River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-23

er of Paradise hotel, speaking to
great fellow who had just arrived.
Excuse the question, Wally, but amt
this the second time you've come back
to do the whipping of Ned?"
Third time, ZACH" corrected the
traveller. "He has licked me twice
since 1 started to grow. He used to
lick me regular every time we fought.
Darn him! always said I'd be COM
ing back some day to lick him good
for all the thumpings he has given
me, and l reckon I'm big enough now
to do the racket up to the handle.
When does the stage start for Garnet
Peak?"
"In Is minutes" said Zach.
Over the sagebrush ridges and down
through the barren canyons the stage
went winding monotonously. The
road was narrow, the scenery grey and
dull. Wallace RockIin rode on the box
with the driver till he felt himself
growing drowsy. AS the sun disap-
peared he climbed down, propped him.
self in a corner of the coach, and went
to sleep.
AS the horses plodded sturdily
around the last Of the curves, before
the level of the summit should be
won, deep voice broke the stiffness:
"Stop. Throw up your hands!"
With sudden jolt that heaved
Rocklin forward in his seat, the coach
ceased to grind the sand.
"Now, toss down the company's ex-
press" ordered the voice, "and don't
you tackle no fooling. Do you hear?"
The masked figure came nearer, with
his weapon held in readiness for use.
The treasure box came into sight
without delay, and then crashed down
Z the brush. At that instant form
shot from the coach and hurled itself
recklessly against the robber and his
gun, dashing the weapon to the rocks,
where it struck and exploded bar
rel. The report rent the air, and the
horses, plunging in fright, made a
dash for the summit and disappeared
with the stage.
Wrapped in a savage embrace, the
two men battled in the throes of dead
ly combat. Clutching and heaving,
they scuffled across the road, with
arms tense with effort, their legs as
rigid as pillars of steel.
The robbers fingers dug in the
shoulder of his foe, while the wrist
and arm worked underneath the chin.
He suddenly gave Rocklin's head a
backward jolt that nearly broke his
neck.
Pushing the robber sharply to the
rear against the hill, Rocklin heaved
him off his feet and crashed him
heavily down on a rock.
A crunching of ribs and growl Of
rage and pain aroused an added fury
in the robber In a spasm OF move
ments he dragged his foe to the earth
ON his breast, and over and over they
rolled. Sure of his victory now, and
terrible in his calm, Rocklin dragged
his antagonists arm across and un-
der the latter's back; and he heard
the snap when the bone was cracked
in the shoulder.
Again the below Of rage burst
forth The hand that was free dug
a piece of granite from the sand and
thumped it on Rocklin's ear. The lat
ter trembled. BY the greatest effort
he kept his senses from Keeling; he
fastened his clutch on the robbers
throat with wavering strength. The
They were poised for an instant on
o rocky ledge, and then, kicking loose,
the man in the mask gave the other
q thrust that toppled him over the
plunge. Down he rolled on a bar
rem declivity and disappeared in an
avalanche of earth and rocks.
When his eyes slowly opened Rock
lin found the sun shining in his face.
He lay on the earth blinking, grimly
painted with patches of blood
1t was late afternoon when at last
he came to the ranch Of a German in
the canyon.
For more than week, as a conva-
descent, Rocklin limped about in the
sunshine of Springmeyer's place.
"I've got to go to Garnet Peak" he
announced every day; and at last,
with many clap on the back, he
went.
The climb was steep, the afternoon
sultry. He found himself willing to
sit on the boulders often to gather his
strength. 'I don't know whether /
can lick him now or not" he NUT
tered; "but l reckon he wouldn't make
me fight it out tonight"
He made his wey about the ridge
It was now less than mile to Gar
net Peak, and the slope was pierced
here and there by the tunnels of the
miners. The sun had gone down when
he approached one of the claims, and
glanced about at old familiar fea-
lures. When he came to the mine he
stood on the dump, oddly saddened.
The mine had caved.
He knocked presently on the door
of a cabin. There was no reply. Re
spending to his pressure, the door
swung open on the darkness of the
room.
Ned" he said. Ned Rocklin
It's me-brother Wally" His eyes
grew accustomed to the shadows He
avoided the stools, a table, and box,
making his way toward the bunk.
Suddenly he halted; pair of fever
ish eyes were gazing from the
blankets. "Why, Ned" said he, 'are
you sick, old man? What's the mat
ter?"
The man in the bunk closed his
ayes RoclxIin hurried to light a can