Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-19

spite of their wet clothing they pres
emily fell asleep.
| Some time later-it must have been
near midnight-Quin awoke, feeling
restless and uneasy. He heard a
horse neigh over by the mouth of the
gorge, and the na&t moment, as ne
glanced suspicious about, he per-
ceived, through the din. s,com, sever
al dark objects approachiLG the lower
point of the island from the south side
of the river. 1t was the work Of an
instant to rouse and alarm his COM
panion.
-Four of them" muttered Darrell,
as he peered over the breastwork of
cotton bales. ITS Black Barton and
his lot. They must know about the
money, and they intended to hold us
up yonder in the ravine."
Quin had kept his two loaded re-
volvers dry, and he gave one to his
companion. BY this time the intrud-
ers had gained the point of the island,
and were creeping forward along the
waters edge.
Hold on there" shouted Darrell.
"Who are you?"
Friends" came the prompt answer,
and with that the four made rush,
firing volley at the same instant.
A brief and thrilling fight now en-
sued. The three desperadoes had
scattered, and as they crawled for
ward over the sand they fired rapidly,
the shower of lead plowing in the
cotton bales.
Just then a bullet tore the revolver
from Quin's grasp, and his numbed
stinging hand dropped to his side. An
instant later Darrell clutched at his
chest, rolled over Imply, and lay quite
still. That the poor fellow was dead
Quin did not doubt. He had no more
cartridges, but there was no time to
reload.
81 must try to escape" he decided.
Its the only chance Of saving the
money, and my life as we'll"
AS he turned and fed, bending low,
he was seen. A couple of bullets
| whizzed by him. He gained the box
by a rapid movement. unbolted the
heavy wooden door and threw it open,
and then dashed on to the wagon.
Looking back from behind this shelter
he saw the liberated puma make
flying leap that landed it on the breast
of the foremost of the three despera-
does, who had sprung over the barri-
cade in chase of the fugitive. With
screams of rage and terror-a chorus
to turn ones blood Goldman and
beast fell together on the sand. The
formers companions drew back in
panic making no effort to help him.
This was Quin's opportunity. He
left the stony bed of the river, mount
ed to the mouth of the gorge, and
quickly discovered what he sought
four horses tethered at the base OF
the cliff.
Three of them he was compelled to
abandon, as he had no knife with
which to sever the lariats. BY the
time he had united the one, and
swung into the saddle, his enemies
were dangerously near. He rode at
a gallop up the narrow defile. and at
intervals, as he spurred on, he heard
the Gathering sounds of pursuit far
in his rear. But these presently faded
away, and unbroken silence reigned
around him.
1t was 8 o'clock in the morning
when Quin reused the sleeping inhabi-
tants of Peak City to listen to his
thrilling story. He put Kenwood's
money in safe hands, and was soon
escorting party of armed and mount
ed men back to the scene of the fight.
They found Darrell alive, but un-
conscious, with a bullet through his
| chest. The puma was dead, stabbed
to the heart with knife, and close
by was the torn and mangled body of
Black Barton-for he was promptly
identified as that much-wanted indi-
vidual. After innicting the fatal
thrust of the enraged animal, he had
himself succumbed from loss of blood.
Face downward on the pebbles at the
edge of the island lay the rutfian who
had fallen at the first volley. The two
remaining highwaymen had evidently
not returned to learn the fate of their
| leader, and they must have wasted no
time in getting out of the Territory,
as tney were never apprehended.
| 1t may be said in conclusion that
one of Kenwood's ranchmen, who dis
appeared soon after the tragedy, was
strongly suspected of having informed
the bandits that Quin was taking the
bag of money to Peak City.-New
York Evening Sun.