Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-23

in rapid flight until finally the Landscape Of
dreamland narrowed down to one little
gulch or ravine, formed between two grace
fully sloping hills deuuded Of timber and
vegetation, save here and there a cluster OF
wild bushes.
The father Of the girl and the Indian were
standing on the bench ofgrouud at the edge
of the gulch which at this point was cut
into a narrow gorge by the freshets of the
pt evious spring,
over the brow OF the hill to the left APP
peared four men on horseback.
1--WE are none too soon" spoke the In
dian. Il told you they would be here at
this hour Let us be out of sight, and they
quietly slipped into the ravine beneath aud
awaited the coming Of the men.
AT little mound of earth, covered with
dry grass the four men dismounted and
two of them began TO dig with shovels they
had brought with them. The object of
their search was soon brought to the sur
face
That's the same old strong box. one of
the men said exultantly. Good job that.
eh2 aud another feller suffered for il Every
body has forgotten this box of money.
Guess it's safe to bring it out after these
long years"
Retributiou was swift, once it took fight
toward its destiny. Two desperadoes fell
at the crack of two rifle shots. AS the two
remaining men started to mount their
horses one of them fell at the FIRE Of two
more charges. The other escaped over the
hill and when he had reached it a parting
shot was fred at him. The hoofs of the
speeding horse clattered merrily and the
echoes rained against the cabin like small
hail stones. The sound came nearer and
nearer, until it ratified the panes of glass in
the little window. From the road into the
open plot in the cluster of cottonwoods a
narrow pathway led to the cabin. Into this
the rider turned, and as he approached he
shouted
open the door. There was no response.
Again the command was shouted, and still
all was quiet within.
The desperate dismouuted and lay hold
of the door knob and shook it violently.
Slowly the eyelids raised and gradually
the impressions Of the dream intensified as
the reality merged from the visions of sleep
into the verities of the awakening.
Who's there2" shouted the girl, now
free from all fear in the face Of actual
danger
open that door aud let me in Never
mind who I am. 7 won't hurt you. But
open and BE- quick"
The man threatened to break down the
door with the AK that lay near by, and Louise
was beginning to fear the consequences.
She was taxing her mental capacity for
solving problems when she heard the dis.
nf1ftar nf hn~ua.n
above the cabin. This added new terror for
her.
Her position was not an enviable one, for
the stranger batteriug at the door for ad
mittance together with the clatter of hoofs
Signalling the approach of more, possibly
of the same, made up sum total of con.
lecture which was bitterly puzzling if not
altogether tormenting.
For Gods sake woman let me in. They
are bounding me to earth. pray let me
in quietly. | swear shall not harm you"
Probably she would be doing right in
shielding this man from possible enemies
why not yield at this supreme moment?
The door was uubarred and the stranger
walked in just as the hoof beats on the road
ceased a few rods from the door.
Just as Louise applied a match to the
lamp wick her father entered. In the
light he saw the face of the desperado
Coyote Jim, as sure as I live, " calmly
spoke the trapper.
My God, it's Dan ThorneW groaned the
highwayman. Better had stayed away
from Montana"
AT that moment the Indian entered. and
when he espied Jim standing against the
wall, shaking with fear, he said:
lin, you are same as dead now. Long
while me and Dan wait for you. heard
you talk in mountain camp yesterday. Fif.
teen years ago poor little wife die and leave
pretty little girl all alone. Poor Dan, he in
pen. He stay there seven long year. He
no hold up stage-you Jim, do it, you know
you do. You die Ike the three back there
in the mountain"
Louise should have never known But
raising his head, and looking into the eyes
of his child: Barefoot did tell me more
than he told you. I am sorry it came about
in this way am innocent The iron box
will testify for me"
Barefoot and Jim walked up the noun
tainside, and Jim never came back.