The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-11-07

ing the country with their dogs and
guns. Every one knew them. and most
persons liked them Tessa did not.
Stoner, though it was midnight. sat
in the moonlight on an old rawhide
chair outside the door smoking his pipe
and meditating-a tough, sinewy, griz-
zled night owl of man.
"That Internal knucklehead at the
camp ought to have reported before
now,P he thought to himself as he
smoked.
man came out of the brush and
spoke deferentially.
''Capn, good evening"
you're late"
"Dick was shot"
"Well?'
"Just as the driver throwed off the
box. Shot by a passenger in the neck
and shoulder"
"He mustn't stay here to get us into
trouble. Take boat and carry him to
the point and leave him in the cave
there"
Yes. cap'n."t
GLOW much aboard?"
about $1,000 for the Josephine min
ers."
"Send it over the cliff before morn.
ing, and I'll divide it up soon. But
you be extra careful-that new sheriff
is smart one"
IAN right. cap'n. "And the man went
back to camp.
moment later. just as Stoner was
going into the house, there was q
low thud of horses hoofs. and Ton
Warren, the young sheriff. rode down
the trail around the corner of the
old adobe building into the country
road that led to the west. He had at
last yielded to Tessa's entreaties tc
60, so. this minute. Tom"
lmpassive as Stoner was he felt a
little startled by the sight.
Where in the devil did you come
from. sheriff? Anything up in this
part Of the countryY'
'Oh. no. not a particle. I've been
visiting my old school in the noun
tains and took the trail home down
Cayucus"
This was plausible enough, for there
was a blind trail that entered the can
yon just east of the angle of the house
Stoner felt little relieved.
Wont you put up and stay with Us
all night?"
mo, Mr. Stoner; must go down to
Kestral to see my friends there. IT'S
cnly an hours ride"
THAT settles it," thought Stoner
Plenty of stout fellows to use as sher-
ifs deputies there He has probably
stumbled on traces and is going for
help" He sat and smoked and slipped
his hand back under his coat. Easy
to shoot the fellow" he said to himself.
We'll, goodby, Stoner," said Warren
suddenly. 81 suppose the beach road
is as good as ever:"
Perfectly safe. only when you cross
Toro creek keep on the sand bar. It's
as hard as iron. crossed there today"
THANK you. Ados."
Simple, smiling speech. those words
of Stoner, and yer they were intended
to send Warren to his death more sure
ly and safely than by bullet of pistol or
pellet Of secret poison.
Stoner took an extra swig of brandy
and went to his rest. Warren rode
down the rugged hill to the bottom of
the ravine, then turned seward, and
at last the wide guich opened broadly
to the shore of Tie Pacific
The cliffs were from so to 300 feet
high and full of wave worn caves. War
rem drew rein on the beach and for
fully ten minutes watched the ocean
sway and rise. His thoughts throbbed
with dreams of Tessa. He would take
her away from her narrow and hurtful
surroundings. He would force Stoner's
consent. marry her and make her happy.
He rode rapidly south, and in half an
hour the mouth of the Toro appeared in
the midst of sand dunes. breakers roll
ing in and the steady river rolling out.
Here was the long sand bar, ten feet
wide aud stretching across hardly an
inch higher than The water surface
Warren was beginning to have some
suspicious Of Stoner, but not such as to
lead him to doubt the simple directions
Il
safe. but within few days the sea, az
Stoner knew. had swept it nightly,
torn out the long compacted bar and
placed instead quiyering mass of
quicksand so treacherous that not even
Il light footed rabbit could cross with
out being swallowed up and dragged
bodily down. Warren rode swiftly for.
ward, He had crossed sand bars hur-
dreds of times. Some horses would
have been wiser. but the animal he
rode had been bred in the valley
The approach to the bar was hard for
a few rods. and he galloped on Sud
denly. in one heartbreaking. breathless
descent, noistless !, but unutterably
dreadful, Tom Warrens horse went
down, down, and the soft, Shiny sand
came up to his name. He shrieked out
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