Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-08-30
J; 49, 49, lrss-@sstes!
5 THE WHIPPING (.
l OF NED
by PHILIP vIRRiu MiGHtls.
Copyright, by Joseph u. Bowles.)


great fellow who had Just arrived.
Excuse the question. Wally. but aint
this the second time you've come back
to do the whipping Of Nedf"
Third time. ZACH" corrected the
traveller. He has licked me twice
since I 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 I 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 Roclslin 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 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. q deep voice broke the stiffness:
stop. Throw up your hands!"
With a 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. land 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
In 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 1t struck and exploded bar
rel. The report rent the air. and the
horses, plunging in fright, made q
dash for the summit and disappeared
with the stage.
Wrapped In q savage embrace, the
two men battled In the throes OF dead
" combat. Clutching and heaving
they scuffied across the road, with
arms tense with effort, their legs O.
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
backward jolt that rearly broke hi'
neck.
Pushing the robber sharply to tho
rear against the hill, Rocklin heavet
him of his feet and crashed hin
heavily down Oh q rock.
A crunching Of ribs and a growl o.
rage and pain aroused an added FUR,
In the robber. In a spasm OF move
ments he dragged his foe to the eartf
on his breast, and over and over the,
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 burs
forth. The hand that was free dut
a piece of granite from the sand ant
thumped It on Rocklin's ear. The LAT
ter trembled. BY the greatest effor
he kept his senses from Keeling; h
fastened his clutch on the robbers
throat with a wavering strength. Thu
robber rolled him suddenly over
They were poised for an instant OF
a rocky ledge, and then, kicking loose
the man in the mask gave the othe
n thrust that toppled him over thu
plunge. Down he rolled on a bar
rem declivity and disappeared In al
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. griml!
! painted with patches Of blood
II was late afternoon when at las
he came to the ranch Of German u
| the canyon.
For more than a week, as cows
descent, Rocklin limped about In tn
sunshine of Springmeyer's place.
1--WE got to 60 to Garnet Peak" b
announced every day; and at ias'
with many Q clap on the back, b
went.
The climb was steep, the Afternoon
sultry. He found himself willing I
sit on the boulders often to gather hi
strength. II don't know whether
can lick him now or not" he mul
tered; "but reckon he wouldn't max
me fight It out tonight"
He made his way about the rtdgl
+, II was now less than a mile to Gal
net Peak, and the slope was pierce
| here and there by the tunnels OF tn
miners. The sun had gone down whel
he approached one Of the claims, an
glanced about at old familiar fes
lures. When he came to the mine D
stood on the dump. oddly saddened
| The mine had caved.
Beneath mass Of .hurled-in rock
harrow was crushed. The door.tim
Der jutted through the debris iike
steeple. poor old Ned" be muttered
"down on his luck. the same . ever.
He turned away, walking the vel
| h...., trail foward the camn