The times., 1897-08-15

along to use IL worst comes to worst He
was unbuokling his revolver belt as be
spoke. But don't set it going unless you
have to, for they're two to one against
you, and the chances are they know how
to shoot better than you.'
HE handed his revolver and belt to
Masters and helped him buckle them on.
Masters was impatient to go, and with
no mere words started In bee line
for the distant fire. Remember. don't
get near enough for them to see you,'
called after him, but he made no answer as
tie vanished in the darkness.
my partner and I talked the matter
over and were half inclined to blame our
selves for letting him CO. Whether he
blunders on the thieves or some other camp,
he's likely to catch shot thaJTl end the
business for him. stayton said. In either
case my revolver's goner. But l shan't
regret this III he drills one of the fellows
that stole his outfit
I'VE kept the fire going SO that Masters
could find his way back, if he was lucky
enough 20 come back, and waited. When
we got sleepy We rolled ourselves ach in
his blankets and lay down ava from the
fIreiight and near our horses, for we did
not feel that the region was a very safe
one Tor leaving live stock out Of the own
ers sight. We doZed and woke, put more
wood on the fire, and at last went off
sound asleep. Some time late i'm the night
we were wakened by the sound of wagon
wheels coming down the tran. IL was a
white-topped wagon, drawn by a span Of
! noises, and it stopped opposite our camp
The driver hailed us, 'Halloo!'
It's Masters said Stayton, Jumping
TO his feet Haloo yourself! You back
safe! What Iuek?''
I've got my OUTFIT same the answer
Iheie's prisoner aboard / wish you'd
help me get him out of the wagon
In the body of the wagon, lying as he
had happened to land when thIown in
among the dunnage, was man, tied hand
and Foot and every way To make it sure
that he could no5 get loose We pulled him
out and laid him ON the ground like a sack
OF meal He was half dead with pain a nd
numbness from the strain of the cords that
ne was tied with, but he had voice enough
ieit 10 swear with and beg us TO let nm
on the 1astenings. Masters took a COM
Iortable look at him, then turned to us.
Eat one of the fellows that stole lrly
team Ee said
Where's the other?' I asked
oi'' he's back there where found 'er,
at tDelr caiup He won't steal any more
ho'Ses, said Masters as cool as you pIeas..
we let the prisoner lie where he was
without touching him while Masters tol,l
ms story Bring an innocent. not used 20
IShting, but very much in earnest about
getting back his own property. he had gone
10 Work after coming upon the robbers,
camp IL very SIMPLE ana straightforward
manner They We're sitting by the fire a
he walked in On the two men with the
cooked revolver in his hand, and as tbey
jumped 70 tEcir feet he shot one of them
dead The Other threw up his hands ana
Masters made him lie down on the ,ro,,,,d
face downward, while he tied him with
every 1ord and rope tina he could Law hands
10 Then nc had packed the Wagon h,al-
ciing the prisoner n last on top O? the 1tha
Packages. hi,ehed in the horses and driv..n
Tor Dur camp, leaving the dead rob,er as
he had fallen
The story told, we bosened up the pris
oher pohds' 50 that be was fairly comfort
able, 50 far as their hurting him went. AND
s'ooc guard over him by turns until morn
i!lS- "heh we'ook hintnto LasAnimaS and
ueiVefcd hlin TO the sheriff The dead
robber was fetched into town that night
and the coroner's jury returned the yer
dlcs' IhsCifiable homicide The pris-
oner was held for trial, and got long
term In the Canon City penftentiarv. Mas
ters took up his homestead eventually in
the Que de Bouille Valley. and was living.
there with his family, prosperous ana at
peace Win hisneighbors when last heard
OF bim"