Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-08-02
..Yes. She does not know the dan

my way mp 20 it. They may be darned
sharp. but they're not quite sharp
enough to catch a Washoe hunter"
John Fer-ier felt a different man
now that he realized that he had de-
voted ally. He seized the young mans
leathery hand and wrung it cordially
You're man to be proud Of" he said.
There are not many who would come
to share our danger and our troubles"
You've hit it there, pard, )" the young
hunter answered. II have a respect
for you, but if you were alone in this
business I'd think twice before / put
my head into such a hornets nest.
It's Lucy that brings me here, and be-
fore harm comes on her guess there
will be one less O the Hope family in
! Utah"
! What are we to do?'
Tomorrow is your last day, and un-
, less you act tonight you are lost. l
! have mule and two horses waiting in
| the Eagle ravine. How much money
! have you?"
Two thousand dollars in gold, and
/ five in notes.
! That will do. Ihave as much more to
add to it. We must push for Carson City
| through the mountains. You had best
! wake Lucy. 1t is as well that the serv-
ants do not sleep in the house,
| While Ferrier was absent preparing
/ his daughter for the approaching jour-
ney. Jefferson Hope packed all the eat
/ a5leS that he could find into a small
| parcel. and filled a stoneware Jar with
| water, for he knew by experience that
| the mountain wells were few and far
between. He had hardly completed
his arrangements before the farmer re.
turned with his daughter all dressed
and ready for start. The greeting
between the lovers was warm but brief,
for minutes were precious, and there
was much to be done.
I'VE must make our start at once"
said jefferson Hope, speaking in low
but resolute voice, like one who
realizes the greatness of the peril. but
has stecled his heart to meet it. THE
front and back entrances are watched.
! but with caution we may get away
through the side window and across
the fields. Once on the road, we ara
only two miles from the ravine where
the horses are waiting. BY daybreak
we should be half way through the
mountains
What if we are stopped?" asked
| Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt which,
| prOtruded from the front of his tunic.
/ If they are too many for us we shall!
| take two or three of them with u.s. he
! said with sinister smile.
| The lights inside the house had all
| been extinguished. and from the dark
ened window Ferrier peered over the
| fields which had been his own, and
which he was now about to aban.
don forever. He had long nerved him
| self to the sacrifice, however. and the
thought of the honor and happiness
of his daughter outwcighed any regret
at his ruined fortunes. All looked SO
peaceful and happy, the rustling trees
and the broad, silent stretch of grain.
land, that it was difficult to realize
that the spirit of murder lurked
through it all. Yet the white face and
set expression of the young hunter
showed that in his approach to the
house he had seen enough to satisfy
him upon that head.
Terrier carried the bag of gold and
notes. jefferson Hope had the scanty
provisions and water, while Lucy had
the small bundle containing few of
her more valued possessions. Opening
the window very slowly and carefully,
they waited until dark cloud had
somewhat obscured the night, and
then one by one passed through into
the little garden. With bated breath
and crouching figures they stumbled
across it and gained the shelter of the
hedge. which they skirted until they
| came to the gap which opened into the
cornfeld. They had just reached this
point when the young man seized his
two companions and dragged them
down into the shadow, where they lay
silent and trembling.
1t was as well that his prairie train
ing had given jefferson Hope the ears
of a lynx He and his friends had
hardly crouched down before the mel
ancholy kooting of mountain owl
was heard within a few yards Of them,
which was Immediately answered by
another boot at small distance. At
the same moment vague, ShadOwy
figure emerged from the gap for which
they had been making, and uttered the
plaintive signal cry again, on which
second man appeared out of the OBJ
scurity.
Tomorrow at midnight" said the
first, who appeared to be IL authority.
when the whippoorwill calls three
times"
1T is WELL returned the other.
''Shall / tell Brother Drebber?"
'.Pnss it on to him, and from him to
the others. Nine to seven
Seven to five repeated the other.
and the two figures fitted away ir
different directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form Of
sign and countersign. The instant
that their footsteps had died away in
the distance. jefferson Hope sprang to
his feet, and, helping his companions
through the gap, led the way across
the fields at full speed, supporting and
half-carrying the girl when her
strength appeared to fail her.
Hurry on. hurry on.' he gasped
from time to time. I'VE are through
the line of sentinels. Everything de-
ponds on speed. Hurry on
Once on the high-road they made |
rapid progress. Only once did they |
meet anyone. and then they managed to |
slip into a field and SO avoid recogni. |
ton. Before reaching the town tho |
hunter branched away into a rugged |
and narrow footpath which led to the |
mountains. Two dark, jagged peaks
doomed above them through the dark |
ness, and the dcfile which led between |
them was the Eagle canyon in which |
the horses were awaiting them. With
uncrring instinct jefferson Hope
p;cked his yyav among the great |