Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-04

steal irony was that mutual love and
understanding which had consecrated
their partnership.
Arriving at the end of the road. the
lVigilantes debouched and went into the
darkness Of the canon behind their
leader, to whom the trails were famil-
lar He babe them pause finally, and
gave his last Instructions.
They are on the alert, SO you want
to be careful. Divide into two parties
and close In from both sides, creeping
as near to the pickets as possible with
| out discovery. Remember to wait for
the last blast. When it comes. cut
loose and charge like Sioux. Don't
| shoot to kill at first, for they're only
soldiers and under orders, but If they
stand-well, every man must do his
work"
Dextry appealed to the dim figures
forming the circle
Il leave it to you. gents, If 1t 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 1t wouldn't hurt
II they did get me, while he's right in
his prime
Glenister stopped him. II won't
yield the privilege. Come now-to
your places, men,
They melted away.,to each side while
the old prospector paused to wiring his
partners hand.
SID ruther it was me. lad, but if
they get you-God help 'em!" He
stumbled after the departing shadows,
leaving Roy. alone. With his naked
fingers, Glenister ripped open the pow
der cases and secreted the contents
| upon his person. Each cartridge held
dynamite enough to devastate vii
lage, 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 no trace except, perhaps. pit
ripped out of the mountain-side. He
looked to his fuses and saw that they
were wrapped In oiled paper, then
placed them in his hat. Having FISH
ed. he set out walking with difficulty
under the weight he carried
That his choice of location had been
we'll made was evidenced by the fact
that the ground beneath his feet sloped
away to basin out of which dubbed a
spring 1t furnished the drinking sup
ply Of the Midas, and he knew every
tnoh OF the crevice 1t had worn down
the mountain, SO felt his way cautious
ly5 along. At the bottom Of the hill
where 1t ran out upon the level 1t had
worn considerable ditch through the
soil and into this he crawled on hands
and knees. His buIging clothes handi.
capped him SO that his gait was slow
and awkward, while the rain had swell
ed the streamlet tillit trickled over his
calves and up to his wrists, chilling
him SO that his muscles cramped and
his very bones cried out with 1T. The
sharp schist cut into his palms till they
were shredded and bleeding, while his
knees found every Jagged bit of bed
rock over which he dragged himself.
He; could not see an arms length
ahead without rising, and. having re-
moved his slicker for greater freedom
OF movement, the rain beat upon his
back till he was soaked and sodden
and felt streamlets cleaving down.
ward between his ribs. Now and again
he squatted upon his launches. strain
Ing his eyes to either side. The banks
were barely high enough to shield him.
At, last he came to a bridge Of planks
spanning the ditch and was about to
rear himself for another look when
he suddenly f1attened into the stream
bed, half damming the waters with his
body. 1t was for this he had so care
fully wrapped his fuses. A man pass
ed over him 80 close above that he
might have touched him. The sentry
paused few PAGES beyond and accost-
ed another, then retraced his steps
ever the bridge. Evidently this was
"a fp1y NJ L
way forward till he say the blacker
blackness of the mine buildings, then
drew himself dripping out from the
bank He mad run the gauntlet safely.
Since eyicting the owners, the re-
ceiyer had erected substantial houses
in place Of the tents he had found on
the mine They were Of frame and
corrugated iron, sheathed within and
suited to withstand a moderate ex-
posture. The partners had witnessed
the operation from distance but knew
nothing about the buildings from close
examination.
A thrill of affection for this place
warmed the young man. He loved this
old mine. It had realized the dream
of his boyhood, and had answered the
hope he had chung to during mis- long
fight against the northland. 1t had
come to him when he was dishearten.
ed, bringing cheer and happiness, and
had yielded itself like a bride Now it
seemed crime to ravage 1t.
He crept towards the nearest wall
and listened, Within was the sound of
voices, though the windows were dark.
showing that the inhabitants were on
the alert. Beneath the foundations
he made mysterious preparations, then
sought out the Office building and cook
house, doing likewise. He found that
back of the seeming repose Of the
Midas there was a strained expectancy.
Although suspense had heightened
the time out Of all calculation. he judg-
ed he had been gone from his compan-
ions at least an hour and that they
must be in place by now. If they
We're motif anything failed at this
eleventh hour-well those were the
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eef y