Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-09

With every nerve strained to The
uttermost. the two men raced side by
side down the steep slope, ploughed
through the tangled underbrush, and
toilei up the sharp ascent beyond.
At the summit of the ore dump the
two men flung themselves painting
down, for the first time able to realize
whar it all meant. They could per-
ceiv,, the figures of their pursuers
among the shadows of the bushes be-
low, but these were not venturing out
into the open-the first mad, needless
rush had evidently ended. There were
some cool heads among the mob lead.
ers, and it was highly probable that
negotiations would be tried before
that crowd hurled itself against two
desperate men, armed and entrench-
ed Both fugitives realized this. and
lay there coolly watchful, their breath
growing more regular, their eyes soft.
eniu,g.
"'Nhut is all this fuss about, any
how" questioned the marshall, evil
IDENTIFY somewhat aggrieved. Il wus
Just eatin' dinner when Teller stuck
his head in an yelled ye'd killed
somebody over at the Occidental"
Hampton turned his face gravely
toward him. Buck, don't know
whether you'll believe me or not, but
| guess you never heard me tell a lie,
or knew of my trying to dodge out OF
T horonft
thing to gain now, for reckon you're
planning to stay with me, guilty or
no, guilty, but 1 did not kill that fell
low. l don't exactly see how can
prove it, the way 1t all happened, but
| give you my word as man. l did
not kill him"
Mason looked him squarely IN the
ewes, his teeth showing behind his
stiff, closely clipped mustache. Then
he deliberately extended his hand, and
gripped Hampton's. "Of course be-
neve we. Not that you're any too
blame good, Bob, but you amt the
kind what pleads the baby act. Who
was the feller?"
RED Slavin."
MOT" and the hand grip perceptibly
frightened. Holy Moses, what ingrati
tude. Why, the camp ought to get to-
geither and give We vote OF thanks
ard instead, here they are trying their
level best to hang you. Cussedest
sorter thing a mob is, anyhow; goes
like q flock O. sheep after a leader,
am ! bet 1 could name the fellers who
are a-runnin' that crowd. How did
the thing happens"
Both men were intently observing
the ingathering Of their scattered pur-
suers, but Hampton answered gravely,
telling his brief story with careful de-
tail, approaching the Importance OF
reposing full confidence in this quiet,
resourceful companion.
"All I really saw of the fellow" he
concluded, was a hand and arm as
they drove in the knife. You can see
there is where it ri4ped me, and the
unexpected blow Of the mans bodx
knocked me forward, and Of course
fell on Slavin. 1t may be ! drove
the point further in when came
down. but that was an accident. The
fact Is, Buck, have every reason to
wish Slavin to live. was Just get
ting out Of him some information !
needed"
Mason nodded, his eyes wandering
from Hamptons expressive face to
the crowd beginning to collect be-
meath the shade of a huge oak hun
dred yards below.
Never carry a knife. do yet"
mo"
Thought not; always heard you
fought with a gun. Caught no sight
of the Teller after We got up?"
Cali / saw was the crowd blocking
the doorway knew they had caught
me lying on Slavin, with my hand
grasping the knife-hilt, and, somehow,
l couldn't think Of anything just then
but how to get out of there into the
open. I've seen vigilantes turn loose
before, and knew what was likely to
happen!"
"sure. Recognize anybody in that
first bunch?"
big Jim, the bartender, was the
only one I knew; he had bung-start-
er in his hand"
Mason nodded thoughtfully, his
mouth puckered. cts him, and half
a dozen other fellers of the same
stripe, who are kickin' up all this fra
cas-. The most Of 'em are yonder
now, an If it wusn't fer leavin' pris-
oher unprotected, darn me ii ! wudnt
like to mosey right down thar an
pound a little boss sense into that
bunch O. cattle. Thet's bout the only
thing We kin do fer plum fool, so
long as the law won't let ye Kill
him"
I'm really sorry that you got mixed
up in this, Buck" said Hampton,
"for it looks to me about nine chances
out Of ten against either OF US getting
away from here unhurt."
ooh, 1 don't know. It's bin my ex-
perience thet there's alters chances II
you only keep yer eyes skinned. II
we kin only manage to hold EN- back
till after dark we maybe might creep
away through the bush to take a hand
in this little game. Anyhow, It's up
to us to play it out to the limit. Bless
my eyes, If those lads amt a-comin'
up right now!"
A half-dozen men were starting to
climb the hillside, following a dim