Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-11-05
seeking to read his inten-

~My idea?" And Sam Gaddler laughed
jubilantly, mOtioning his followers to
fall back short distance Il will soon
tell you
He lowered his voice to a whisper, re-
suming:
will be the simplest of measures for me
to suppress them. and substitute a
forged deed for them that will put me
in possession of the property.
@Are yOu capable of that aet?7
SPerfectly, as you shall see.
Chow did you know that the deeds are
on my persona
at was easy to guess the fact am
frank enough to say, however, that
Jerry Skidder has telegraphed me all
the particulars involved in your trip to
Montana"
Perry addressed a few words to his
betrOthed, with the intention of miti-
eating the sorrow she was displaying at
the misfortune by which they had been
oVertaken-
@And now to hand out the documents,
Mr.. Wynans," added Gaddler, waving
his hand toward his followers 81 think
you wiz comprehend readily that resist
ance is out OF the question. You may be
sure that 1 shall not hesitate TO use
force in case force is necessary
There could be no doubt upon this
point, and Perry handed out the deeds,
with as much grace as he could master.
This is all very well, so far as it
goes" muttered Gaddler, when he
had glanced at the documents But
there is another step 10 be taken I
want the SEQ, 900 you took from Jerry
Sktdder before leaving Chicago"
THAT money is mine, sir.
Il shall not waste words upon the sub
ject, you may be certain. said Gaddler,
menaclngly. @Mr. Skidder says the
cover it. The least reflection will tell
you that I can do no less than accede to
his wishes. Out with it,"
The money was produced and Cad
der slowed it away in his pocket, with
with a jubilance he made no effort 70
conceal
@Good, he said again. ave are get
ting on in the right direction. Is the
carriage going to answer our purpose,
Gilly?"
@YOu can take possession, sir.
Little more was said until the ladies
had resumed their places in the vehicle,
with Perry and Baker, and the whole
party was in motion for the mines
Fortunately We have not gone far
out of our course" muttered Gaddler,
as he led the way jauntily at the head
OF his men. ~We shall be safely at home
in a couple of hours, and can rest as
long as we please from the last three
days of stir and worry"
We need not pause upon the attempts
of the lovers to comfort each other
under the trying circumstances in which
they found themselves. As to Mrs. Cot
ter and Mrs. Rankle, they were too
agoniZed to converse coherently, and
scarcely broke the silence.
The scene Of the disaster was soon
left behind, and vast stretch of wood
and rock dawned upon the gaze of the
prisoners, who could not help noticing
that their way grew more and more
lonely and solitary every moment
At length they came to n wild noun
tain stream, In the midst or a solitude
which did not show the least sign of
ever having been traversed by human
being.
@This is the place, Gaddler was heard
saying to Gilly, who was driving the
carriage you comprehend"
The man nodded.
Then let there be no failurel"
The party had reached the crest of a
long slope, from which they could look
down into a perfect flood of water,
which came surging and roaring down
the narrow valley.
der, putting spurs to his horse. @Fol-
low mel"
A horrible conviction forced itself
upon the prisoners, as they found them
selves whirling down the slope at q
furious gallop.
Ale means to drown US ALL" whispered
Perry, in a guarded whisper to his be-
trothed-
"No doubt of it was her answer.
uAI fba faCf of the sb raf
this opinion, as was attested by the
glances passing between them.
Forward" cried Gaddler, again hall
rising in his stirrups, his face glowing
like a demons. THE brook may be
dangerous, but we can't waste an houl
to go down to the bridget"
He did not speak again or even lool
back, but led the way into the stream a
a gallop, with his followers pressing
around him.
AT that critical moment, with the car
riage laundering down the slope tOwarl
the dangerous stream, not a sound came
from either Elfie Tower or Mrs. Rankle
Instead of uttering vain appeals fol
mercy, they exchanged a few guarded
words, and then watched and waited
That some resOlute purpose had en-
tered their souls would have been ap
parent at a glance, if their intended
l
The next instant preceding the ar
rival of the vehicle at the stream, Ellie
cut the bonds OF her lover and Mrs
Rankle those of Charley Baker, thu:
restoring them to freedom.
~And now for it," enjoined Perry.
In another moment they were all on
of the carriage, tumbling more or les
violently, but the light, grass-cOvereC
soil proved an ample cushion for theil
raFnnffOn and nj fhau, raaafxrar
! the least injury.
Gathering themselves up promptly
| they flew to cover behind an outcroppinl
of rock close at hand, at the same in
slant that the empty vehicle, witt
the horses at full gallop, plunged int,
| the raging torrent.
A yell of CONSERVATION arose from
Gaddler and his friends, but they did no
dare turn in the stream, knowing tina
such q measure would result in their be
ing carried into lonely canyon immedi
ately below. and so, with a volley o
curses, they all struggled through thu
flood, gaining the opposite bank.
Back, ALI" cried Gaddler, with fu
riOus curse. "Of course this trick won
save them. Out with you, Gilly, ant
We'll go b. -"
1t was easier said than done, tn
heavy carriage dragging the horses sever
al rods down the stream before the,
could be detached from it, but at last
more dead than alive, Gilly reached tn
bank at the heels of his struggling
Steeds
@And now hear me, Sam Gaddleri
suddenly Numbered a commanding voic
from the crest of a ledge overlooking tn
stream. you and your men are m,
| prisonersl A step, or the least resist
ance, and you diel8
The speaker was seen at a glance &
be Colonel Harvey Whipsaw, of Rattle
snake Ranch, and all around him TIN
| rnnIrc and hrrchns ,unrn a1fua rrirh Tn.