The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1908-02-05
There was an obstacle in the way.

There WAS an obstacle In the way.
This proved to be nothing more nor
less than the half-stunned fellow with
whom Colonel John had just engaged.
and over whose devoted Uranium he
had exercised his arm with so much
vlgor.
or course the second trooper trip
ped.
Losing his balance he fell headlong
to the ground at the feet OF the colo
mel.
Some instinct seemed to cause him
to Immediately lay hold Of the others
ankles.
This the colonel at once resented
as an insult to his dignity.
AS his flight was impeded he found
himself compelled to turn upon his
enemy, bound TO make him release his
hold.
Down upon his knees he dropped
and again began striking out right
and left with his revolver.
Oaths and then groans and cries OF
pain attested to the fact that he was
visiting condign punishment on the
head OF his enemy.
In spite of his agony the fellow held
on with the tenacity OF bulldog.
let loose-do you hear-let go. or
| shall have to kill YOU" said the Fed
eral.
Colonel John had pretty good idea
that reinforcements we're on the way
to the spot. and he was fully deter
mined to get away before they ar
rived.
Whether the man understood OF not.
he did not obey the demand, and
John was, much against his will, COM
PEELED to commence with the tattoo
business again.
Really this was growing monoton-
ous-too much OF the same thing
when he particularly desired change
In the program.
At any rate his bombardment must
be producing a chaotic state In the
fellows mind, and II continued a
short time longer would result In his
releasing his clutch. which even now
was more a condition of habit than
anything else.
The first fellow had by this time re-
covered his senses to certain de-
gree.
At any rate he seemed to know
what was the cause OF the beautiful
headache from which he was suffer
ing.
The first thing Colonel John saw
was this man, still squatted upon the
ground, and covering him with gun.
How was he to know 1t was the
empty carblne OF the first trooper?
He thought his life was In danger.
and giving a desperate wrench sue
ceeded in getting away from the
clutch that would have detained him.
A quick dodge-the sound OF ham
mer falling upon an empty chamber.
and John knew his chance had come
at last.
He did not wait to finish either Of
the two men whose interference had
been the cause OF so much trouble to
him.
Freedom was too valuable for him
to fritter away one second OF time In
the endeavor to avenge his wrongs,
and this freedom seemed SO close to
him that all he had to do was to put
out his hand and grasp 1t.
When he plunged into the forest he
knew some OF the other troopers were
coming up, and In very short time
they must know all.
What mattered It?
The surrounding wood was familiar
TO this soldier OF the Federal host
as a lad he had spent many day In
play in this section. so that almost
every tree was known to him.
He could with impunity defy them
now.
or course he had not yet left all
danger behind. since he was inside
the Confederate lines and II would
be well for him to keep constantly on
the alert for signs OF his foes.
SO he made his way along.
| Several times he drew near camp
fires only to give them a wider berth
for around them he could see many
stalwart figures in the gray OF the
Confederate host.
1 he continued