The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-31


ley below. where they lighted on the head
of a solitary traveller, tired and dust worm
from his long journey since day break.
Bob Long was not accustomed to such
jaunts as this-that was evident. Yet, in
d measure he was enjoying it. In any
event, after coming into Rocky Canyon
FOR the privilege of "roughing it," he had
no intention of going back on the venture
no this stage of the game. A two weeks
vacation, during which he need not turn
IN line of copy, did not come hpt once
annually, and it was not to be wasted in
backward glances. But he was tired, and
the little beast under him did not possess
the most resttul of movements. Then, too,
the road was lonely-fearfully so. Bob be-
gan TO wonder how he had MANAGED to
miss all the camps, for he knew he was
10 the neart OF an extensive mining dis
rrict. He kept travelling simply because
he could not be satisfied to stop until he
had arrived at some definite understand
ing with himself in regard to his location.
Now ne was all at sea.
The narrow trail wound around the side
ot craggy mountain, then dipped into
The valley again. The elevation disclosed
10 view an approaching horseman. riding
with the ease Of long practice. Five min
utes later the man halted to exchange
greetings.
Hello, stranger, prospecun'?'
Well yes, little. Prospecting for
Sorry to disappint you, stranger, but
you won't find it in these ere diggin's
Rocky canyon don't produce nothin' but
hard work and Disappointment Don't
even roll out nough dust to keep a Teller
m chawin' tobaccer. i can testify TO that
Been here goin' on three year now.
Bob looked incredulous
Your report doesn't agree with the ru-
mors that find their way out of this can
yon.'
Fast, jest the same. Mighty poor place
fer a stranger to locate"
Bob began to surmise his presence was
perlenced inhabitant
How far is it to the nearest mining
campY' he asked.
Jack Dolans is down there a spell
But I'd advise you to keep out o. Jacks
camp fer the time bein Teller murdered
there this morning, and there a mighty
warm reception waitin' fer any stranger
that happens to turn up during the next
three days: Better give EN- chance TO
cool off a little"
Bobs reportorial instincts took a lively
turn.
who was hep he asked.
Jim Smith"
Man of any prominece?"
claim"
wealthy"
Somewhat" meaningly.
who killed him?'
,,a That's what they're tryin' to find out
down tO-Jaek s. '-----.-.a-.-s--
What induced the act?"
can't tell you any more. Jest advise you
to keep clear o. Jack Doolan's til some
9tner Gurus fools paid the penalty. Good
But Bob was not to be frightened into
abandoning his trip; besides, here was a
scroop Tor the Meteor, and the value Of a
scoop TO that enterprislng sheet was not
to be ignored. Bob resolved to go on
and trust to luck and his own adroit-
ness to save his neck The stranger had
shown too much anxiety for his peaceful
departure for him to give full credence to
the story, and before Bob had ridden a
mile he had thoroughly convinced himself
that he had conyersed with the real
murderer-provided that the whole thing
was not a falkland that by continuing
his journey he would be the means Of
the capture and Imprisonment of the es-
Gaping criminal.
Another mile and he came to a camp;
that part of the travellers information
was correct, at least and inquiry quickly
proved that it was Jack Doolan's. Con-
trary TO his expectations, Bob met with
an hOspitable reception, without any
suggestion of suspicion. True, Jim Smith
was murdered there that morning, but
Jim Smiths murderer had already been,
apprehended, and from the bootless feet
Bob discovered dangling in the breeze
back of the camp had evidently met with
lofty treatment At any rate, some one
had paid the penalty and Bob had moth
ing to fear.
It maze a great story for the Meteor.
Being on the ground Bob got all the de-
tails, and they needed no embellishing
He did not rest until he had the story
on the wires, though it necessitated an
extra ten miles on horseback to Jimtown,
the nearest telegraph station. But the
Meteor appreciated it, and that was SUI
hcent.
The next day Bob returned to Jack Doc
lan's prepared to continue his vacation
that had been so suddenly interrupted.
He had hardly entered the camp, however,
when the man who had given him the
main facts in the murder story called him
aside.
Say, stranger, do you want another
story? Since you're in the biz you might
"a a gnfr z hfsa aHe.
cussed lot of it round these diggin's
Jest at present. We're suspiciOnin', Jack
and me, that thays a gang O. counterfeit
ers back in the mountains some'ers You
know that Teller you met on the road
yesterday? Well, he's one O. EN-, er 1
miss my guess. He didn't want you up
See?'' . o 'P
Bob grew interested He wasn't par
ticularly anxious for another SCOOP but
neither was he in the habit of letting a
good story escape him. The result was
a quiet investigation, elicitng proof THAI
me miners suspicious were correct.
several days later a scare-head topped a
lnfee-cOlumn article from the Aleteor's
correspondent at Jimtown. Then follow
eq visit to Rocky Canyon of a posse
u government officials and a raid on the
uen The Meteor had a scoop daily ana
lne Telegram and News felt themselves
ophged TO send correspondents to this in
leiesJlng scene of action But Bob had
lne advantage of precedence, and the rivas
scflbes found themselves unable TO get
regularly
The close of Bob's vacation found him
In me midst of the government rad and
telegram from the Meteor's managing
edtor complmented him on his good
work and requested him to remain at
Jlmtown until further orders
one night a belated traveller was sleep
ing peacefully, rolled up in blan-
Aet under a tree, nine miles from Jack
DQpIan's mining camp. His horse was
telnered near by. Towards morning the
sleeper was gently aroused by the sudden
lgntening Of rope about his waist pin
loning his arms to his Sides He looked
up to see four men, two of whom might
nave been recognized as members of
lne counterfeiters' gang, who had some
now escaped the ends of justice and for
whose capture a heavy reward was
now waiting. The others were strangers
ana remained in the background though
70 one of the four seemed at all timid
a90uJ being observed.
Inc prisoner e. at oncN shat he was
known. but he waited silently for the an
Aouncement of his fate
20 you're the chap who brought the
boobies down on we uns. aire your" be-
Aan the recognized leader, tauntingly.
har int