The Irish standard., 1907-11-02

rHands Up!. Not Move, Muhpry!
Have the Drop!"
! up yonder before Custer and the
officers of the Seventh, when we get
In"
They'd nab me-likely."
'Now, see here, you say it is impos-
sible for them to touch you, because
the case is closed legally. But I've
had to suffer for your crime, Murphy,
suffer for Is years, ten of them behind
stone walls; and there are others who
have suffered with me. It has cost me
love, home, all that a man holds dear.
The very least you can do in ordinary
decency is to speak the truth now. It
will not hurt you, but it will lift me
pdt of HE'LL >*'a
''well-maybe I might. Anyhow,
I'll go on-with ye. Kin I sit up?
I'm dog tired-lyin' yere."
''Unbuckle your belt, and throw that
pver first
TIN damned-if I will. Not-in no
pnjun-oountry."
II know it's tough" retorted Hamp.
ton, with exasperating coolness, his
revolver's mussle held steady; ''but,
Just the same, it's got to be done. I
know you far too well to take chances
on your gun. So unlimber.'
"Oh, I-guess not" and Murphy spat
contemptuously. "Do ye think-Im
afeard o yer-shootin' Ye don't dare
fer I'm no good ter ye-dead."
"You are perfectly right. You are
quite a philosopher in your way. You
would be no good to me dead, Murphy,
but you might prove fully as valuable
MANNED. Now I'm playing this game
to the limit, and that limit is just
about reached. You unlimber before
count ten, you murderer, or I'll spoil
both your hands!"
The mocking, sardonic grin deserted
Murphy's features.
"Unlimber! It's the last CALI
With snarl the scout unclasped
his army belt, dropped it to the ground
and sullenly kicked it over toward
Hampton. "Now-now-you, you gray.
eyed-devil, kin I-sit up?"
The other nodded. He had drawn
the fangs of the wolf, and now that
he no longer feared. a sudden, unex.
plainable feeling of sympathy took
possession Of him. Murphy sputtered
and swore, but his victorious compan.
ion neither spoke nor moved. There
were several distant smokes out to
the northward now, evidently the an
swering signals Of different bands OF
savages, while far away, beneath the
shadow of the low bluffs bordering the
stream, numerous black, moving dots
began to show against the light brown
background. Hampton, noticing that
Murphy had stopped swearing to gaze
swung forward his held-glasses for a
better view.
"They are Indians, right enough" he
said, at last. Here, take look, Muir
ply. could count about 20 in that
bunch and they are travelling north"
The older man adjusted the tubes to
his eyes and looked long and steadily
at the party.
They seem-to be a-closin' in," he
declared, finally, staring around into
the others face, all bravado gone
sThere's anuther lot-bucks, all O. 'em
out west yonder-an' over east q
/, smudge is-just startin'. Looks like
we wus in pocket-an' thar might
be some-har.raisin' fore long"
well, Murphy. you are the older
hand at this business. What do you
advise doing?"
Me? Why. push right long-while
We kin keep under cover. THEREAFTER
dark-trust ter bull luck an make
'nuther dash. It's mostly luck, any
how.
you mean we should start now"
"Better-let the cattle rest-f1rst
An'-if ye ever feed prisoners-1'd
like ter eat bite-mesilf.'
They rested there for over two
hours. the tired horSes contentedly