The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15

prepared for spring. and then the tension
on his muscles slackened again. for a sec
ond voice said:
Stop right where you are. Another move
and you won't know what's hurt you. I'm
watching you"
The sprays above a low cedar branch
rustled. and Carson, who caught the dim
outline of another barrel turned upon him,
did as he was hidden. After this. while Lee
stood up unioaded looking badly ashamed
of himself the first speaker said:
Stand there against the hemlock while
we tend to you. Drop all those things
about you-sol The cayuse? Guess we've
no use for muling round camp outfit. and
we'll leave him with you. He's branded,
with bit on the off ear, too. Got any
thing else of value? MOI Then march out
straight before you, and something will
happen 10 the first who looks behind him"
Lee struck the Cayuse pony savagely
with his fist, and when he moved detected
ly up the trail carson strobe behind him,
white-faced with dismay and fury, for the
gold they had earned so hardly. founder
ing through snow-choked passes and swing
ing the shovel from early dawn until star
light shimmered on the spectral glaciers,
lay in the red dust behind. Worse still, the
lOng-expected journey home and the chance
of a future had gone with il. So once more
he clenched his right hand until the nails
bit into his hardened skin as he remem-
bered that he must begin the weary strug-
gle penniless again, while there was one
at home who had waited long, hoping
against hope for good tidings from him.
For perhaps half a mile they continued
silently until where the trail dipped to the
noisy river and the roar among the bowl
ders drowned the sound Of their spiritless
steps. Carson sat down on a fallen hem
lock.
You had better rest a while, Lee and
talk things over; there's no hurry now"
he said, bitterly. Good heavens! What
pitiful towards we We're to let ourselves be
robbed of all We had without blow by
men We couldn't even see"
That's Just it, was the answer. You
couldn't see them; they could see you, and
it's use arguing with the man who's
watching you over the foresight with a
steady squeeze on the trigger No; it's
safer to do just whatever he asks you
I'm feeling it, too, and Eliza will talk con-
siderable when L come back again with
nothing-and your English shotgun hang
ing all the time against the cayuse's near
side. out of their sight, but just where 1
couldn't get it. Say, do you figure on
spending all the night here?'
Carson's eyes glittered with a dangerous
light as, lifting the weapon down, he
opened the breach. Two cartridges flied
the chambers. but these he slipped out, re-
placing them with others whose wads bore
the letters B. B.
NO." he answered grimly. "You see,
want that gold particularly. AS L think L
told you, there's a girl in the old country
who expected great things of me, and has
been disappointed-badly. Somehow,
missed my chances hitherto, and now, for
her sake, I'm going to make last effort.
We've had an object lesson of the fact
that the man with his finger on the trigger
is master. Well, it's trick that two can
play at, and it's no great matter if it
doesn't succeed. I'm tired of being a fall
ure, and it will be better, perhaps, for
her.
The stalwart axeman from Cedar Cross
ing glanced at him with sympathy. May
be you're right. I'm coming along" he
said. They have got my gun, but if 1
can jump in before I'm expected, 1 guess
this will do.
Lifting the big double-bitted ak from it's
resting place on the saddle, he swept the
keen-eGged blade, which made flashes in
the moonlight, in a kissing circle around his
head-and, in the hands of those who can
use it, the ak is terrible weapon.
Carson, however. laughed mirthlessly as
no dare v n h11t
would hardly get the opportunity, and this
is my particular business. You have your
ranch, 1 have nothing, unless it is a reputa-
ton for coming to grief. and it's my gun.
However, there's no use getting shot need
lessly, and I'm going up the hillside to
stalk them, while, working around by the
river you might run in when 1 whistled.
If you don't hear the signal in half an
hour you can go back without me-"
''Then good luck go with you, partner
said Lee, of Cedar Crossing, and his hard
fingers trembled as he grasped his COM
rade's hand. 81 don't go back alone, and if
1 hear nothing I'm coming right in with
the AK TO look for you
So they parted, and Carson brushed swift
ly over the dry needles beneath the tower
ing pines, trusting that as their assaiI-
ants would hardly expect any attempt at
reprisal by apparently unarmed men, and
the trail was often untrOdden for days to-
gether, they would camp. at least exam
inc their booty there. How many the par
ty consisted of he did not know, though he
guessed there were not more than two,
and with grim satisfaction he frightened his
grip on the twelve-bOre gun. In an I'M
certain light it was a more reliable weapon
than any rifle. and no single bullet could at
close quarters equal the effect of one and a
quarter ounces of heavy shot Presently,
guessing at the distance, he slackened his