Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1908-08-13

stone.
I'D stake my all on my belief that
he's there" he said, in low voice.
''Now listen, boys. Johnson and l will
ride to the house and make the arrest,
providing he doesn't give us the slip.
Baker, you and Jim will remain here in
ambush in case he does. He's bound
to come this way to reach the main
land Ready, Johnson"
Jim interposed. His face was fiinty
with purpose.
mot eff the court knows herself, and
I think she do. Me and Johnson will
do that there little arrestin' job and
the boss he'll stay here in the ambush.
Eff anybody's a countin' on my totin'
the boss's openwork body back to
Mary Williston, it's high time he was
a losin' the count, for / amt goin' to
do it."
He guided his horse straight into
the path.
But, JIM" expostulated Langford,
laying a OBTAINING hand on the cow
boys shoulder "as for danger, there's
every bit as much-and more-here.
Do you think Jesse Black will tamely
sit down and wait for us to come up
and nab him? think he'll rum
"Then why are you shirkin', eff
this is the worst spot O. all? You amt
no coward, boss, leastways you never
was. Why don't you stay by it? That's
rubof I'd lilo RI know -
Johnson grinned approximately.
"Well, there's always the suppose
ton that he may not see US until we
ride into his clearing" admitted Lang
ford. "Of course, then-it's too late.
Jim blocked the way.
I'm an ornery, no-'count cowboy
with no one in this hull world to know
or care what becomes o. me. There
amt no one to care but me, and
can't say I'm hurtn' myself any a
carin'! You just wait till l screech
will you?"
"Jim," said Langford huskily, "you
go back and behave yourself. I'm the
boss-not you. You've got to obey or
ders. You've sassed me long enough
You get back, nowi"
"Tell Mary, eff 1 come back dead
err" said Jim, that women are s'per
fiuous critters, but forgive her. She
can't help bein' woman"
He gave his horse dig with his
knee and the animal bounded briskly
| forward.
Jim! You fool boy! Come back!'
cried Langford, plunging after him.
Johnson shrugged his shoulders anC
wheeled his horse into clever conceal
ment on one side Of the path.
LET the fool kids 60" he advised
dryly. I'm lookin' for Jess to run
anyway"
The two men rode boldly up toward
the house. 1t seemed deserted. Weeds
were growing around the door-stoop
and crowding thickly up to the from
windows. A spiders silver web CLEAN
ed from casing to panel Of the warped
and weather-stained door. The win
dows were blurred with the trickling
of rain through seasons Of dust. Ev
erything appeared unkempt, forlorn
| desolate.
There was a sound from the rear
It carried a stealthy significance.
man leaped from the protection OF tn
cabin and was seen running towarC
the barn. He was heavily armed.
stop that, Black" yelled Langford
authsritatively 1--WE are going to taxi
you, dead or alive-you'd better Civ
! yourself up! It will be better for you.
The man answered nothing.
Wing him with you rifle, Jim, be
fore he gets to the barn." said Pau
quickly.
The shot went wild. Black wrench
ed the door open, sprang upon the al
ready bridled horse and made a bolt
dash for the farther woodland not il
the direction where determined mel
waited in ambush. What did it mean
AS his horse cleared the stable, h
turned and shot vindictive challeng
to meet his pursuers.
'You won't take me alive-and dead
/ won't go alonen
ne pluuSSu lOIWdIU III d uOIluCII.
direction Dimly he could be seel
through the underbrush; but plainl,
could be heard the cracking o
branches and the swapping of twigs a
his horse whipped through the low
lying foliage Was there, then, an
other way to the mainland-other thar
the one over which Johnson and Bake
kept guard? How could it be? How
Langford longed for his good riff
and it's carrying power But h
knew how to use a pistol, too. Bot
men sent menacing shots after tn
fugitive. Langford could not accoun
for the strange direction. The onl.
solution was that Black was leadin:
his pursuers a chase through tn,
woods, hoping to decoy them so deepl!
into the interior that he might, turnin;
suddenly and straightly, gain time TO
his desperate sprint across the expos
ed stretch of sand If this were true
Baker and Johnson would take car.
Of him there.