The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-14
faculties ana SPEAK calmly.

Inc Otner slowly Sn00k his head.
II guess" he replied. there amt no
Misunderstanding our part at
least You made the mistake when you
came here to spy on u.s.
Right there you are wrong" War
ner said. II did not come here to SPY
on you"
"Ah. come! You can't fool us. If
you amt one Of them revenuers sneak
Ing round to locate our still. what are
you doing here at this time of night
and in all this storm?'
'Well, in the first place 1 am the
new schoolteacher In this district. I've
been here week, and you have proba-
bly, heard OF me. In the second place,
this being Saturday. l spent the day
fishing. remained too late. and with
this rainstorm lost my way. In the
third place in my wanderings around
this morning l accidentally stumbled
on this spot. Now there's the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth, so help me-"
After a pause, the man with the gun
replied:
THAT may be so, but still don't see
that it changes matters any. You'd be
most sure to report on us for the sake
of the reward"
III pledge you my word of honor
that will never whisper to any living
mortal word of all this"
| Maybe you won't: but, you see. we
can't tell about that Sometimes
mans word and honor don't amount to
much, and we can't afford to take no
! great chances. There's no use of all
this talk. We know our duty to our
selves, and we propose to do it, Boys,
bring him on and let's settle it."
Two men advanced and took Warner
by the arms to lead him away to the
Big spring. Pale with terror, he cried:
Great God! Would you murder
-me?"
ut is better for you to go that way
than for us to go at the end of rope.
Loosen his feet, boys so he can step
along"
They cut Abe cord about Warmers
legs and started forward into the
woods. But a woman, her face white
and anxious, her hair flying wildly in
the wind, barred their way.
For Gods sake, Liz" the man with
the gun cried, whats up?"
They're here" she gasped. Then
clasping her hands and looking into his
face appealingly, she added: go, quick,
Jake ! Fly before they get you"
What are you talking aboutY Jake
demanded who is it? Not the
Yes, yes; the revenuers! The cab
ms surrounded, and they're searching
the woods. l slipped away, but most
likely they seen me. Don't wait, Jake
but go quicky'
His face darkened, and a dangerous
light came to his eyes.
ID emp he said bitterly. "Let
'em GOMEZ I'll get some Of 'em before
they get me-" Then, turning to his
men, he added: "Stand back out Of the
light, boys, SO that you can't be seen.
Wait minute! This man has been
spying on lis, and we'll fix him for It
first"
With that he struck off TITO the
woods, commanding two of his men to
follow with Warner and the others,
with Liz, to hide
After covering about thirty yards
along the side of the mountain he STOP
ped on the brink Of dark hole 1t was
the Big spring, that greedily swallows
up everything that falls a prey to it
and gives nothing back.
A cold chill Of horror went over
Warner as he heard the water boiling
and bubbling down there in the dark.
Throw him In, boys" Jake said
coolly.
The men began to push Warner for
ward. In his struggles the rope slip
ped from his arms. Finding his hands
free, he wrenched himself from the
grasp Of one of the men and. striking
him quick blow, sent him reeling
back toward the spring There was a
scream, heavy splash in the water
and then silence. Quickly following
up his advantage, he struggled to free
himself from the other man and had
almost succeeded when Jake gave him
a push that sent him flying over the
brink of the spring and clear to the op-
poslte side, where he struck against
the bank.
AS he began to sink down into the
hole he clutched frantically in search
Of support. When half his body was
In the water, his fingers grasped a jut-
ting stone that checked his fall. There
he hung, his whole weight on his fin
gers and the waters Juggling at him
as If angrily determined to tear him |
away.
BY fash of lightning Jake saw him
clinging to the wall and with an oath. |
started around to that side of the
spring. In another flash Warner saw
Jake with his gun raised to strike him.
At the same instant there was n
pistol report, and in the darkness War
ner felt a heavy body plunge past him
and heard great splash in the water.
Then, Just as his fingers had begun
to relax their hold, a pair of strong
hands grasped his wrists and saved
him from sinking. For the first time
In his life he tainted
When he returned to consciousness.
ha lVinU haforo R,~o L., A.