sensation
than he wanted. Az he sat there quickly
calculating whether he had time to alarm
the garrison, he Jaw the old stage coach,
two miles away, stop in front OF the Bensley
farm. he saw group OF mon and women
again at rapid gait and make straight for
the pass, where he shYewdly- calculated the
stage robbers had planned to intercept it.
As it came nearer he saw man and woman
sitting on the one seat outside" and had
foregone; through his growing excitement,
ing and moonlight ride down the valley on
that elevated and swaying perch.
He saw his way clearly enough into an
ugly row, but there was neither time nor In
clination for hesitation, 20 he grasped his
light fowlinR piece. and started down the
avoid being seen, he made detour at the
point where they had boldly crossed the bald
ridge Of mountains and keeping the shadow
of the forest constantly about him, passed
near the stage road and wondered it that
vehicle with its precious freight would ever
kk,n oAvna1 nvnA ali vvoh IN
Still descending, but more guardedly now,
he watched for some sign from those who
had preceded him.
Suddenly his eye caught the wide sway
ing of Q tall pine shrub. It bent far over
to the left, then to the right, then forward
sive to the message he saw broad white hat
far down slope swinging once around.
''Fandango, the Mexican stage robber,"
exclaimed the lieutenant under his breath,
for he recognized the hat despite the dis
tance as one that covered head on which
price had long been set.
Passing down an open slope ne saw g
quick movement in front Of him. A thick
low pine branch had been thrust aside and
as hastily replaced. The lieutenant threw
his gun to his face and sent load of bird
shoot rattling into the pine. 1t took eff
feet. The smothered curse of man came
first and then the crash of Spencer rifle.
The lieutenant knew he was hit, but his
blood was up and he dashed at the pine
tree while dextrously throwing new shell
into the empty chamber OF his gun.
hind the tree lay one Of
the men who had passed him half an
hour before. He was as busily and as
oooliy preparing for the duel a. was the OH
Ger; but fate was against him. The Lieu
tenant saw him, cooked both barrels and
fred in an instant of time, and the ounce
of lead the bandit discharged few wide of
its mark, for two good loads of small shot
we're deeply bedded in the head and neck
of the assassin.
The next moment he was astride the fol-
low, clutchinR the more dangerous carbins.
But he did not need to struggle, for the
writhins. tortured man beneath him was
harm. LoosinR the cartridge belt he
strapped 1t about him, broke his own fowl
ing pisce 20 a. to render it useless IL hia
man should recover, and started on Q run
for the pass. Just here he must have felt
the eject of that drst shot. for he forgot
the pass, forgot that the government mails
were In danger, and forgot that lives might
have to be sacrificed before Faudango'a
thirst for gold.
A shout and . shot from the pass told him
tho battle was on; the violent whipping OF
woman, and then tho tearing. crushing
sound which told Of capsized coach. An
other lapse of consciousness followed, and
ct it, end he found himself in the stage
road, hundred yards from the wreck, and
saw number OF frightened msu and
. woman standing in row, while Fandsn-
80, the Gexican stage robber, Vas riding
'Tcsvasi! Double s.s. x.sear'