Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-01-21

lean, raw-boned aud taller than the
first, came out of the brush leading two
horses. one saddled. the other bearing
pack. The rising moon shed but II
dim light along the mountain side yet
Turner saw at a glance that the ani-
ma.s were the old mail carriers
They bit easy" said the shorter
man. with low laugh. There's no one
at camp but this. Now hurry"
The last arrival emptled the grips
and bags and selected whatever was OF
value. He also took couple of pairs
OF blankets and all the ammunition the
boys had left behind them. Then he
began to make a pack of what he had
! taken.
Never mind that" said his compan.
ION. Go over and lay out all the grub
| you can"
The tail stranger went 10 the cook
tent The other knelt down. laid his re-
| volVer on the ground, kept his eye con.
| stantly on Turner, and made roll OF
what the first had put down.
When he had cinched this onto the
pack-horse he marched Turner before
| him TO the cookten
The flaps of the tent were slightly
parted, but there was no light inside,
and everything was quiet He stopped
before the opening, gave Turner the
| bride reins and made him keep his
hands above his head while at the same
time he held the horses.
Hurry up with the stuff" he ex-
/ claimed, looking into the darkness OF
the tent lie waited moment, and,
| getting no answer, pushed aside the
! flaps aud started To enter
| But he had put only one foot inside
when the sound of a heavy blow was
| heard, AMI with a mufled cry he fell
/ forward on his face.
| Instantly McGnnls emerged from
/ the tent, and The surprised Turner saw
/ him drag out both strangers. almost to.
! gether and deXtcrOusly bind their
hands and feet \ new vigor had come
into the old mans frame, a new alert
ness. There were purpose and positive
ness in his every movement as he went
| about his task.
- AiNh tll' lh'lI were secure ne IOOkp0
at Turner. The latter suddenly came to
himself and put down his hands. Me.
GinhiS took the weapons from his prs-
onerS before they reganed conscious.
ness. and with Turner's help got them
into the sleeping tent, where there
were lighted candles.
Il never liked this ones looks" Me
Nhnnis said, by way of explanation, as
he wiped the blood from the face Of the
man who had brought the letter. He
looks like he'd set bait for you. an
that's why | whit away an come back
unbeknoNnce TO EN-. seen 'em whin
l got to the cook-tent. and whin they
come over | was waitin' for EN- wild
the bcar-trap, The only thing | could
find"
Both men soon returned to conscious
ness. and after an effort TO free them
selves they sat in logged silence.
In about half an hour several OF the
searching party returned with our
pouch of mail, but most of the letters
had been opened, and many of them
We're torn and almost DESTROYED. Soon
after, others came, accompanied by
three or four strangers, carrying a limp
form, which they laid carefully upon
one of the beds
The prisoners looked on intenly and
! with unnistakablP signs Of fear.
Morton, orr mail-carrier. had been
shot in the back, and, though danger
| Ously wounded. was still living.
us he deadE' asked the smaller
! prisoner.
At the sound Of his voice Morton,
with convulSiye effort, sat up and put
his hand 10 his side AS If to draw his
| revolver, but it was NOT there.
The men who had come back with
the party relieved the old cook Of his
| prisoners and took them out 10 cIviliZa-
! ton. They were deputy sheriffs, part
/ of Il large posse that for nearly week
/ had followed the trail Of the two des-
/ peradoes.
| The old mali-carrier. unayoidably de-.
/ layed, had fallen in their way when
| they were hard pressed for means OF
/ escape and they had shot him for his
! horses. Then, learning from the letters
! of our presence in the ncighborhoOd,
/ they had played at bold game 10 OBJ
/ tain provisions ana had lost.
! We felt that we knew McGinnis bet
ter after at.-Chicago Record.
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