Evening star., 1898-07-16


soula trail took sudden ktnk IN its flesh
colored ribbon and wound around the butt
of big ir stump.
Behind the stump man was kneeling
that gIadsonne September day - all among
the tawuy gold and crimson of the dead
rose leaves and the soft gray and cream Of
the bIeached bunch grass
He might have been praying, so quietly
was he kneeling there. but he wesn't-he
disappearing softly to himself. as his
impatient eye wandered in and out among
the bouIders and trees that fringed the
trail.
The morning sun picked out little bright
!eweI-like spots, on the instrument he had
leveled across the top of the big stump He
seemed TO be a surveyor taking levels.
Just three man riding bronchos came
IN sight az d sudden turn In the trail, he
bowed his head to the level of the instru-
ment and looked carefully along It's smooth
length.
The bronchos were coming along at
swinging walk, their heads on a level with
their withers, and the bricle reins hanging
loosely in the hands of the riders.
Suddenly there was a nervous Tightening
Of the right hand grasping the instrument;
a sharp click close to it; a puff of smoke
followed by a sharp crack. and the man
riding the second broncho tumbled from the
saddle, shot through the heart. He rolled
over as he fell. and the bright bIots OF
blood splashed over the rose laayes by the
side of the trail
The first cayuse startled out of his sleepy
lope BY the report and flash, reared and
plunged madly forward AS he took the
first bound in the air a bullst glanced from
the high korn in front of the man and went
tearing its corkScrew way through the
Leather flaps Of the big Mexican saddle.
The rider yelled and dug the spurs in the
L.F4 4
hot lead scorehing its way close to his skin.
Damn bad shOti' the man behind the
stump jerkes out between his square jaws.
as he pumped the lever Of his repeater for
ward and back
Evidently he had meant wen but the cay
use rearing had diverted the bullet from its
intended way.
Ths third broncho and its rider were max
ing good time in the other direction. The
shot he sent after them did not increase
their speed any, for they were doing their
level best.
The amin / the dead man had ridden did
not move. He stood beside the fallen fig
ure. waiting with dumb patience for his
master to rise and mount again
Throwing the empty shell from the
breech Of his rifle, the man who had fired
the shots walked lelsurely over to the fig
pre lying on the ground.
We'll. Jack, old man. he said. address,
Ing the horse, you're a damned sight hon
ester than your master II he'd stuck to
his pals as close as you're doing he'd be
ready for grub-pile at noon instead of
bleaching out here
And l guess he cached the 'stur' in this
big apperajos, too hs added. showing his
hand down IN the ample, bag-like affair.
Yes, II was there right enough; whole
bag full of t. Forty-four hundred dollars,
as was found out afterwards.
Then he turned his attention to the man
lying on his back, with the great ragged
red cash in his chest where the enclrcling
bullet had plunged through
Well, pard, you've thrown down your
mate for the last time. Whisky orinkin' is
bad business. but whisky tradin' is away
up in c. to jedge by this wad-" And he
banded the bag of money lovingly.
You might a-known better than TO throw
me down" he added. reproachfully, as
though he were trying to throw the blame
of the murder upon the man himself.
Come on now, Jack II use you for
little" and he leisurely threw his leg over
the cayuse and disappeared down the Mis-
soula end OF the trail
He had not gone far before he turned
short TO the left up a dry water course.
Here he stopped. and, dlsmounting pro-
ceeted TO wrap some old bags he pulled
out from behind rock about the feet of
the cayuse
You're a tenderfoot. Jack; you've hit
the trail so often that you're bit sore in
the toes he remarked. In a dry mono
tone. as he worked al the bags.
Then he mounted again, and went across
country for about three miles. until he
miles and miles from Golden
AS ne rode along he let his thoughts work
themselves out in words. firing them at
Jack. and puhctuating them with swing
fngs digs from the big spurs which hung
rather loosely on his rather htgh-heeIed
boots.
They'll think that the prospector who
tatd your Old man out has hit the trail for
Missoula and Lit out
IheyH pick up tracks there. all right
enough. but they amt yourn, Jack
Let me see" he added pulling watch
from his pocket; Whisky Saunders took
that bad spell about 10 o'clock. The tav On
lAe cayuse Will strike Golden about noon
Old Steel anc his Jim-Dandies Will pull out
x hai an 2. ur, and pick up your tracks
neadln Tor Mtssoula about g.
"Therell be a hell of a row. and tbav,u
tun IN some poor devil before night. They
cop almost any one but me-
lust as tney neared the edge of the Big
within. 0's lance
7 guess Blazes smells you. Jack" be
faid, ehuekiing softly. He thinks we've
oeen long time over the lob"
III give you a drink" he said as ba
sc,IIa osnlouhtso, ana you,n hang out here until
s@oine @ one throws a line over you tonight.
6irI i1t Il cut you loose when it's time"
Then he mounted Blazer and rode in a
Dis circuit skirting the cedar swami and
Upon the mountain side on his way baoL
- 5oIden: IL was dark when he got to the
Iofd on Kicking Horse river fus1 opnosite
The town. Halfway across he tooI = care
.uI pun TO one side, letting Blazer feel his
way carefully Stopping the horse he taoE
ms winchester and threw IL far OUT on tba
upper s'de OF the ford; that is he tool
pig SWING at IL. but the loose end 81 he
- Ale me caught in the breech and the
iIne came spIashing down at Blazers booys
Damned bad throw" he said erimiv.
.nen ne chuckled softly to himself q
guess this outfit'H cut loose bettert'' and he
commenced firing 1885 Cartridges far o,'t
E.to the stream with vigorous swings of
~fN. .,Nl.
SoIhPiaeently II wish the gun laid as deen
-, " 81 9ao nshlng now, an guess they
Hhsh Blazers hoofs lost the rnut,sd
souno OF the water and struck with a sharn
T1s on the snooth-worn stones on ths-
SoLaeh side OF the Kicking Horse. the r,der
80 ms iohg legs hitching swing and tbs
HosSo broke into iope. '-''
a was ne night before the dsy that ~.
Nhshy snuggler lay out on ths Wtsso,.te
. traH. stark and stiT. with his red IifabIond
sOiashed all over the tawny mat of go
teaVes and wtthered rosebushes and
young English girl stood in AryiI santGa,,.
Lachelor quarters. not very sumntno,,S
quarters were they either shcwInf, rnTcb
OF Careless mis- rule and absence -, .-I-- iA