The Washington times., 1905-03-12
CHAPTER VIII.
An Encounter at the Front.

hardly know what We are going to
do with this young fellow said Donan
to Sanford as they rode along.
E He referred to the cowboy whom they
released from his perilous position.
He seems like a decent chap" am
swered Sanford Perhaps we can keep
him with us
He sure was in bad company" Do
nan said. ..but he may be all right at
that. 1t is not always easy to pick
your friends in this country"
Suppose We question him. suggested
Sanford. she may be able to give US
some information that will be useful.
That's a good idea. replied Donan IN
wen go into camp soon. and then
we'll have him up,
They forded the lNasflita river not far
from Anadarlso. and made camp in the
woods that frinsed the stream,
Morning w-5-.aiz.-.-s7s==ee, and the COW
boys ansaddled and pieketed their
horses
Donan called the cowboy to where he
and Sanford sat.
well, young man. began Donan.
that was a pretty rough ride you had.
How did YOU come 70 be in such a fix ,'s1
Somebody hit me a clip on the head
with his gun in. one of those rushes, !.
answered the Other and 1t sort of stun
ned me- 4 had To let my reins go to
hold myself in tie saddle Then my
lights went out. ard fell of. Z guess. :
What's your name. and where you
hail from %
My name IS sJaEfllif gss' answered
the boy, for although he had the stature
OF man, he was only n youth in years.
T was working over on the Bar X
ranch, when a fellow in The outfit ted
me thai could make some money by
Joining a crow that Was going to guard
the new railroad. Then / met Raider.
and he hired me Yesterday SIC rode
over to Anadarko from the ChickasaH
country. where most of the boys come
from. They were pretty hard crowd.
but Raidle-z told fneStiley were all right. :"
Don't you know mat Raider ii one
OF the worst slesperadoes in the Terri
tory?1 asked Donan.
Il didn't know ANYTHING about asirn
when I vent with him. bat he. said there
would probably. be some fighting. and
that J1st suited me- He said he haG
work, and that we would all be well
paid When we got TO Anadarko he eot
a telegram telling him 10 go out ard
catch 3 fellow coming from Chickasha,
and Ia EH him 70 the mountains and keep
him there. y
Sanford and DOMAIN exchanged signifi-
cant glances.
do you know the name of the men
in whose pay you were 2"
Yes. Raidiey told us all about it last
night just before we started out TO hold
up the fellow coming from c.f1ickasha
our boss name was Hart, rich man
from New. York.
Sc4s see here, young man., said De-
nan: you've had a narrow escape from
as fine a gam of cut-throats as could be
picked up west of the Missouri I'm
United States marshal and I've got to
do my duty. There are two things can
do-ean send you up 10 Guthrie and put
you In the Federal prison. or I can swear
you into my posse. You can take your
choice.
/ =-.sI4se- posse Is good enough fer me-.
answered the cowboy. II began to sus-
peet that Raider and his crowd were
not or the square after we left Ana
darko last night. and I'm glad to get
away from them. I'll go with you, ard
glad OF the chance"
That's sensible" said Dosian. You'll
be as well paid by US as you might have
been by Raider, and you are sure to
get your money
That's true" Sanford put in II have
an idea, FRANK We must know what
Hart and his man Raider ire going to
90. suppose we send Jennings back to
Raider to Learn all he can about the
future movements Of the gang. and re-
port to us as soon as he gets a chance,
Good" CALCULATED Donan. THE very
thing Do you know where Raider has
gOneI' he asked Jennings
Yes, the latter replied, the plan
was to capture Mr.. Sanford and send
him into the mountains With a guard.
and then Raider and the rest of the
gang were 10 meet the boss at Fort
Sill tomorrow ~
RAIDERS plan TO capture me having
failed. he has probably gone direct to
Fort SILL said Sanford IT want you
to go there at once and reJoTsl him
Learn all you can OF their plans. We
VIII be in Fort sill in day or two,
and will me- you there Raider will
not suspect you, and if you are clever
you can be OF the greatest service to
u.s.
THAT is good plan" commented
Donan. Now skip. You sure have
had good luck all around. young man:
first In not being dragged to death In
that fight, and again IN falling in with
US
Jennings obedientIy saddled his horse
and set out on his errand.
When day had come. Sanford and
DOMAIN rode into Anadarko to the tele-
graph office. where they found a dis
patch. Tt was from John Birch. and
instructed Sanford to go over the rail-
road line from the Washita river to the
end of the track, and report as to the
possibility of building the road into the
Apache reservation.
1t also ordered him to take charge
OF the construction work, and make a
strenuous effort to get the track over
the bridge as soon as possible.
John Birch was too good a railroad
man not to know the value of posses
sion, and 1t was certain that il he could
put his tracks on reservation SOIL and
hold them there it would then be a
matter for. the ceurts to settle. and not
one of personal conflict,
Sanford teiegraphed a report OF his
adventures to the general manager, and
at once sc. out to obey his instructions.
while Doaan returned to camp To await
the return of Jennings with informa-