The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-07-10

to Mr. Brown. Then Mrs. Brown COM
menced crying again and saying re-s
| George, you think moresof5 that gold:
than you do Of your wife and children, sor
you'd give it to these men to save our
| lives
Then short, broad-shouldered man
came into the dining rom, tired of his
frUitless search HeaYy Us as said to MN;
it. Here, you watch this fool Wornan. nd
see that young one don't get out pf@the
hoTse and Tn ss s 1b can
I've looked everywhere else," said he,
taking Heavysets place as guard.
No use to look in the Kitchen - said
folks don't leave things that's worth any
thing J. lying around loose where China
! "Now, Boss" said the short man. If
we don't find that plant Of yours pretty
| quick you'll never see another sunrise"
At that moment Mr.. Brown looked at
Alta. "Rob's gone for help!'1 said the;
nimble fingers.
! Oh, what relief those silent fingers had
! given hin! He felt very sure from the
! boldness Of the men that they would not
leave him alive to follow and identify
them. whether they obtained the gold or
Heavyset's search resulted In finding
| few dollars and some jewelry! belonging to
Mrs. Brown. Drawers were empt1ed OF
| their; contents on the floor, trunks, boxes
ner. Even the beds were ripped open and
shaken out, without finding the coveted
| gold dust. The man outside called out to
Hurry up, there; some one is on the
road over the hill toward the city, for I
see a big dust there
| toward Mr.. Brown, the lock Of his pistol
clicking ominously, .'thej gold dust or your
| At that moment Tornmie; who had been,
awakened by the voice Of the horseman
calling to those within the house, diverted
the robbers attention from Mr.. Brown,
| one long, loud shrek Of fright, a shout for
Rob- and darted out again, SO suddenly
that there was no use. in calling to him to
at his iretreating form as it disappointed are
in the, chaparral. Tommie's4 foot, caught,
In some trailing vines, and, falling head
l ball that went over him.
Y Ere the :robber had time to fire again,
Hbo auah ao b BIS ha Sb
| him heavily to the floor, his pistol drop,
| ping from his nervous grasp.
i HeaYYset sprang out at the front door,
Il mounted his horse, and the two robbers
!! rode swiftly away, not, however, without
/ q parting shot from the miners who had
come at such timely momentto the rescue
\ Mr. Brown and All Cow were Quickly
i released from their uncomforta BILE posi-
|! tons. Mrs Brown had tainted when the
| robber fired at Tommie, and lay upon the.
Ii floor. Alta sat beside her crying, pictur-
|! ing to herself. merry, lowing little Tommie
i dead or wounded, or perhaps dying alone
Iin the chaparral. itftl5 i'trti - ~ .tt!'
Il She left her mother to her fathers care
| and went to search for him. He was SO
badly frightened that she was obliged to
call many times before she could obtain a
After assuring themselves that none or
MT. Browns family We're injured the
miners turned their attention toward the
wounded robber. whose false beard had
l!become displaced when he fell disclosing
| TO their astonished gaze the we'll known
features Of Arkansaw. the man who had
endeavofhd to obtain employment from
| Lets, hang him to the nearest tree!
that h i'd 81 NV ya T sad 9aii en-
| mo-" said Mcconnell, ''he has but a
| few moments to live; let him die in peace,
| whatever h5s his crime may haye ,beesnrttiP
| grateful expression, in, his eyes, then mo-
toned for him to come nearer which he
III You have anything thing to say say speak
while YOU can, for you.havei bit a short
| time to live
"In my breast pocket" said he, n'you
Wil fl qd letter sa aad ehsek fer large
en- IN the, letter. Promise me that they;
shall never know how died. My name IS
4 there. Keep it a secret from the world,
for the sake Of my wife and children.
| They do not know the life Il have led
here. know that can trust you, for
employ at the mine have been acting as
| spy for the gang; watching for the chance
| that we attempted to take advantage of
| today. We knew that you would come
back here; tonight and it would be easier
! to get the gold before YOU returned. We
| intended to make Brown tell where the
gold was, then kill him to lessen the
i chances of detection: .gf.{i i.sIG4 -
| These words were uttered in broken,
I disconnected ,toness Then, withsIa shud-
dering groan .'Arkansaw'"' was dead.
Mcconnell sent the check as the dead
man mar had requested, and letter inform s
| many weeks had passed there was mourn
ing and bitter tears Of sorrow shed in a
I peaceful home away least jof THE Rocky
| mountains for the dear good husband and
father who had died So suddenly in the
4 far-off mines of sunny California.
A Mrs. Brown had received such a fright
that arrangements were made imrnedi-
! ately with Mcconnell to take charge Of
4 the management. of the mine and ranch,
and Mr.. Brown moved his family to Sac
ramentos where, under the scare and adj
IL ly recovered her health and spirits. She
7 HWe owe everything %to> o,dr brave,
A. thoughtful Alta but Rob ,says:,s, lff.is H.
i II think they owe something to me for
bringing help so, speedily" ,tl,:I; ,ilifNEf1
tI3siI have told what Altura did, but it
might have been told, In just five wortis--
y she saved her fathers life.
4 80 - :. - 40 zl-- y '1l5't