Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-02-15

say sure twas an accident, and, seem
I'd relocated the claim and was work
In on il. who'd dispute my titlef'
"You miserable coward. Now | know
who II was tried to murder Bert Leon
ard when be was on his way up to
work his claim. II was no accident.
The supports Of the little wooden bridge
over Pine creek were almost cut away,
and when he rode on TO il. OF course,
II went down with him ana his horse"
WAL. IL ii was ne. WHO'S g3u 10
prove it, And If bugied thar job |
amt a-g}in 10 queer this, don't you
forget it. Now no more foy.in'. See
that rock over yonier on tie trailE
You 90 along till you reach it, tLen
climb up and stand right on top Of
IT,"
Lee obege I pCrforce, and as She slow
~ trayerSed the four huudrei o. SO
feet her mind was busy, but she
could devise no way of escape, Above
were the PERCEPTIONS rocks, below ,ae
precipice. before the narrow rail and
behind was Pete Long ready to shoot if
she attempted to run.
The rock indicated by Long jutted
up from the very edge Of the ledge.
almost overhanging the abrss. The
girl carefully climbed its rough sides
and, reaching the apex. where there
was just room for her feet. stood up
right. 4 glance backward made her
feel faint. and she turned toward the
man.
Don't be Skeered"' he yelled. Il
amt a-goiu' to hit YER"
He took deliberate aim, and the bull
let cut the air within an inch of her
overalls. The next passed between her
ankles. n third whizZed Just above her
sombrero. and a fourth almost graZed
her right hand. But Lee nerved her
self, clinched her small teeth and stood
as firm as the rock beneath her.
Stands as stiddy as one Of them
statyers IN the park down TO Frisco
Long muttered. WAL. I'll try some
thin else"
And. hoping thus to break her nerve.
he took steady aim at her heart. and
when she held her breath. expecting the
end. he laid down the rifle. then picked
IL up again and pointed it directly at
her face. then at her neck. Finally he
fired again. the bullet grazing her
jumper. but leaving no mark. a second
striking and splintering the rock at her
feet.
Still she stood firm, but she knew she
could not hold out much longer. and
death seemed almost welcome. Then.
as Long again played with his weapon.
aiming at one vital spot and then at
another, a faint, awful hope crept into
her Consciousness.
When. startled by the sound of
Longs hammering. Lee had run from
the tunnel 10 learn the cause, she had
just put in her last blast and had light
ed the fuse, a very long one, for she
could never quite overcome her fear
of the blasting. In her haste, as she
now remembered, she had left all the
explosives in the tunnel over which
Long was standing. and-and the long
fuse must be nearly burned ont.
"Ill end this thing one way or an
other pretty quick, y .muttered Long as
he fired again. I'm gettin' tired of
AS the bullet whizzed past her it seem
TO Lee that the earth heaved beneath
the mans feet, and, following a blind
instinct of self preservation, she slid
the rock and fell face downward
on the ledge. Then an awful reverbera-
ton echoed through the canyon. Rocks
few above and around her, a fragment
Of n striking her as she lay half
making a scalp wound which
caused the blood to trickle down her
face.
When a few moments later she dared
to raise her head she saw something "
ing on the trail which told her that she
was alone on the mountain, and, clasp
ng her temples with both hands to
guard her eyes from other sights, like
/ hunted deer she sped down the trail.