The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-30

of feet, an occasional voice roaring
out orders. and sharp spat OF re-
volver shots. One ball plugged into
the sidiag 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 a 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
10 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
side down the steep Slope, ploughed
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 it all meant They could per
ceive the figures of their pursuers
among the shadows of the bushes be
I 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 coolly watchful, their breath
growing more regular. their eyes soft
ening.
'Whut is all this fuss about. any
how" questioned the marshall, evil
IDENTIFY somewhat aggrieved 4 wus
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, l don't know
whether you'll believe me or not, but
l guess you never heard me tell lie,
or knew of my trying to dodge out Of
a bad scrape Besides. l haven't any
thing TO gain now, for | reckon you're
planning to stay with me, guilty or
not guilty, but l did not kill that fell
low. l don't exactly see how | can
prove it. the way it all happened, but
| give you my word as a man, l did
not kill him"
Mason looked him squarely in the
eyes. his teeth showing behind his
stiff. closely clipped mustache Then
he deliberately extended his hand, and
gripped Hampton's "Of course 1 be-
lieve We. Not that you're any too
blame good, Bob, but you amt the
kind what pleads the baby act. Who
was the feller?"
Red Slavin."
NO" and the hand grip perceptibly
frightened Holy Moses. what ingrati-
tude. Why, the camp ought to get to-
gether and give We vote of thanks,
and instead, here they are trying their
level best to hang you. Cussedest
sorter thing a mob is, anyhow; goes
like a flock O. sheep after leader,
an bet l could name the fellers who
are a-runnin that crowd. How did
the thing happen?"
Both men we're intently observing
the ingathering of their scattered pur-
suers, but Hampton answered gravely,
telling his brief story with careful de-
tail, approaching the importance of
reposing full confidence in this quiet,
resourceful companion.
"All I really saw of the fellow" he
concluded, was a hand and arm as
they drove in the knife. You can see
there is where it ripped me, and the
90 hn
knocked me forward, and Of course I
fell on Slavin. 1t may be 1 drove
the point further in when 1 came
down. but that was an accident The
fact is. Buck, I have every reason to
wish Slavin to live. I was just get
ting out Of him some information /
needed"
Mason nodded, his eyes wandering
from Hamptons expressive face to
the crowd beginning to collect be-
meath the shade of a huge oak hun
dred yards below.
Never carry a knife, do ye?"
NO"
/, Thought not; always heard you
fought with gun. Caught no sight
of the teller after We got up?"
"All I saw was the crowd blocking
the doorway. I knew they had caught
me lying on Slavin, with my hand
grasping the knife-hilt, and, somehow,
I couldn't think Of anything just then
J but how to get out of there into the
! open. I've seen vigilantes turn loose
: before, and knew what was likely to
happen!"
: Sure. Recognize anybody IN that
first bunch?"
Big jim, the bartender, was the
only one I knew; he had bung-start-
t er in his hand"
Mason nodded thoughtfully, his