Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-12-04
Copyright. l902.l
CHAPTER TX.
Rnncnoh and Loat.


draw from It's hiding place from be.
meath the sands or wire grass. lie
was not infrequently rewarded by tnd'
Ing an animal In the Jaws of trap
oowardIy gnawlng ut It's own imprln'
oned limb and attempting 70 skulk
away at HIS approach. These pelts.
which were usually carried 10 n safe
hiding place, added 20 the luggage on
his back containing fresh baits for
hls trnpa aud food supplies. made hll
burden quite heavy one, but II did
not cause him 10 abandon his Win
chester, revolver and knife, which
were his constant companions"-And
they were not carried for ornament,
Toward night he decided to climb
20 the top Of tho rlmrocka and take
survey Of the country. Away TO the
west he saw the moving forms OF Fol
lett and HIS companions, hs their
horses logged along. leaving cloud
OF dust behind them. lie brought his
field glasses 20 his eyes and surveyed
the men for q moment and the thought
ran through his mind. Wonder what
kind OF doviltry that Dan Follett Is
out on for his master this timer
Hammnrsiey had bchcld the Victim
Of these two men too long not to BUS
pect every move they made 10 be
wicked one.
"If you knew how hot your trail Is
getting, Dan Follett, you would hunt
n colder one. but | hope to see the
same ropo hang you and your mas
ter" said the trapper half audibly.
The trappor looked down n, hla
winchester and shook HIS head hes
itatingly saying, mo. no, let ven
Eeance come In the proper manner
Az no turned In disgust his eyes
fell upon another object, far away
ON the opposite side of the r!mroegs
A great cloud Of dust rose behind II
and the word Snakes" eseaped his
Ilps. Bringing his glass 10 play, he
was no tlmo In making out the char
Rcter of his party. After surveying u
carefully he remarked. "old Egan has
been at work again." Then he ex.
claimed, as he looked through his
glasses. "a Girl captive as sure as
| live. All. Egan stealing horses has
become too tame for yass( has ltG You
ara noe satasned with pfovtding your
Atomaches and means OF locomotion,
and the hazard OF occasionally killing
man who rcsists you, but now YOU
have gone and taken some innocent
white girl"
81 am not the law. neither should |
attempt 10 punish you for your mum.
erous crimes. for | rather like to see
YOU harass the Lord Of The Desert oc'
casIonally--he deserves II. but | pro
pose to look into this caper OF yours" "
As the trapper watched the course
the Indian party was taking ne saw
ut a glance that 1t was making for the
watering place that night. near the
picture rocks. He was first to arrive
al the place and secretei himself In
n crevasse OF the rocks near the top
and watched their approach. having
selected a place from which he could
observe the camping grounds about
the watering place,
The reader is familiar with what
took place from the time OF the ar
rival of the Indians until the inter
ference OF the trapper. for II was he
who assalled Old Egan when the lat.
ter laid his wicked hands upon the
person of Bertha Lyle.
Old Egan was strong and firm but
the trapper was active and wiry,
with the advantage, too, of having
taken the Indians by surprise he soon
tore him from the girl and hurled him
10 the ground. But as the cry made
by the warriors as they came TO the
rescue of their chief warned him that
he had not the time TO finish settling
accounts with his ANTAGONIST, II he 81
desired, he seized the girl by the han'l
and led the way into crevasse In the
rimrocks with which he was familiar.
AS they passed into the recesses 1T
the rocks. he heard exclamatons
from the Indians which alarmed him
as to his immediate future course
with the girl. They had recognized
him and knew where he lived, and to
approach his home with her would be
dIfIlcult should the Indians attempt to
guard 1t. He was not long In doubt
on this point, for he heard Egan give
directions for them to so Immediately
to the trapper's place and guard 1t
until he came.
II once hidden In the home in the
same room as that occupied by the IN
valid. he never feared for the danger
of her rescue, for the passage to this
room was so secret that no one had
ever been able to find It, though In his
absence his home had been visited by
Indians and whites, and ransacked
many times.
It was easy to discern from the
shouting OF the Indians that while q
part of the band, headed by Old Egar
were on their way to the trappers s
home the others were reclIessly try.
ing to follow his trail, for knowing his
craftsmanship the man who trifled
with him knew the risk he was taking
But the Indians knew that as long as
ne could prevent 1t he would never
fire gun, while the girl was In his
company; that this would endangeT
her life by drawing the fire to her.
After going a long distance through
the crevasse made by natures great
upheavel In the long past. Hammers,
ley led the way into secluded place
which he thought was unknown to any
except himself.
AS he and his companion seated
themselves the shouts of the Indians
came to their ears from the distance
The girl was the first to break the ST.
lence.
do you live In this country, my
dear preserver?" she inquired
When he informed her that he did
she said Il have an uncle some
where on the desert; his name is
Lyle, Martin Lyle. DO you know
hlm? The trapper nodded in the af
firmative.
"Oh, IL we could convey word tc
him." she said, he would come I'm