Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-09-25

SO she pinned a brilliant leaf to
tree trunk and at twenty paces-split
it at the first trial.
The sun was still high above the
nils when she started to return to her
aunt's. AS she went down the old
state road a sudden Gathering caused
her to turn her head. Three men
mounted on powerful horses came
trotting down the slope Susan step
ped aside TO let them pass and one of
the horses. catching sight of her, sud-
denly sprang aside and almost unseat-
ed his rider. Susan looked up anx-
iously and saw to her astonishment
that the mans heavy beard was twist
ed very much to one side. But he
quickly regained his seat with an oath.
and, striking the horse. clattered after
his companions. Susan wondered why
the man was disguised and dimly fan
cied that the three rough-looking stran-
gers were up to some mischief. But
she was thinking of Jack the next mo-
ment and the strange incident was
shelyed.
A few moments of brisk walking
brought her to the brow of the hill
where the road turned sharply and ran
AZ an oblique along the side of the steep
descent. Susan seated herself on a log
and looked down into the village. which
lay. as it We're. at her very feet She
traced the one long street Of the ham
let. which was but a continuation Of
the highway, and followed the dusty
line past her aunts trim home, and
the little park with its soldiers mon
ument. and the town hail, and then
along to the bank-Jack's bank-and
there her gaze rested.
Miss Susan's eyes were good ones
and the air was very clear. She saw
a horseman sitting in his saddle at the
bank door. He was holding the bri-
dies of two riderless horses. Even as
she noted this the two riders rushed
from the building and leaped into their
saddles There were puffs of white
smoke and sharp denotations. Susan
could see people running in wild con
fusion. Then three riders started at q
sharp carter up the road. Every dozer
Yards or so one would turn in his sad
die and ire down the roadway.
Susan knew what this strange scene
meont 1t was a daylight bank rob
berv. one Of a series that terrorized all
tho countryside during the past sum
mer The three robbers were retreat
ing with their plunder What had hap
nened in the bank; Why was Jack
not pursuing themf Sic suddenly turn
ed sick and cold
Tbar an indesrribable impulse seized
bar She let herself over the edge OF
tho hank and began a mad scramble
down the steep declivity. She meant
80 ir+arcept the ruffians. She slid
sba stumbled, once she fell, but she
narer let 90 her hold on her precious
riaa And then. as the earth suddenly
seemed falling away from her, she
rpachpd the leNel SIOuA4N ~ -
beon But she was on her feet Id
moment The highway was directly De
fore her The robbers were canterin2
nv The man in the rear was the MAI
With the beard. and he had coarse
hag eung across the saddle before hih
No was directly opposite Susan as sn'
nIunged down to the edge of the road
20 He must have taken her Tor al
enemy for his gllttering revolver ne"
nm and he fred in her direction quitt
ot random. Susan felt sudden tw4tci
- her broad-brmmed hat and quickly
s.onned behind some bushes that iineo
tho roadway. The barrel Of her rin'
rnsa The robber was rapidly increas
mo tbe distance between them SUI
n"a him covered. A moment more ant
,t u'T might be too late. She thought o.
Jack and fired ,,o,
Tho horse of the fleeing man sudden
,ooned TO one side and flung hi'
rIdsr heavily to the earth. as ne wen
down he dragged the bag OF piuhuel I
Nth him. The riderless horse saiiope'
after his companions. - ron,
an, Thon Susan Galton Brown spran'