Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-05-28

roadway. the frenzied team vanished
in the distance, a roar as from hun
bred cannons came from behind him.
The very hills seemed shaken to their
foundations. a lurid glare flashed sky
ward and the sun was darkened with
cloud OF rocks, dust and debris.
CHAPTER VII.
Darrell FINDS THE MAN IN COR
DUROYs.
barrels senses had not been taken
away by the fall from the wagon or
the dragging along the trail, but for a
moment after the explosion his con-
sciousness left him. When he stag
gered to his feet and looked back, the
mountain wagon had disappeared as
if.by magic, not splinter of wood or
piece of twisted iron being left.
A huge hole had been scooped out OF
the trail and great powders had been
riven and tossed about In every direc-
ton Beyond the ragged pit lay the
form of Gryce, close to the seat of the
wagon.
The old man lay still and silent and,
after few moments spent in collect
ing his scattered wits, Darrell started
towards him. He had not gone far,
however, when he heard the hoof falls
of horses and instantly remembered
the party of mounted men which had
alarmed him a short time before.
Turning sharply to the right, Darrell
plunged into the underground that bor-
dered the trail. Ascending the steep
slope of a hill for a dozen yards, he
halted in thicket and crouched there
with his eyes on the road below.
Gryce was sitting up on the ground,
rubbing his forehead in confused
way and peering around. The men of
Sandy Bar, riding around the spur,
came suddenly upon him.
Darrell watched and listened intent
Iy. What would be the next move of
his enemies? he was asking himself.
The horseman gazed about them in
establishment. Cliff dismounted and
walked to where the old man was sit
ting
Ibid the giant powder let go,
Gryce?" he asked.
"I'm jest tryin' to figger out what
happened" replied the under foreman
II seem to be all here, but, my! wasn't
1t awful? I got the roar in my ears
yet"
GLOW does it come you're settin'
there with the seat of the wagon
asked another of the Sandy Bar men,
Got throwed out o the wagon"
said Gryce, "an' it's the best thing that
ever happened ter me. S'posin' I'd
been in the old trap along with that
other Teller? I'd be where he is now,
an that's tellin'."
"That other fellow went up with
the wagon, did he?" inquired Cliff.
"Sure. He was hangin' to the lines
when | shot out O. the wagonbox with
the seat. He stayed with the wagon
and the high explosive, all right, an
In reckon he's still with 'em. Got
bowed ter atoms, that's what he
did"
The Sandy Bar men exchanged
glances, then swerved their eyes to
take in the havoc wrought by the ex-
plosion.
Don't We know, Uncle Alb, that was
the chap that killed Sturgis and gave
us the slip at the Bar, last night?"
eye don't mean IT,"
TITS the trr.h," returned Cliff. eve
saw you just before you took that turn
in the trail and we knew the man in
minute"
"Then," returned Gryce, after a
period of reflection, that's why he
let the bronks out inst'id O. pullin' 'sm
in after he looked back an saw you
comm" He got up painfully "Well,"
he added, cts all right; five hundred
pounds o. high explosive is as good as
tree and rope, only mebby not so
satisfyin'. Wonder how I'm goin' ter
set myself right with the super, at the
War Eagle?"
| The Sandy Bar men were not con-
cerned with Uncle Abs troubles and
dismounted to make more thorough
examination Of the surroundings.
From the thicket above, Darrell
watched them moving here and there
searching for any gruesome relics that
might have been left.
All that was found was the crown of
derby hat deep in clump of torn and
twisted hazels.
tits barrels" said Cliff, walking
towards his companions and holding
the object up for inspection. There is
no doubt about IL, boys. Fate has
taken this matter in hand and avenged
the murder Of Sturgis. Darrell is dead"
cit would be heap more satisfyin'
If we could find some remains ter prove
it." averred one of the men. Would 1t
be possible for a man to be blown of
the face of the earth like that?"
why not" rejoined Cliff, inpatient
> ly. "If the wagon and its load were