Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11
XIV.
The Siege of the nadia.

Wnen the charge upon the Mexican talle1
Of its purpose. So far from II. he tried to
wheel and charge again while tho man
was Keeling from his collision with tho
rearing mustang.
But the bronco from the Copah stable.
with the fash and crash OF the pistol
shot to madden It. took the bit between
its teeth and bolted-safely through tho
shadows OF the stream crossing and up
to the level OF the railroad yard beyond,
but swerving aside at the first of the car
shadows TO fling its rider out Of the sad
die. Ford gathered himself quickly and
rolled under car His right arm had
no feeling in ii. whet her from the shot
or the fall he could not determine.
The numbness had become "A pricklng
agony when he heard the Mexican splash
ing 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 he could. 1t filled him with sudden
and fiery rage to be hunted thus like a
defenseless animal, and more than once
ne was tempted to make dash for the
engineers quarters on the hillside above
the commissary-a rifle being the thing
for which he hungered and thrsted
But to show himself under the lights
was to invite the fate he had so narrowly
escaped. lie knew Mattacheco's skill ~
a marksman-the Mexican would not he
ratified twice in the same half hour. Ford
gripped the benumbed arm in impotent
writings.
NOW by recognizing him e fixed il
so that he is Obliged 10 kill me-" he NUT
tered. ITS my life or his neck for a
halter. and he knows it. The bloodthrsty
devil. If / could only get to Brissac's
bunk-shanty and lay my hands on Va
gun ."
There seemed to be no chance of doing
that most desirable thing The Mexican
was now afoot and coursing the railroad
yard like baffled hound Ford saw that
nf min
his impromptu hiding place would be dis
covered and he began to look for an
other. The Nadia was but a short dis
lance away and lie lighted deck tran
SONS beckoned him.
1t was instinct rather than intention
that made him duck and plunge headlong
through the suddenly opened door o. the
private car at the glimpse of his pursuer
standing beside his horse in the open
camp street. This was why the pistol
parked harmlessly. Springing to his feet.
and leaving the frightened negro who had
admitted him trying 10 barricade the door
with cushions from the smoking-room
seats. Ford burst into the lighted central
compartment.
1t was not empty. as he had expected
to find it. Two men, startled by the
shots and the crash of breaking glass.
were prepared to grapple him Il was
Brissac. the invalided assistant. who
cried. Hold on. Mr.. Adair-it's Ford and
he's hurt!'
Ford met the involuntary rush. gath
cred the two in his uncrippled arm and
dragged them to the floor.
That's in case my assassin takes a no.
ton to turn loose on the windows" he
painted. Then he gasped out his story
while Brissac got the aching right arm
out Of its sleeve and looked for the In
jury.
Adair listened to the story of the at
tempted murder awe-struck. as one from
the civilized east had right to be-
by Jove!" he commented; II thought
1 had bumped into all the different va
rieties of deviltry since l left Denver yes
terday morning. but this tops 'em. Actu-
ally tried to kill you in cold blood? But
what for: Stuart?-for heavens sakes
what for?"
Because he was hired to-because his
masters. the MacMorroghs, and their
master North. have staked their roll on
this last turn of the cards. l know TOO
much. Adair. The president was sent
over here to get rid of me. That failin,
word was passed down the line that I
was to be effaced. A few hours ago this
Mexican overheard me telling your sist,-
what I proposed TO do to North and the
MacMorroghs. That's why he-Cuch.
Roy: that is my arm you're trying 10
twist out Of joint. man."
Its all right" laughed the Louisian-
ian: ''it Is only craZy-bone bump that
you got when the bronze threw you. Say.
Ford. thought you claimed 10 know how
to ride a horSe,''
Adair was feeling in his pockets for tho
inevitable cigarette case.
What he overheard you telling Alicia 90
he unused. I'm evidently two or three
chapters behind. But no matter. this -
the now: the very immediate now. Wiu
your assassin keep on feeling for you?"
Ford shook his head. Not any more
just at present, i guess. He has waited
too long. That fusillade OF his will have
turned the entire camp out by this time.
and the Macs don't want any incon-
venient Witnesses.
1ai
don't know-Say. Stuart. there isn't a
Y tie man in this camp besides us three
less you count the MacMorroghs and
their commissary garrison as white men.
News Of the great gold strike got here
about o'clock and every laborer within
hearing of it shouldered pick and shovel
and lined out up the new track for
Copah.'
WHAT shouted Ford. And these
dash-dashed MacMorroghs didn't try to
hold them?"
81 don't know about that. 1 had Mr..
Brissac. here, over in the or came
across the mountain in North's car you
know-dosing him with things out OF DR..
Van Bruce's travelling case. and trying to
get him in shape to show me the way TO
Copah. After the stampede. which took
all the four-legged horses as well as the
wo-Iegged asses. / persuaded your man
Gallagher 10 hitch his engine to our car
to drag us up to Frisbie's camp at the
front. 1 thought Frisbie would probably
lagher's intentions We're good, but abOQt
three miles up Horse creek he ditched the
car SO thoroughly that We couldn't in
habit: so we got out and walked back"
"All of which brings on more talk
said Ford. gravely. From what you say,
l gather that the MacMOrroghs are stiu
here. Did any one see You come back
Il don't know. 1t was after dark when
we struggled in. and we didn't ring any
bells or blow any whistles
Ford stood up.
Does either one of you happen TO
have anything bigger than a pocket knife
in the way of a weapon" he asked.
why? What are you going To dog"
Adair demanded.
II am going TO separate you two from
my highly dangerous presence" said
Ford. definitely. THE MacMorroghs'
outfit of a dozen or fifteen cutthroat
scoundrels captained. for the moment, by
Eckstein. North's right-hand man, are
doubtless Just across the way in the back
room of the commissary. You say the
camp is otherwise deserted-the Mac
Morroghs don't know that you are here,
and they do know that / am. dead or
alive. Moreover, Mattacheco has doubt
less told them by this time that L saw
and recognized him. Wherefore, it's up
to them to see that i never get chance
to go before a grand jury.
sYou 81: down on the floor" said Adair.
He had found a cigarette and was crimp-
ing the end OF it. Have you a fraction
of an idea that going to allow you
to make a Jonah of yourself for Us? Sit
down. / say! Who's got gum"