Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-21

tnelr partnership
Arriving at the end of the road the
vigilantes dehouched and went into the
darkness of the canyon behind their
leader. to whom the trails were famil
lar lie babe them pause finally and
gave his last instructions.
They ARE on the alert. so you want
20 be careful Divide into two parties
and close in from both sides, creeping
SIS near to the pickets as possible with
ont discovery. Remember to wait for
the last blast When 1t comes, cut
loose and charge like Sioux. Don't
shoot TO kill at first, for they're only
soldiers and under orders. but II they
sandwich every man must do his
work"
Dextry appealed to the dim figures
forming the circle.
81 leave It to you, gents, II it Amt
better for me to go inside than for
the boy. I've had more experience
with giant powder an I'm so blamed
used UP an near gone it wouldn't hurt
II they did get me, while he's right In
bis prime
Glenister stopped him. 81 won't
fltIu ti' PiiNl ltSN' NOihN hN' w
-FOUR places. men"
They melted away to each side while
the old prospector paused to wiring his
partners hand
I'D ruther IL was me. lad, but II
they get you--God help en- He
uumbled after the departing shadows.
leaving Roy alone With his naked
fingers, Glenister ripped open the
powder cases and secreted the contents
npon his person. Each cartridge held
dynamite enough TO devastate VII
iage, and he loaded them inside his
pockets, inside his shirt and every
where that he had room. till he was
burdened and cased in an armor one
hundredth part of which could have
blown him from the face of the earth
80 utterly as to leave no trace except.
perhaps, a pit ripped out of the noun
tain side. He looked to his fuses and
saw that they were wrapped in oil
paper, then placed them in his hat
Having finished. he set out, walking
with difficulty under the weight he
carried
That his choice of location bad been
hat the ground beneath his feet slop
ri away to a basin out Of which hub'
bled spring II furnished the drink
Ing supply Of the Midas, and he knew
Every inch of the crevice II had worn
down the mountain, so felt his way
cautiously along. At the bottom of the
bill where it ran out upon the level it
had worn a considerable ditch through
the soil, and into this be crawed on
hands and knees. His bullying clothes
handicapped him so that his gait was
Blow and awkward. while the rain had
rwelled the streamlet till it trickled
pver his calves and up to his wrists,
rhilling him SO that his muscles cramp-
I'd and his very bones cried out with
It, The sharp schist cut into his palms
til they were shredded and bleeding,
while his knees found every jagged
Bit Of bedrock over which he dragged
himself He could not see an arms
length ahead without rising, and, hav-
Ing removed his sicker for greater
freedom OF movement the rain beat
upon his back till he was soaked and
sodden and felt streamlets cleaving
NOV uWdIu YET W etll LIS lids. -NoW
again he sQuatted upon his launches.
straining his eyes to either side. The
banks were barely high enough to
81 ED him. At last he came to a bridg
of planks spanning the ditch and was
about to rear himself for another look
when he suddenly fattened into the
stream bed half dammlng the waters
with bis body. 1t was for this he had
70 carefully wrapped his fuses. 4 mar
passed over him so close above that he
might have touched him. The sentry
paused few PAGES beyond and accost
h another. then retraced his step!
pver the bridge. Evidently this wa'
she picket line, so Roy wormed hi!
way forward till he saw the blacke
blackness Of the mine buildings. ther
arew himself dripping, out from thu
bank. He had run the gauntlet safely.
Since evictng the owners, the recet~
pr had erected substantial houses II
place of the tents he had found on thu
nine. They We're Of frame and CORFU
gated iron, shenthed within and suited
10 withstand a moderate exposure
rhe partners had witnessed the opera
non IRON Il ulSldnCe, Dut knew uOtUlnl
Ibout the buildings from close eXami
iation.
thrill of affection for this plac,
warmed the young man. He loved thi
Did mine 1t had realized the dream o
his boyhood and had answered tn
hope he had chung to during his lon
light against the northland. 1t hat
rome to him when he was dishearten
fd, bringing cheer and happiness, AM
had yielded itself like bride. Now
Becmcd crime to ravage it.
He crept toward the nearest wal
md listened. Within was the SCUM
Df voices, though the windows wer
aark, showing that the inhabitant
we're on the alert. Beneath the four
hations he made mysterious prepare
lions, then sought out the Office built
Ing and cook house doing likewise
He found that back Of the seeming re
pose OF the Midas there was a strane
expectancy.
Although suspense had lcngthene
the time out OF all calculation,
Judged he had been gone from his con
panions at least an hour and that the
must be In place by now. II they wei
motif anything failed at this elevent
hOur--yUalI thoso Uora tho fortunes r