The St. Johns herald., 1896-10-31
The Sheriff of SiSkyOu.
By BRET HARTB.

l AAo Ludu s1OuCueu Ou DN HIS SIl0, casting his surly, furtive glances from left to right as if seeking to escape from these condolences. Nevertheless the ma- jor kept on through the gully until reaching the wagon road they crossed it aGd began to ascend the opposite slope, half hidden by the underbrush and larches. Here the major paused again and faced about The cabins of the set | clement were already behind the bluff The little stream which indicated the
 bar, on which some perfunctory min ing was still continued, now and then rang out quite clearly at their feet, al- 1 though the bar itself had disappeared. The sounds of occupation and labor hGs at last died out in the distance. They were quite alone. The major sat down 0n a powder and pointed to another The man, however, remained sulIenly standing where he was, as if to accent as strongly as possible the enforced ,ompanionship. Either the major was too self absorbed to notice it or accepted it as satisfactory characteristic of the half breed race. He continued conf lently:
 Now, look here, Tomt I want to leave this cursed hole and get clear out of the state. Anywhere-over the Ore yon line into British Columbia or to the coast, where can get a coasting vessel town to Mexico. It will cost money, ont I've got it. It will cost lot of :isks, but I'll take them. I want some body to help me-some one to share :isks with me and some one to share my tuck if 1 succeed. Help to put me on he other side Of the border line by sea Of land. and I'll give you $1, 900 down before we start and $1,0O0 when Pm safe"
 The half breed had changed his slouching attitude. It seemed more in- dolent on account of the loosely hang ing strap that had once held his haver- sack, which was still worn in sloven- ly fashion over his shoulder, as kind of lazy sling for his shiftless hand.
 Well, Tom, is it a go? You can trust me, for you'll have the thousand in your pocket before you start. I can trust you, for I'll kill you quicker than lightning if you say word of this to any one before l go or play a single trick on me afterward. '"
 Suddenly the two men were rolling over and over in the underbrush. The half breed had thrown himself upon the major, bearing him down to the ground The haversack strap for an instant whirl- ed like the loop of a lasso in the air and descended over the majors shoulders, pinioning his arms to his side. Then the half breed, tearing open his ragged blouse, stripped off his waist belt and as dexterously slipped it over the ankles of the struggling man.
 It was all over in a moment. Neither had spoken word. Only their rapid panting broke the profound silence. Each probably knew that no outcry would be heard.
 For the first time the half breed sat down. But there was no trace of tri- umph or satisfaction ill his face, which wore the same lowering look of disgust eao AO ScAZOO upOh bAO 1nttu
 ''I want to tell you first" he said, slowly wiping his face, "that I didn't kalkilate upon doin this in this yer kind of way. expected more of stand up fight from you-more risk in gettin you out of that hole-and different kind of man to tackle. Inever expected you to play into my hand like this, and it goes against mo to hev to take advan- tage of it..
 "Who are you?" said the major pant ingly.
 "I'm the new sheriff of Siskyou 7" He drew from beneath his begrimed shirt paper wrapping, from which he gingerly extracted with the ends of his dirty fingers clean legal looking fold ed paper. That's my warrant. Pve kept it fresh for you. I reckon you don't care to read it. You've seen it afore. It's just the same as t'other sheriff had-what you shot :"
 ''Then this was a plan of yours and that whelp's escort?" said the major.
 Neither him nor the escort knows any more about it than you, " returned the sheriff slowly. ''I enlisted as Injin guide or scout ten days ago. deserted just as reg'lar and nat'rallike when we passed that ridge yesterday. I could be took tomorrow by the sojers if they caught sight of me and court martialed It's as reg'lar as that. But I timed to have my posse under deputy draw you off by an attack just as the escort reach ed the ridge And here am. !"
 'And you're no half breed?"
 There's nothin Injin about me that water won't wash off I kalkilated you suspect anything so insignifi-
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