The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-01-17

I One night as they sat about their
cheerful fire, there came a rap at the
door of their shanty, and they found
Dick Ronold asking admission.
{ Come in, Dick. What brings you
out such a night and in such
storm" asked Clarence.
Didn't hear We say somethin'
once about KNOWN the Teller called
Cracklash Paul, who used to live back
there in Fresno?"
Eyes, Paul Miller" cried Ethel
eagerly. 1--WE know him. What OF
him."
"You know they've got one OF the
fellows tight an fast who tried to
help do up Paul. Well, the feller's
cocoa since that nights been a little
rancid. | was set to guard him last
night, and his mental train for a min
ute or two seemed on the track. Then
| remembered seem him in Frisco.
His name is Belcher and he's one OF
the men that the Teller from Fresno
called Lakeland hired the room in
Frisco to talk with"
At the sound of Lacklands name
Ethel was on her feet, gasping:
"Lackland. Lakeland! Clarence,
he is Pauls rival and enemy! l am
determined to see this prisoner called
Belcher.'
when do you intend to call on
him?"
Tomorrow"
81 will go with you" said Clarence.
Ethel Berry, with her husband, en-
tered the prison and gazed at the pale
yet fierce face of the prisoner, and
cried:
Il know him, Clarence; l know
him! | saw him in Fresno in con-
sultation with Theodore Lakeland.
They have planned the murder of
poor Paul"
With a fierce oath the prisoner
leaped at his fair accuser, but the
strong young husband seized him by
the throat and hurled him to the op-
posite side of the room.
Two men, worn, tired and haggard
surrounded by mountains of ice and
great sleeping glaciers, had halted in
a valley where few stunted pines
reared their heads above the eternal
snow.
Let us rest, Crack-lash," said the
older of the two travellers. 81 give
in, shipmate. Your winds better'n
mine, for you see my old hulk Is git
tin waterlogged O. late years, an
can't make as good Roadway as it
used to, you know
The travellers were Paul Miller and
his quondam sailor companion, Glum
Ralston.
Paul Miller gathered some dry
pines and made a fire on the messy
banks of a stream which ran close
under the cliff. The dry wood spark
led and snapped, and the blaze threw
out a ruddy light. The pot boiled and
he put on beans to cook with little
meat, and soon had an excellent sup
per.
"Ah, mate, that is good" said the
ex-sailor, as he tasted the coffee
Were running rather short of feed,
though, and if we don't come upon a
moose or reindeer soon I'm afraid
we'll suffer"
Never fear, Glum. some kind of
game will come our way"
Wrapped in his blanket, he sat at
the root of tree still talking to Paul.
who was half asleep, when they were
startled by snort. In an instant
both laid their hands on their rifles
A pair of fiery eyes cleaned at them
and Paul, whose vision was keener
than his older companion, saw a
small animal about four and half
feet in height, which in the dim, un-
certain light appeared to be a con-
Meeting link between the OK and
sheep.
Glum Ralston lifted his gun to his
race and fired. There instantly fol-
lowed believing roar and a rush
of feet. The fire was scattered in
every direction and the old sailor,
who was rising to his feet, was struck
blow which sent him sprawling on
the ground.
Paul dropped his gun, and snatch.
ing pistol, fired shot into the
thick hide Of the furious beast, Just
behind the shoulder blade. 1t made
one spasmodic leap forward and fell
dead, the bullet having penetrated its
heart.
The old sailor was staggering to
his feet, shaking himself to see II he
had any broken bones.
Are you hurt? Are you hurt?"
cried Paul, anxiously.
"N-no, l think not. It was a fall