, 1908-09-10

no harm onless We ram in too far.
So come on down, Buck, throw up yer
cards; we've got all the ices, an ye
can't bluff this whole urn camp"
Mason spat into the dump contemp-
tuously, his hands thrust into his peck
cts. You're a fine-lookin' lot O. law
abidin' citizens. you are! Blamed II
you amt. This yere man. Bob Hamp-
ton, is my prisoner, an I'll take him
to Cheyenne II I have ter brain every
tough in Glencaid to do it. Thet's
me, gents" =
"Oh. come off; you can't run your
notions agin the whole blame moral
sentiment of this camp"
Moral sentiment I'm backin' up
the law, not moral sentiment, ye cross
eyed beer-slinger, an II we try edgin'
up ther another step I'll plug you with
this AS"
while the men below conferred, the
marshal looking contemptuously down
upon them, his revolver cleaning ON.
inously in the light.
"Oh. come on, Buck, show a little
boss sense the leader sans out.
We've got every Teller in camp along
With US, an there amt no show fer
the two O. We to hold out against th..t
sort Of an outfit"
Mason smiled and patted the barrel
of his Colt.
"Oh, go to blazes! When l want
any advice, Jimmie, I'll send fer ye."
Some one fired, the ball digging up
the soft earth at the marshal's feet,
and finging it In a binding cloud into
Hampton's eyes. Mason's answer
was a sudden fusilade, which sent the
crowd flying helter-skelter into the I'M
derbrush. One among them stagger
ed n half fell, yet succeeded in
dragging himself out Of sight.
Great Scott, If ! don't believe I
winged James," the shooter remarked
cheerfully, reaching back into his
pocket for more cartridges. Maybe
them boys will be a bit more keerful
II they once understand they're up
agin the cal thing. Well, perhaps I
better skin down, fer l reckon it's
liable ter be rifles next"
1t was rifles next, and the "winging"
of Big Jim, however 1t may have in
spired caution, also developed fresh
animosity in the hearts of his fol-
lowers. and brought forth evidences Of
discipline in their approach. Peering
acros the sheltering dump pile, the
besieged were able to perceive tho
dark figures cautiously advancing
through the protecting brush; they
sped out widely until their two TANKS
were close in against the wall of rock,
n then the deadly rifles began to
spit spitefully, the balls casting up
the soft dirt in clouds or ~flattening
against the stones. The two men
c%rouched lower. hugging their pile Of
Stag, unable to perceive wen a stray
assailant within range of their ready
revolvers.
"This whole blame country is full
of discharged sojers," he growled. an
they know their biz all right. l reck-
on them fellers is pretty sure to git
one of us yit; anyhow, they've got us
cooped. Say, Bob, tibet lad crawling
yonder ought to be in reach, an it's
III bounden duty not to let the boys
git too gay"
Hampton tried the shot suggested.
elevating considerable to overcome dis
lance. There was a yell and a swift
skurrying backward which caused Ma
SOB to laugh, although neither knew
whether this result arose from fright
or wound.
obliged ter teach 'en onct
in awhile, or they'll imbibe a fool no
ton they kin come right long up yere
without no invite. 'Taint fer long, no
how, less all them guys are ijuts."
Hampton turned his head and look
ed soberly into the freckled face, inn.
pressed by the speakers grave tone"
WHY"
Fire. my boy, fire. The winds
dead right fer it; tibet brush will burn
like so much finder, an with this big
wall O. rock back Of us, 1t will be hell
here, all right. Some of EN- are
bound to think Of 1t pretty blame soon.
a then. Bob, / reckon you an / will
hev' to take to the open On the jump"
Hampton's eyes hardened. God,
how he desired to live just then, to
that fleeing Murphy and
wiring from him the whole truth which
had been eluding him all these yearsi