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


a dry twig snapped. until at last he halted.
Quivering al. through. behind hemlock,
for the red CLEAN of a fire flickered out
among some willows perhaps two hundred
yards below.
Then Carson felt thankful he had been
sportsman at home. and in British Co
lumbia had stalked the wood deer, as
dropping on his hands and knees he
crawled nearer. stopping at times to listen.
while fortunately the bush was open, for
there parts of the Pacific slope forest
which even at monday no man without an
AK could force his way through. He could
hear low voices now and then, while occa-
sionally a great trunk hid the light; but,
moving forward, he found il again, and at
last wriggled like a snake among the slen-
der stems Of the willows, knowing that
any blunder would sign his death warrant
now. Once few leaves rustled above him.
and branch creaked and il seemed to his
excited fancy that the sound must fill the
bush; but still he heard no challenge, only
a confused murmuring and the crackle of
the fire, and, holding his breath he won a
few yards more. Then a fallen trunk lay
across his way, and lifting his head above
it cautiously, he rested the gun barrel on
the moss. and, while tiny artery drum
med inside his head, stared below him over
the twin muzzles.
Under a spreading maple, whose leaves
blazed with gold and crimson where the
light touched them, two men sat in the red
glare bending over the hide package
wherein lay a little pile of what looked
like coarse grains of sand, though there
were a few larger pieces among them. One
was bronzed and stalwart, with little, cum
ming eyes of a type more common in sea-
board cities than the British Columbian
bush. The other was haggard and hollow
in face, while something about him which
suggested an Englishman seemed curiously
familiar. Carson noted all this, and also
with exultation that the rifles rested
against a hemlock some few PAGES away.
I'm glad it's over" said the weaker of
the pair. 81 want the gold, heaven knows
how much; and yet-well, it's no use say
ing now that I'm almost sorry 1 ever
thought Of it. oh, hang the measure! Take
what you think is your share, and then the
sooner we part the better. Before two days
are over. we will have twenty armed
ranchers securing the bush for u.s. I'm
heading west, to come out by the lake trail,
If ever reach it,"
NO more use for me now?" said the 9TH
er, with an ironical grin. "Of course, this
kind of thing is way beneath a heightened
man like you. Yes, l should say we had
better be rustling; and I'm contented to
strike out for myself. You're not worth
much at a hard march, any way
He wrapped up the package tenderly,
while the other looked down at the little
heap before him with a somber face and
moody eyes; then, as he turned to stir the
embers with the toe of his WORKOUT boot,
faced round with an imprecation.
Hold upi'' The stern summons rang
sharply through the shadows. Hands
above your heads; now move finger and
it's all over with your and Carson rose
upright into the glow of the fire with the
twin barrels leveled on the foremost. It's
not Winchester" he added grimly; "and
1 could get both of you. Drop that packet
1t was done, and for the space of few
seconds there was no change in the tab
leau. The shadows drew in closer, and
opened out again as the red freight rose
and fell, glinting on the rifles which lay
temptingly just out of reach, and showing
the three figures standing rigid and still as
though they were carved things, with no
life in them. Then the stouter of the rob-
bers flinched as he gazed at the stern face
behind the rib of the double gun. He knew
that big shot spreads, while as in this case
there was no lever TO jerk a touch on the
! second trigger would certainly complete
| what the first discharge left unfinished
He also glanced towards the rifles side
| ways out of the corners of his eyes, but it
would take several steps to reach them
and said, sullenly:
| 'Euchred We give in. You have won the
game. Will you show us the rest of your
| hand?'
Its a strong one" said Carson, dryly.
1.-TWO and half ounces of shot, while even
| if it didn't all hit you, my partners wait
| ing ready with the ak. 1 want all the gold,
your weapons, and one of you to deliver up
to justice. We could hardly manage the
| two. Which it is does not matter; and you
| can settle it between you
There's no need" said the other man.
'I am sick of a hopeless struggle and am
willing to go. Besides I'm played out;
something badly wrong with my lungs.
This was my last bid for fortune. lost it,
and it's all over now"
"Then I'm off," said his comrade. You
| swered:
eff you walk straight through the
| bush-nO."
The tramp of feet grew fainter. and died
| away, while when the hush of the forest
settled heavily down again. and there was
| only the sputtering of the fire, Carson
looked at his prisoner, wondering uneasiy
| what next to do. Exactly where Lee was
| he did not know, and felt that it might be
better to do without him than to hail and
| get no answer.
what are your orders, Henry Carson?
May 1 sit DOWN." asked the man, with no
| trace of Western accent; and Carson
| started, for again he struck and more
| strongly, by the resemblance to some one
/ he had known long ago.
| "Open your jacket; no weapons 1 see