Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

tended to bolt, and with the first move of
his body the four rifles cracked almost as
one gun, ana the messenger went down.
Throwing the bride reins over the necks
OF the horses, the sheriff's posse dismoun.-
ed and hurried up the little hill, but when
they reached the spot where the messenger
mad stood there was no messenger nor sign
Of messenger. Anticipating the rain of
lead, he had dropped behind the rocks while
the bullets passed over his head, and by
the time the posse had reached the crest
OF the hill and recovered from their Sur
Prise the messenger was far up the side Of
the mountain hiding among the crags
wv nat dyou say now. cap?" asked the
man who had been anxious to earn the re-
i'm go?
Git i'm said the sheriff, and the posse
returned to their horses.
The white cloud rolled down the noun.
tain as the fleece rolls from a sheep that Is
being shorn, and lay in a tumbled heap at
the foot Of the range The gray dawn
came out OF the east and revealed the
peaks that were hiding high up in heavens
blue. Upon either hand-before and behind
hlm-the messenger, crouching in the crags
heard the clatter of steel-shod feet and
Knew that he was being surrounded. De-
lay was dangerous. The coming of dawn
meant death. The whispering winds hurry
ing away up the hill. reminded him Of the
approach Of day. His only hope was In
reaching a point beyond which the horse
men might not ride. and he hurried on up
TO the narrow gulch. At the exit his trail
was was 9iocked by enc Of the deputies. and
Immediately both men opened fire. Now
Tor the first time since it fell, muzzle first
INTO the river, the messenger thought of his
rlne. he was by no means an expert with
six-shooter, but managed to hit the Off
GERS morse with his first bullet, and at the
same instant a slug of lead from VIM
chester crashed through his left shoulder
leaving 1t shattered and useless. The depu-
Tvs morse. having received his death
wound. plunged wildly and made it impos-
s1ble for its rider to take accurate aim
Dropping his rifle. the officer began to use
MS revolver. but chance shot from the
MESSENGER forty-fye pierced his heart
Another plunge Of the horse hurled him to
the ground, his foot caught in the stirrun
ana the messenger vas Mortified to see the
crazed hroncho bounding away, dragging
Tha medd nead Gown. over the jagged rocks
with rage He crashed through a low
broad cedar and moment later leaned
over precipice and went rolling down the
the sheriff and his companions came nm the
Ruich they found, where the horse and
rider had fallen, one mangled mass Of
torn and tattered hesh
Made desperate by this appalling sight
the three officers were soon hot unon ~ q
trali OF the fugitive. Finding it Impossible
to run away from his pursuers the messen-
ger cached his treasure. took refuge among
some sharp rocks and awaited the coming
OF the enemy. To his surprise only two
men came out of the gulch. the other. hay-
ing taken another route in order to head
the fugitives off, was now far out of range
The officers had the advantage of heine
armed with rifles. and to hold this advant.
age, fought at long range. The beseiged
being sheltered by the rocks. was able to
stand them off until both his guns were
empty. but the moment he ceased firing tho
sheriff and his deputy began to advance
Inc messenger, weak from his wound
worked nervously with his one useful hand
and had barely succeeded in reflling one
one OF his pistols when he was surprised by
the sound of gun almost directly behind
him, and not ten feet away. He turned his