Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-05-12
GAMBLING
WITH FATE
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Author OF "The Gold Cleaners; 4 Story OF
the Cyanide Tanks" "Wilby's Dan
"His Friend the Enemy, Rogers
Of Butte" ETC., Etc.
Copyright, 1905. by William wallase Cook
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTIYUED.

After the meal Gryce invited his
friends into the other part of the tav-
ern once more and drank so many
glasses to the success of the Sandy
Bar men that it was necessary to help
him out and boost him to his seat on
the mountain wagCl.
With wild whoop he rolled out of
sight along the cross trail that led to-
ward the War Eagle, Dynamite and
Terror on the keen jump.
Shouldn't wonder if Uncle Alb set
off that load O. his" remarked Ben
Chickworthy, his eyes following the
vanishing cloud of dust. "It was Grim
inai careIessness fer the super at the
War Eagle ter send such a man after
blastin material
Another cloud of dust had appeared
alonS the south trail and presently a
dozen mounted men broke out of it,
plying their lathered mounts with
quirt and spur 1t was the Sandy Bar
contingent and they reined in their
horses at the door of the tavern
Were hot after the fellow" said
one of the pursuers in response to a
question from Cliff. Hes been seen
twice; once by Kasper, between here
and the Bar, and later by Neb Haw-
ley, mill-hand at the Eagle. When
Hawley seen him he was footing it
west. along the Eagle trail. Well over
haul him, Cliff. Get your horse if you
want to be in at the finish"
Cliff hurried to get his mount under
oil. ;r bn
OF the pursuers. The horsemen there
upon darted away at the same stirring
pace.
Meanwhile the under foreman had
been trying clumsily to get his flying
team under control. Gryce was not so
far gone in drink that he failed to es-
innate the dangers of such a killing
pace with such load, but his awkward
work with the reins would have proved
unsuccessful had not man stepped
into the road in front of the horses.
A thick tangle of brush boTdered the
trail and the appearance of the man
was as surprising and unexpected to
the bronchos as it was to Gryce. The
team halted abruptly, thrown far back
in the harness.
The under foreman got fresh grip
on the lines and brought up the
bronchos well in hand.
Good afternoon" said the stranger.
courteously
"Howdy.' said Gryce.
The stranger wore clothes of good
quality, but they showed evidence of
recent hard usage. He was on foot,
also, and vague suspicion worked
sluggishly into Gryce's brain.
Have you come from the Half Way
house?" queried the stranger
CHATS me-" hiccoughed Uncle Alb,
wondering how he could go to work
and capture the man. Handicapped
with fractions team and 500 pounds
of freight that was still more unre-
liable, as well as possessing a head
that was far from well balanced, the
old man yet thought it possible that he
might be able to do something.
"Have you seen anything of a
smooth-faced man in corduroys?" was
the strangers next question.
Uncle Alb pricked up his ears. Pos
s.piv he was mistaken in the smooth
voiced stranger, after all.
"stidin' calico cayuse?" demanded
the under foreman
"Yes," replied the other with bright
ening eye.
Thunder! So that's the yaD that's
wanted over Sandy Bar way. | seen
him, sure; and he was lopin off this
piece of War Eagle trail about three
this mornin', when | was pikin' fer
Anacondy ter git this load o. high ex-
plosive. An ter think that | was as
clost ter him as me an you is, an
didn't know he was wanted an never
raised hand. Shucks!"
Uncle Alb was morbidly disappointed.
(Which way was he going?" asked
the stranger.
West" was the answer. "Say,
friend, jump up here with me an I'll
take ye along as fur as the Eagle, any
how"
The stranger thanked Gryce for his
oSer and climbed up on the seat. At
O. Wcrd from the driver the broachos