Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-23

The speaker pushed him along a few
yards until he reached q spot where he
could readily distinguish the outlines of
several men under a tree. AS they APP
preached the group, his captor said:
Here he is. Now, what shall we do
with him."
1t was TarboN who stood behind the
prisoner, and he added.
One of YOU take away his weapons.
Tom Scott sprang to the side of his
old enemy, and to his delight found
two loaded revolvers in his belt, which
he secured, giving one to Taylor.
Avery had taken the one from his
daughter and Tom found that the car
tridges In the weapon just secured fit
ted the empty revolver he had found In
the hut.
To slip three of them into 1t was the
work of a moment. Then our friends
found they had four weapons ready for
use, and determined to lose no time in
recovering their golden treasure.
Lets surround the hut said Tom,
eagerly, and call them out. They'll
surrender when they find they have no
show with us
But Avery advised caution. "They're
desperate men, he said, land they will
fight when cornered. We don't want
any bloodshed over this affair If we can
help it. When daylight comes they
may be glad to give us the gold to save
their skins, but IL we surprise them In
the dark somebody is likely to get
killed"
See here said Tarbox. suddenly,
still gripping Riders collar with his
sinewy hand, why can't this rascal
help us? Send him back. and let him
get hold of the guns in the hut and
bring them out. If he tries amy crooked
business I'll put bullet through him
myself at the first sign"
You hear" said Taylor "Now be
off, and remember we are six to your
three. We already have the horses
safe. and II YOU serve us well you shall
go free, although you ought to be hung
for what you have done. Go back and
get all the weapons you can out of the
hut Hurry up"
"But Bowers Will shoot me In min
ute If he wakes whispered Rider, fear
fully.
Shoot him first then" was the
prompt response. TN shoot you il you
act the least bit suspicious. No more
talk now. Start!'
The muzzle of revolver poled
smartly into the small of his back left
the wretched man no alternative and
he stole away toward the hut, where
his two confederates We're sleeping his
heart beating so loudly that 1t seemed
to him 1t must arouse them the instant
he reached the threshold. He dared not
pause, however, and as he picked his
way along through the trees he began
to realize that the way of the trans
gressor is sometimes not so rosy as 1t
Is painted.
When he reached the door he could
plainly hear the deep snoring of both
men, and. mastering all his courage,
he stepped lightly inside.
In order to reach the rifles in the cor
ner he was forced to step over the body
of Turner. and 1t seemed to the mate
that he lived an hour in the few sec
onds so employed.
His hand trembled SO that 1t was with
the utmost difficulty he managed to Sc
cure the three weapons noiselessly, but
fortune favored him. With bated
breath he stole out of the hut with them
In his arms, and when he reached the
edge of the clearing he was met by
Tarbox who said. grimly:
Good! You make capital burg
lar! Now, how many revolvers have
they got in there?'
They've got two apiece" replied Ri
der, but you might as we'll shoot me
as to ask me to try to get them off the
| men. Bowers sleeps with one eye oper
and he-'
The rest of the sentence was lost by
q. startling interruption.
While he was speaking he had unwft-
tingly raised his voice above a whisper
and aroused the very man of whom he
was speaking, and who now stood IL
the doorway saying:
What the -, Rider Who's thai
you're talking TOP"
Even as he spoke the moons edge APP
peared over the tops of the trees be-
hind the hut and bright shaft of light
illuminated the spot with startling dis
tinctness.
party sprang from the dark shadows
| revolver:
Surrender peaoeably and we Will
only take our cwn. If you show figh,
Well shoot. We are two to Your one.'
'Treachery." snarled Bowers, as he
jerked his revolver from his belt with
lightning speed ard fired pointblank al
Rider.
The bullet sped true to the mark and
with a groan the unfortunate man sank
to the graund, grasping his side con
vulsiNey.
Tarbox fired almost at the same in
slant, his bullet striking Bowers hanG
and sending the weapon spinning to the
ground
Although the wound must have caused
him exquisite pain. the desperate drew
his remaining weapon instantly Will
his left hand and at the same monlen,
Turner appeared appeared and coolly
took his place at his side.
There's too many of en-" he said
after . comprehensive glance about
him. WED better light OUT
Bowers reply was to send a bullet
within half an inch Of Toms head but
1t was his last shot. for the seconC
mate, who had stolen behind the hut
suddenly sprang at him with a heavy
club and stretched him senseless OF
the ground.
When Turner found himself alone
and looking in to the nluZZles of 81
many weapons, he dropped his own
held his hands up above his head anc
said quietly:
Don't shoot, pards. ] gives in"
Tie him up.'' ordered Tarbox.
1T was soon done, and while Tom was
assuring his sweetheart that he ha1
not been injured one of the other mcl
started a fire. Ohed Rider was evil
IDENTIFY mortally wounded, and all that
Portable as possible. He was gently
lifted and carried inside the hut, while
Bowers was secured as soon as he re
covered consciousness.
The mate had been shot through the
lungs, and after examining his wounc
Taylor shook his head and said blunt.
"
~ might as well tell you the truth
You are a dying man"
Rider did not dispute him. Perhaps
with the approach Of death some warn
ing came TO him, for he said in feeble
tones: