The record-union., 1895-09-14
BEAVER SKIN.
written for REooRD-UNIoN by A. p. Hall.
Continued
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
Kirk stood for some minutes looking at
the retreating figure of Lucy where she
LETT him in the path.
His eyes glared and he breathed hard
as he stamped his foot upon the ground
"Failed, beaten after all. No, gods, not
beaten yet. Pll have her or die in the
attempt" he said, between his teeth.
He then turned and went toward
his cabin. Stopping there but few
minutes he came out and took path that
led down the canyon to another small
cabin beneath an oak tree on the bank.
Pushing open the door viciously he
called out, flush, are you there?"
A voice answered, "Yes, Pm income
in."
The occupant of the cabin was young
fellow of perhaps twenty-five or twenty
Six years. He was stoutly built, though
short, with moppy red hair and rough
and rather repulsive features. Any
thing up, Cap?" said Tush.
"There'll be some work soon," said
Kirk. "What are you abOut?"
only drying little dust-been pan
ming little to-day" said Tush.
We'll, Pll want you in day or two,"
said Kirk, $50 remain about"
He then retraced his steps to his own
cabin. where he built fire, and sat down
and looked gloomily into the blaze as it
tiickered up the wide chimney. Several
hours went by, yet found him still there,
aud night came on; then he arose and
prepared his meal of bread, broiled bacon
and potatoes, and thOughtfully sat down
at the table.
81 think l have fixed it about to my
satisfaction,o he thought. 1.-THE time for
coaxing l know is past; but | shall not be
| beaten. Well see about it, Miss Naughty.
L can depend upon Tush-he is ready for
anything with me; he is TOO completely
in my power to betray me-"
Then he proceeded to write several let
ters, and it was late when he retired to his
bunk.
Tush came to the Flat with Kirk, and
had been in his employ continuously,
though when Kirk was absent he work ed
little on his own account. AS matter
of fact kirk worked very little at mining.
Many OF his nights were spent i'll gam
bling. lie played as though he knew but
little OF the game. but was in reality pro-
found in all the mysteries of the de-
moralizing art. Those who knew him
best feared him most. Sometimes he
would be absent for weeks, keeping fine
horse at the stable where the coach horses
were kept. Being an excellent horseman
he could drive his powerful bay over the
hills and mountains in defiance of roads.
Early the next morning he was in his
saddle, and before sunrise he was miles
away to the north. After a while he
struck into path which led up noun
tain and over long stretch of table land.
then through deep canyons aud along
rocky streams until, about the middle of
the day, he turned sharp TO the right and
upa rugged path to dense thicket, where
he tied his horse; then, climbing still
higher among the limestone boulders
which clung to the hillside, he came to q
cluster of hazel bushes, and, parting
them, stood before an opening large
enough for q man to stand erect in.
Then. taking few steps, he stopped, and
taking a common whistle from his
pocket he blew it shrilly. moment
after it was answered from within, and a
voice called from the darkness. "Where?"
and he answered. Here
He then went forward little way, and,
turning sharp to the right, advanced to a
dim light which stood upon projecting
rock, when man stepped into view.
''Well, Graft, L see you are not asleep"
said Kirk.
"Not much, Cap'n, when t'other boys
are sleepin'."
who are here now?"
"Well, Berts and Small and Barker
come in at daylight this mornin'."
From below?''
"Yes."
sect me something to eat at once.
Then tie my horse in the hollow"
The space they stood in WIS perhaps
eight feet square and more than that in
hight. 1t was really the entrance TO
cave in the limestone mountain. The
cave was OF considerable dimensions, and
had been accidently discovered by a man
hunting deer, and was known to very
few if anyone outside the present oc-
cupants. They were, as you have no
doubt surmised, band of robbers who
made it their headquarterters and rem
devious while operating over various
sections of the country. 1t had been or
ganiZed more than year, but had not
been discovered, although the officers of
the law made the most strenuous efforts
to discover their stronghold, which was
known to be somewhere in that locality.
a little more than year before great
robbery was committed at Nugget Hill
by breaking into rather frail building
where gold dust was bought, killing the
man on guard, taking the gold which
amounted TO more than $4,000, and max
ing good their escape. None of the par
ties engaged In this transaction had ever
been apprehended or brought to justice,
though man who was afterwsrd killed
in saloon fight acknowledged just before
he died that he was one of the party. He,
however, did not implicate any of the
others. but said that they were so securely
hid in the mountains that they would
never be found.
AT the head of this band of robbers was
Kirby Kirk. He had been forced to flee
from the mining camp for some dark
transaction soon alter he located there
and to escape the action of Judge Lynch.
For this he swore vengeance on ali en-
gagged in the effort to catch him, and at
once organized q band of outlaws and dis
reputable characters, no doubt as much
for mis- own protection as for the further
ance OF his aims at money getting. This
organization was managed in the most
systematic manner. 1t displayed the
utmost caution in all it's operations and
acted with the greatest rapidity; beside,
they operated over large extent of
country. Large rewards were offered for
the apprehension of the gang.
There were several apartments in the
cave; In one, where the roof came near
the surface among the jagged rocks, there
was slight opening or tissure, and In
this the little fire required for cooking
was made, and being in a wild and al
most inaccessible spot the smoke had not
been noticed.
Here they lived in security and planned
their work. Their Captain, being on the
lookout in various parts of the country,
gave the necessary information when a
good opportunity was offered to make a
strike.
After dinner Kirk called the three who
had been sleeping and heard their report
OF operations during the last week or
two, and gave orders for the coming
week. He gave special orders concern
ing his own little nook where he slept;
whore door should be put in to make it
secure should they chance to bring in a
prisoner. Then took himself to sleep.
IrtIA r,rIv