Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-21


pearance to the one to which Dick and Iom
had taken them, and to a tree near one cor
ner OF it, lashed from head to foot with raw
hide thongs wound around his body and thN
tree-trunk, was Bart.
In front of him, near a fire, over whlch
huge pieces of meat were being ked, were
three men, and one of them was the guide 4
old enemy-Tom Weed.
The men had been talking among them
selves evidently, Just before the boys came up,
for Tom moving closer to the helpless prison
er, began conversation that was, apparentiyS
a repetition of several others.
"I'm going to give you till tomorrow morn
ing to make up your mind, the road agent
said. The tables are. turned now; you are 10
my power as | was in yours at the canyon,
and you know as well as | did then that ne'-
ther of us would have any hesitation IN car
rying out threat, more especially when it
means SO simple thing as wping man out.
Now will you tell me?'
you're a fool, Bart Conroy. ] know that
you've struck it rich somewhere here in the
valley, and that you've still got them two
cubs with you. Now, do YOU think / can t
find the place by hunting? II you'll take
me to it, you and the boys may leave without
trouble from any of us; but if YOU don't, why
you il stay where you are, with a builet IN
your head, just so long as that raw-hlde Will
hold you there
Very well, Tom Weed; you've got the drop
JOb
say. The fact of the matter is that it's so
necessary for you to wipe me out, il you want
to save your own worthless life, that l
haven't the slightest idea you'd let up if /
should lead you to the richest vein in Colo
RADIO"
Bart looked his captor full in the face as he
said this never f1inching muscle, even though
he was powerless, and the man before him one
who had no scruple about taking human
life.
q promise that if you'll lead me to where
you've been digging, you and the boys that
are with you may go wherever you like
And your promise isn't worth a cent, as l
learned to my cost three years ago"
"Confound you! hold your tongue. or I'll
finish the matter now!" cried Tom. his pris-
And he half drew his revolver from his belt,
as if about to use it.
''Why don't you end it ?" said Bart. taunt
ingiy, as if he were trying to provoke his en-
emy to kill him, that his sufferings might not
be prolonged. ''You did not hesitate to rob
Your sister, and to try to murder her; why
don't you wipe me out now?
Because" said the villain, as he replaced
his weapon and looked around with feeble
attempt at a smile at his companions, VINO
because | think that before you've stood
there another twenty-four hours with nothing
to eat, or drink, you'll be mighty anxious to
tell me- all you know
ou can try II, said Bart, calmly. III
It had been any other man who had me foul
like this, I'd very soon give up, for I'm not at
all anxious to die; but L am willing to for the
sake of battling you"
But that's just what you can't do growl.
ed Tom, as he moved nearer his companions.
''ltl be an easy matter to find ont where
you came from when you started out hunt
ing,
You think so? Do you really believe that
If had struck it rich / shouldn't have been
careful that no. one could follow my trail
that can track me-"
'We'll see" muttered the ruffan. "T'n
give you another chance at sunrise tomorrow.
and then therell be one fool less in the
world"
The road agent joined his companions in the
meal they had just begun to paItake of, and
Bart, his head sunk as low on his breast rs
his bonds would permit of, looked like one
from whom all hope had departed.
Kirk motioned to Dory to follow him and
then noiselessly crept back some distance af-
ter which by making long detour, they came
near enough to the hut from behind to hear
the faint hum Of the mems voices.
What shall we do?" whispered Dory.
wait here till night, and then / will trv
to creep up and cut the rawhide. If any one
is on watch, he will most likely be in front
OF Bart, and from the position of the tree To
which he is bound, | am almost certain that
]. could cut him loose if any one was looiins
right at him."
And after that?"
We'll let Bart settle that question-if we
succeed in setting him free" Kirk added SLOW.
y, for he knew full well how many chance
there were against success.
CHAPTER XVII