The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-07
CHAPTER TX.

'ILf- OF d moment lEe room ap-
reared to swim before his eyes, and
he clutched at the overturned table
for support Then, as his senses re-
turned he perceived the figures of a
number of men jamEing the narrow
doorway, and became aware of their
loud, excited voices. Back to his be-
numbed brain there came with a rush
tie whole scene, the desperation of
his present situation He had been
found alone with the dead man. Those
men. when they came surging in at
tracted by the noise of strife. had
found him lying on Slavin, his hand
clutching the knife-hilt. He ran his
eyes over their Mortified faces. and
knew instantly they held him the muir
derer
The shock of this discovery steadied
him. He realized the meaning, the
dread, terrible meaning for he knew
the west, its fierce. implacable spirit
of vengeance. its merciless code Of
!"nch-aw. The vigilantes of the min
ing camps were to him an old story:
more than once he had witnessed
their work. been cognizant of their
power This was no time to parley or
to hesitate. He grabbed the loaded
revolver lying upon the floor and
swung Slavin's discarded belt across
his shoulder.
Stand aside, gentlemen" he com
manded. Step back, and let me
pass"
They obeyed. He swept them with
watchful eyes, stepped past and slam
med the door behind him. Men were
already beginning to pour into the sa-
loon, uncertain yet of the facts, and
shouting questions to each other. To
tally ignoring these, Hampton thrust
himself recklessly through the crowd.
Halfway down the broad steps Buck
Mason faced him, in shirt sleeves, his
head uncovered, an ugly AS" in his
uplifted hand. Just an instant the
eyes of the two men met, neither
doubted the grim purpose of the other
You've got ter do it, Bob" an
nounced the marshall, shortly, dead
er alive"
Hampton never hesitated. I'm sor-
~ l met you. | don't want to get
anybody else mixed up in this fuss.
II you'll promise me a chance for my
life, Buck, III throw up my hands
But | prefer a bullet to a mob"
The little marshal was sandy-haired,
treckle-faced, and all nerve. The
crowd iammed within the Occidental
had already turned and were surging
toward the door, Hampton knew from
long experience what this meant;
these were the quickly infamed CO.
horts OF Judge Lynch--they would act
first, and reflect later. His square
Jaws set like a trap.
All right, Bob" said the marshal
You're my prisoner, and thereu be
one he'll of a fight afore them lads
git We. There's a chance left-leg it
after me-"
Just as the mob surged out of the
Occidental, cursing and struggling
the two sprang forward and dashed
into the narrow space between the
livery stable and the hotel Moffat
CHANGED to be in the passageway. and
pausing to ask no questions, Mason
promptly landed that gentleman on
the back of his head in a pile of dis
carded tin cans, and kicked viciously
at a yellow dog which ventured to
snap at them as they swept past. Be
hind arose a vOlley of curses, the thud
OF feet, an occasional voice roaring
out orders, and a sharp spat Of re
Volver shots. One ball plugged into
the siding Of the hotel, and a second
threw a spit of sand into their lower
ed faces, but neither man glanced
back. They were running for their
lives now, racing for fair chance to
turn at bay and fight. their sole hope
the steep, rugged hill in their front
Hampton began to understand the
purpose of his companion, the quick.
unerring instinct which had led him
to select the one suitable spot where
the successful waging of battle
against such odds was possible-the
deserted dump of the Shasta mine.
With every nerve strained to the
uttermost, the two men raced side by
SAN' uO"h thC SlCSp SlOpc, pIOuSueu
through the tangled underbrush, and
toiled up the sharp ascent beyond.
At the summit of the ore dump the
two men flung themselves painting
down, for the first time able to realize
what 1t all meant. They could per
ceive the figures of their pursuers
among the shadows Of the bushes be-
low, but these were not venturing out
into the open-the first mad, needless
rush had evidently ended. There were
some cool heads among the mob lead
ers, and it was highly probable that
negotiations would be tried before
that crowd hurled itself against two
desperate men, armed and entrench-
ed. Both fugitives realized this, and
lay there eoolly watchful, their breath
growing more regular their eyes soft
ening
Whit is all this fuss about any
how" questioned the marshall, evil
IDENTIFY somewhat aggrieved. Il WIS
just eatin' dinner when a Teller stuck
his head in an yelled yed killed
somebody over at the Occidental"
Hampton turned his face gravely
toward him Buck, | don't know