Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-11


pocket compass, discovers that their
course, instead OF being as at first
hortherly, Is now directly south. He
calls attention to it.
"Yes," says Jim; 1T may be that tho
brook aows from the SOUTH"
Then we might have chosen much
shorter way"
Possibly. but it would have been a
rocky road. Trust me. l know this
country"
They now enter a narrow gorge, and
In few moments small tent, piles of
sand and a pit meet the surgeons
gaze. Some rough-looking men sit
there.
Are those your comrades?"
"Aes, Doctor"
"They don't seem to be very busy
We'll, you know, Doctor, when there's
sickness in the family 1t interferes with
business"
-Is the injured mar. in the tent?"
No; there Was no room for him, SO
We rugged up sor. OF hospital, which
think you will admire"
They both dismount.
What's the news, Jack?" asks Jim.
"Oh. nothing special." answers the
man addressed. a couple of deputy
sheriffs came along and asked for our
permits to dig. OF course it was all
right"
did they ask any questions?"
They wanted to know whether we
had seen anything OF Black Sam and
his gang. We told them that no sus-
picious characters had made their APP
pearance.
And then they went OFF,"
yes; they were bound West-they
said to the Colorado reservation"
We'll. then we shan see them again
for while. Where's the rest OF the
boys?"
BILLY is with him. Tom, Bob and
Ned have gone to Henderson's ranch
to buy beef. Our grub Is running low"
Brannard begins to show signs Of i'm
patience.
Eyes, yes. Doctor. cries Jim; there's
just a little formality to be observed
here. You must be blindfolded."
Are you mad? shall not consent"
Come, Doctor; be reasonable, urges
Jim: there's big secret at The bottom
OF this"
Il don't like your actions, cries the
surgeon. Il shall have nothing to do
with YOU"
Don't be foolish. You must do your
duty"
"As things have turned out, I re-
fuse!"
Then we shall force you," and as
Jim mods to his comrades, they draw
their pistols and level them at the sur.
geon's head. will you do what you
have been brought to dor" inquiries Jim,
in an angry tone. "or would you prefer
to be bulleted?"
Naturally, prefer the former. But
what's the necessity Of blindfolding
me?"
We'll. you see, we have discovered
very rich mine, and We don't want you
| to know the entrance to it,"
Once blindfolded, the men lead Bran.
nard here and there for few moments,
and then suddenly make for a definite
point. A chilliness, as II in some un-
derground place. Is at once noticeable.
The trickling Of water reaches his
ears. Jim, who is carrying his wallet,
and leading him by the hand. calls out:
"Stoop down-stoop down." And len,
after a moment, .Brannard feels the
band loosened from his eyes and hears
Jim say: Here we are, Doctor"
| The un willing visitor finds him :elf in
a roomy, cave-like place, lighted by two
lanterns. In one CO ner lie a number
OF small. strong packing boxes and
leather sacks, such as aw used to
transport gold ore. IN another the man
with the broken leg Is stretched out on
| a rude couch. He Is a rough looking
fellow, with black beard. hair and pale
face.
without doubt" thinks Brannard
to himself, this is Black Sam, and
have tumbled into nice nest Of ban
dts"
1t was in truth Black Sam, the famous
robber, once a tavern-keeper at Fort
| Worth.
Here's the DOCTOR" says Jim to his
leader, to whom he then whispers few
words.
Step this way" is the injured man 8
reply: do you know who ann"
Il do not"
"Then somuch the better for you.
Come, set my leg for me-"
The task accomplished, Brannard
thus addresses his patient: Everything
is now in order. You must lie still a
few weeks. until the bones knit. And
now that l have done my part, I ask
| to be let CO."
You've got to stay here for the
| present, Doctor"
Impossible! My friends at the
! camp ="
They must get on without you"
How long shall you keep me here?"
Until l can walk. That's for
safety"
And must be kept prisoner here for
six long weeks?" cries Brannard, beside
| himself.
why not?" replies Sam. calmly:
I'll pay you-well, say a thousand dol
lars We've plenty Of the stuff"
Il will accept none OF your stolen
gold" cries Brannard, pointing TO the
boxes and sacks.
Don't talk nonsense, Doctor. A
thousand dollars in your wallet is bet
ter than bullet in your head" The
surgeon was silent. Come, decided"
! Il yield to brute force"
! you've got good sense"
"A searching party will be sent out
for me.
Have you a wife and children"
No."
Then don't worry. Folks will caly
think you're off on journey somewhere.
That's all"
An adjoining room in the cavern was
assigned to Brannard, and he was well