Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-31

| LoIIl, rendered still more evll-looklng by rage
at finding himself again caught in trap Of his
own making,
Hand me your revolvers and mind that you
keep the butts turned toward mel"
Perhaps the man thought it strange that Bart
did not kill him at once.
lie handed the revovers to the one who
held the power of life and death over him,
and then the same demand was made for his
rifle, which was lying on the ground at his
feet.
When Bart was in possession of all his
prisoners weapons, he said, in low, stern
voice:
"Now climb over here"
| For an instant Tom hesitated, and then,
seeing the look of determination on his cap
tors face, he, obeyed sullenly.
his revolver pressed against the back Of the
mans head he walked out in full view of any
one who might have been looking down from
| the cliff.
;Amazement at seeing Bart with prisoner
when they believed they were powerless to
save themselves, much less act on the often
sive, would have caused the boys to cease fir
ing, even if the order had not been given.
Now, said the guide, screening himself
behind the enemy, in minute or two they
viii begin to roll boulders down here, if you
don't sing out and let them know in just what
KIND Of fix you are"
Tom needed no further reminder than that.
With voice actually trembling with fear, he
called out so loudly that he could have been
heard at much greater distance than the top
"Dick! Dick! let up awhile. They've got
me FOUL"
This information must have caused as much
astonishment to the road-agents as did Toms
appearance to the boys, though of quite diff
ferent kind
In an instant more both men were peering
cautiously over the cliff, and Bart called out:
You can roll your boulders now as much
as you choose. I'm going to, place this man
IN front Of the e. barpcade and give you fair
III shoot him; Meanwhile ]. shall pick you
off whenever l get chance" At this init
nation both heads disappeared very suddenly
from the brow of the cliff. eff Dick is there,
ne can tell you how much reason / have for
killing this man, and if he isn't, some of YOU
may know when | tell you that my name is
Bart Conroy."
Then the guide, who in few moments had
caused such change in the appearance of af-
fairs, called to Kirk to throw over to him one
of the lariats
In quiet, methodical manner he bound
Iom so securely that it would be impossible
for him to release himself, and placed him di-
rectly in front of one of the loopholes of the
barricade.
/ After all this had been done, he said, in
tone of satisfaction
"I reckon that we'll have time now to get
a little supper, and to clean our guns. Mine is
CndG Ioul from so much hr1ng, that it's about
all | can do to work it."
Bart set the example of cleaning weapons by
washing his thoroughly in the water of the
brook, and wlplng it dry, while Dory prepared
lunch that they were hungry enough to do
full justice to.
What are you going to do with me?" growl-
ed Tom, from his rather uncomfortable posi-
tion in front of the barricade.
I'm going to keep you Just where Won are.
as guarantee that your friends won't fire on
us, or, what is worse, roll boulders down on
our heads. They may not have understood me
| fully. 1t will only be the worse for YOU if
they haven't; but mean to shoot you at the
first report of a gun that I hear, whether the
bullet comes this way or not"
| "Will you agree not to shoot if I call nv
partners to the edge of the cliff" asked Tom.
quickly, evidently fearing lest his companions
actuated by mistaken zeal, should make some
attempt to rescue him.
"I'll tell you what I'll do" said Bart. as if
ne were making one Of the most commonplace
at your head. III agree that he shan't fire
while you're talking with your precious friends.
and. YOU may as we'll tell them that if thew
send single shot In any direction, it'll be 'ail
| up with you"
Tom called to his companions, assuring them
! That they would not be injured if they ven
tured to look over the cliff, and Bart sauntered
eisurely out to attend to some work which he
had in mind "S
Kirk, with the muzzle of his weapon nearly
touching. the prisoners head, sat with COM
pressed lips and troubled look in his ewes
as if he thought that if this kind of work was @
mistaken his vocation.
Two heads could be seen over the edge If
asked: -n0
"'Dick, can you see anything of Crowley?"