The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-07

a spy-one of the vigilanteS. Down
him, or the game is lost"
These calculations, spoken rapidly
and eXcitedly. broke the silence of
weird and tragic scene in one of the
loyeliest valleys of the far West.
They were directed toward a man
who had suddenly appeared upon land
scape which for over an hour had held
half a dozen human figures. who had
been lurking III the vicinity OF lonely
stretch of railroad.
The time was night relieved by the
refulgence of a September moon, its
rays just beginning to ilIumine mount
ain and valley with a rare crystalline
beauty.
Hall mile d stant, where the river
stretched dim silver thread of radi
ance. a lonely station showed, from
which glimmered the light of a single
/ lantern.
At the spot where the story opens, the
single railway track curved over a high
trestIe work and then descended Oh
sharp grade toward the station and the
stream.
For years this section, especially the
course pursued by the railroad, which
was a recently constructed branch of the
great Pacific system, had been known as
the Lone Canyon trail The station was
called Ten-spot, and the nearest settle
ment was twenty miles over the noun
tain at Miner 5 Guich
Revond that stretched an alienation
Of plain and hill and valley, infested
even at the time IF our narrative by
maraudng bands OF Sayages.
The region was one i'll which rough,
uncutured set of miners and rangers
resided, and outlaw bands found it Il IA
yorite field for their operations
As has been stated, one hour previous
to the uttcrance of the words that begin
this chapter half do EN- men rode up
to the scene, diSmountpd silently, led
their horses to a thicket near by, and
then became maSSed together near the
railroad.
Here for some moments they were en-
gagged in some mysterious movements
about the rails. One of their number
went down the tracks to the station,
returned, muttered an ominOus "All
right" and then their dusky figures
moved hither and thither Not an audi
BILE word was spoken until tall. full
bearded man, evidently the leader of the
party, startled his companions with the
exclamation:
'bct W CoNeis Aoohitoiic - .oiiiiS
I Someone was coming straight down
the trackS-a man past middle age, stat
wart, rugged aud attired in the garb of
frontiersman.
/ His gait was careless and leisnreIy
one, as if he had got tired Of waiting for
the train at the depot and was sstroliing
about to kin time until it arrived.
All unaware of the pcrilous ambuScade
that lay i'll wait Tor him, he was not con
5clons OF the presence OF Toe unt.l ne
turned curve in the rails and fell back
with startled cry:
whats this. An obstruction on the
road. They re at II again! hedsklhS or
outlaws: there's danger ahoat Tor the
night train, sure.
lie turned to hasten back to the sta
ton. At that moment six dusky forms
arose from the bushes that lined the
side of the tracks.
"tJre.'
w no = hc2"
~ Spy--one OF the Slgllantes. Down
| him, or the game IS lost"
There was binding otaze OF ilght,
ana SIX reviewers haShea IN the moon
light
.Nissed lim-after him. He must
not escape and give the alarm" cried
the leader OF the cotcric.
The stranger had indeed been missed
He must have been magicaliy alert. for
A the bullets whst,el past him he drop
ped to the ground and they flew cr his
| aead
you scoundrelS, Come on, whoever
eou are"
His voice. Gear aud S.entOrian, rang
put like an indignant roar of dctiarce
and COURAGE
He had again sprung to his feet and
had drawn his own rcyo yer.
! At that Nom MT his cnemic made a
united rush for the SPOT whore he was
tie was forced to retreat step or two
A creeping vim entangIed his foot. and
he fell Violently backward.
"Take that -
! The words were spoken by the lea Ter.
as he reached tie PROSTATE man.
.ncSpard outlaw and rene -ade |
/ know you. Coward, villain. If | was
at fair odds with YOU"
| The words were slcnced suddenly.
| The leader of the Eand-thc IL an he
| had called DeSpard- raised a eur ed
ron bar he ie!d in his hand. 1t de
scended with terrific force cutting
cruel cash in the forehead o. the cuur-
ageous stranger, stunning utm To ins n
sihiIjty.
Despards ewes wore a,ntad, fright
/ ened expression. and his face was .'cafh
pale as he surveyed his unconscious TO-.
you've settled him. Te$p; II, " SPOKE
one of the men as he crow,.eI to his de-
"AHhat does il mcan?"
| nespard spoke in an awcd tone
"What mean"
"That man"
you know him =
"know him, Look again, Jim Dan
ton All, | thought You won Il recpc-
nize him."
1 DeSpard's companion Eccrcd close at
I the face Of the PR STRAIT man.
Hanger Ralph" lie G&sf ed out
"YeS. DO you remember when las
we saw him, and We left him 70 dir a
prisoner in cave IN the tab III Is? He
had crossed our trail. determined 10
bring us to Justice for a stage robbery
lie Swore then that he wou he avenged