The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

crossing and up to the level of the
aside at the first Of the car shadows
to fling its rider out of the saddle.
Ford gathered himself quickly and
rolled under car. His right arm had
no feeling in it, whether from shot
or the fall he could not. determine.
The numbness had become prickling
agony when he heard the Mexican
splashing through the river to begin
his search. Ford's field of vision was
limited by the car trucks. but he kept
the man in sight as well as he could. 1t
filled him with sudden and fiery rage
to be hunted thus like a defenseless
animal and more than once he was
tempted to make a dash for the en-
gineers quarters ON the hillside above
the commissary-a rifle being the
thing for which he hungered and
thirsted
But to show himself under the lights
was to invite the fate he had so mar
rowly escaped He knew Mattachecos
skill as marksman. The Mexican
would not be ratified twice in the
same half hour. Ford gripped the be-
numbed arm in impotent writings.
Now, by recognizing him. I've fixed
it so that he is obliged to kill me-" he
muttered Its my life, or his neck
for halter, and he knows it. The
bloodthirsty devill If l could only get
to Brissac's bunk shanty and lay my
hands on q gun
There seemed to be no chance of do
ing that most desirable thing. The
Mexican was now afoot and coursing
the railroad yard like a baffled hound
Ford saw that 1T was only a question
of minutes until his impromptu hid
ing place would be discovered. and he
began to look for another. The Nadia
was but a short distance away, and
the lighted deck transom beckoneo
him.
1t was instinct rather than intention
that made him duck and plunge head
long through the suddenly opened door
of the private car at the glimpse OF
his pursuer standing beside his horse
in the open camp street. This was
why the pistol barked harmlessly
Springing to his feet, and leaving the
frightened negro who had admitted
him trying to barricade the door will
cushions from the smoking room seats
Ford burst into the lighted centra
compartment
1t was not empty, as he had ex
pected to find it. Two men. startled
!, by the shots and the crash of breaking
glass, were prepared to grapple will
him. It was Brissac, the invalided as
sistant, who cried. Hold on. MI
Adair-it's Ford, and he's hurtr'
Ford met the involuntary rush
gathered the two in his uncrippIet
arm and dragged them to the floor.
That's in case my assassin takes
notion to turn loose on the windows s.,
he painted Then he gasped out hi
story while, Brissac got the achinl
right arm out of it's sleeve and locke,
for the injury.
Adair listened to the story of TIL
attempted murder awe struck as on
from the civilized east had a right t,
be. -
by Jove.'' he commented; II though
1 had bumped into all the diferen
, varieties of deviltry since ] left Denve
, yesterday morning. but this tops EN-
Actually tried to kill you in cold blood
But what for. Stuart?-for heaven
sake, what for?"
Because he was hired to; becaus
his masters the MacMorroghs, an,
their master, North. have staked thei
roll on this last turn Of the cards
} / know too. much, Adair. The presi
dent was sent over here to ge
, rid of me. That falling, word wa
i passed down the line that was to b