The Mena weekly star., 1897-10-06

three ulliCS WILL ot1 tA@e - --- her. But he didn't ketch her, and when he came back he was just a ravin maniac. He passed by the shop, going down river, and he was the widest loolin' mortal you ever see. He had the ax in his hand yet, and he was swingin it and tallxin' and yellin' to the sky, and I reckon he'd have killed anybody that got in his way. know I'd a shot him if he'd "a came at rae; and George, my boy. he was about scared plumb to death. I tell you, that's why he pulled out so'early, 1 reckon. 1 shouldn't be surprised if some Of his half-breed boys laws him cold one of these days; for IL they don't he'll surely kill some of them. He-"
 The narrative was cut short by the sudden appearance of a man. lie scrambled up from the trail that lea from the river, and ran out to the mid- dle of the platform in front of the shop. The horses, peacefully engaged in pick ing up the few remaining straws of their morning feed scented him, and then saw him, and snorted. No won der, for the man was a strange looking being.
 A tall man, broad-shouldered and well made. On his head, woman's ragged straw hat beneath which long black hair hung down to his shoulders. \ rough shirt, villainously dirty, partly covered the upper portion of his body partly, I say, because it was torn open at his throat, showing his hairy breast, and had no sleeves, which left his long, un-burned, muscular arms bare. From his waist down he was covered by a pair of old pants which came only to Lis ankles, and Lis feet were saoeless. In his right hand he held an ax, and on bis gaunt, grizzlcd, haggard face, in which burned two fierce hollow eyes, were the shadow of inse nity.
 For moment he stood still, his great chest rising and falling with the tides of excitement that surged within him. Then his fierce eyes. wandering and ever restless, caught sight of the two men under the shed of the old shop, and were at once fixed upon them with an intensity not pleasant. For yet an other moment he stood thus, and then, with quick, catlike steps, he started towards them
 The man at the plum box turned pale and attempted to rise, but was pulled down to a huddled heap Then Clark's hand went to his back pocket and pulled out an old Colts revolver. He had drawn his knees up close to his chin, and now he laid the barrel of his pistol upon his knees. the muzzle of it pointing downhill towards the slow. ly-advancing lunatic.
 With his finger resting lightly upon the trigger; with his thin lips parted so they showed the tobacco-stained teeth, between which his pipestem was held so tightly that it was crushed fiat; with his gray eyes filled with that cold, steely light that tells of an un- swerving, unpitying determination, Clark waited.
 Behind the man upon which the gun was trained the great canyon of Yuba say-a strange. impressive background for the tragedy the man at the plum OON hNAt NdS tibOdA tO luht pl0Ce.
 But there was no tragedy. When the man came within few yards Of him Clark called out:
 Don't come any nearer. Potts. or I'll shootl"
 Potts stopped, looked at Clark steadily for moment, then whirled and went down the trail on the other side of the platform-the trail that led towards the Chinamen's camp up the river. As he disappeared down the steep bank Clark let down the hammer of his gun and said
 How'd you like Mir. Potts?"
 Then he became aware of the fact that he had ruined his pipestem. and with half serious. half humorous smile on his face he remarked:
 ''Well hang ol' Potts. If I'd knowed was goin' to bust my pipe I'd "a shot him anywayl"
 I'm glad you didn't know it. then.v replied the man at the plum box. with a faint smile, which died away as a wild hoarse cry came up from the river.
 They went out to look. and saw Potts standing on rocky point, waving his arms and gesticulating to the calm blue sky.
 "H'ph!" said Clark. Tt was him then, that was yellin down the river guess that was when the spell came on him. We'll. I'm going to fix my nine up and finish my smoke before I nnll out of here, leavin' Mir. Admiral Potts to review his ships as much as he wants to-" 'S
 Then Clark. of the Oregon house wan,