CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-09-26
, By SYLvANUs COBB. Jr.


have been for bringing him TO such
a place: To the left, where the ba-
sin had once emptied itself, there
was a dark. deep. cayelike place, at
the mouth OF which heap of rub
bish had collected What a place in
which to hide dead body. So
thought Ruric. But he was startled
from the dark reverie by darker
reality.
One of the men had taken a club,
long. heavy bludgeon which the
youth had not before seen, and was
Just balancing it in one hand while
he spat upon the other.
"You will not murder me here in
cold bloodl" uttered Ruric, starting
back.
The stout rufiian clutched the
club in both hands, but made no
verbal answer.
'Speak, For Gods sake answer
mel" the prisoner exclaimed. start
ing back another pace ''Do you
mean to murder me-"
"Why," answered the man with
the club in cool, oifhanded man
ner, "since you are so anxious to
know. I'll tell you You will die
within minute"
"And will you take the life Of one
who never harmed you? Hold If
money be your Object
"Stopw interrupted the villain.
"You can't argue US out OF 1t in that
way. You've got to die, and the
sooner you go the sooner you'll get
over it, You won't suffer bit If
you don't go to kicking up fuss.
There, now. II you hadn't bothered
me 'twould have been all over by
this time"
Oh. what would Ruric have given
at that moment for the use of one OF
his armsi But that was beyond
praying for. Yet he had his. feet.
He said nothing more, but he allow
ed the man to come within q few
yards Of him, and then he prepared
for the only means of defense he
had The huge club was raised, and
at that moment Ruric saw that the
other man also had club. He
knew then that they had been con-
cealed there until now.
"Hark" uttered the second vii
lain just az his companion had rais-
ed his club "Whai noise is that =
Il suppose they're coming 10 see
il we've finished the job" returned
the other, "apd. by the saints, we
ought to have done it ere this. But
they shall find it DONE"
The pondcrous club was raised
again. and. with quick, decisive
movement. the man advanced. Ru-
ric made n movement of the body as
though he would bow his head for
the stroke. Every nerve and muscle
of his frame WIS set for the trial.
aad for the instant his heart stood
still Quick a. thought his body
bent--his right knee was brought
almost to his chiL and then. with
all the forrc lac could command. he
planted hi, foot in the pit Of the
assassin's stomach. The effect was
electrical. The wretch bent like a
broken stick and sank down without
single sign OF life.
The second man uttered an oath
and spri,ue forward with upliftcd
club. bu l,uric easily dodeed the
blow. and then. as the thought for
the first time flashed upon his mind.
he darted { where the lantern stood
and overturned H. lie had noticed
an open passngc close At hand which
seemed to lead TO some sort Of
dressing room, and. guided by his
memory alone. for it was now dark
as frchus there. hc glided swiftly
into ii. Whom he knocked over the
lantern, he had upset column and
all, and just as he reached the pas
cage be heard heavy fall. and lie
know that bis enemy had stumbled
over the fallen column. He heard
the curses. loud and deep. which
dropped FROM the lips Of the bailied
man Ms hc picked himself up. and in
a moment more he was edited by a
conversations between tho two, for
villain No. had revived. fhongh
the tone Of bis voice plainly indieat-
ed That he had severe pain still
lingering with him.
"Michael, Miehael'' groaned No.
1, and as he spoke Ruric could hear
him serambling up on his feet
'stli. Oriol." returned No ?.
"Iiave you dropped hims''
''Now cried Michael, with a curse
which we do not choose to tram
acrihn tsIInl. II nnrfnrl hnuil z,