Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-07

cabin and was seen running toward
the barn. He was heavily armed.
stop that. Black" yelled Langford.
authoritatively. "Wcaare going to take
you. dead or allve-you'd better give
yourself up! 1t will be better for you"
The man answered nothing.
wing him with YOU rifle, Jim, be-
fore he gets to the barn." said Paul
quickly.
The shot went wild Black wrench
ed the door open, sprang upon the al
ready bridled horse aud made bold
dash for the farther woodland not III
the direction where determined men
waited in ambush What did 1t mean.
! AS his horse cleared the stable, no
turned and shot vindictive challenge
! to meet his pursuers.
you won't take me alive-o1d dead,
] won't go alone"
He plunged forward in a northerly
direction. Dimly he could be seen
through the underbrush; but plainly
could be heard the cracking of
branches and the Swapping Of twigs as
HIS horse whipped through the low
! lying foliage Was there, then, an
other way to the mainland-other than
| the one over which Johnson and Baker
kept guard? How could 1t be? How
Langford longcd for his good rife
and its carrying POWER. But he
knew how TO use a pistol. too. Both
men sent menaci1g shots after the
fugitive. Ilangford could not account
for the strange direction. The only
solution was that Black was leading
his pursuers chase through the
woods. hoping to dccoy them so deeply
into the interior that he might, turning
suddenly and straightly, gain time for
his desperate sprint across the expos
ed stretch OF sand. If this we're true,
Baker and johnson would take care
Of him there.
Black returned the Are vengefully.
A bullet scraped his horses flank. His
hat was shot from his head. He turned
savagely in his saddle with a yell OF
defiance.
you'll never take me alive!"
The fusllade was furious. but the
trees and branches proved Blacks
friends. 1t was impossible to Judge
ones aim Alright. His horse staggered.
Another bullet sang and purred
through the foliage. and the horse fell.
my God, Jim" cried Langford.
MY cartridges are out. Give me your
gum
For answer, Jim sent another bullet
whistling forward. Black rising from
his fallen horse, fell back.
IT got him" yelled Jim, exultantly.
He spurred forward.
Careful, Jim" warned Langford.
HE may be playing 'possum,' you
know"
You stay where you are" cried Jim
you amt got no gun. Stay back, you
fool boss."
Langford laughed a little.
You're the fool boy. jim" he said.
I'll 90 without gun if you won't give
me yours"
They rode cautiously up to the pros
trate figure. 1t was lying face down
ward, one arm outstretched on the
body Of the dead horse, the other
crumpled under the mans breast
Blood oozed from under his shoulder.
Hes done for" said Jim. in low
voice. In the presence of death all
hatred had gone from him. The man
apparently had paid all he could Of his
debts on earth. The body lying there
SO low was the body OF real man
What ever his crimes, he had been a
fine type OF physical manhood. He
had never cringed He had died like
a man, fighting TO the last.
Jim slowly and thoughtfully slipped
his revolver into its holster and dis
mounted. Langford, too, sprang light
ly from his saddle
Black had been waiting for this. His
trained ear had no sooner caught the
soft rubbing sound of the pistol slip
ping into its leathern case than he
leaped to his feet and stretched out
the crumpled arm with its deadly
weapon pointing straight at the heart
Of Langford OF the Three Ears.
Now, damn you, we're quits" he
cried, hoarsely.
~">'" was nv '3ihV AVA JIii W VA q W
but. agile as cat, he threw himself
against Blacks arm and the bullet
went wild For moment the advant
age was his and he wrested the
weapon from Blacks hand. 1t fell tc
the ground. The two men grappled
The struggle was short and fierce
Each strove with all the strength OF
his concentrated hate to keep the
others hand from his belt.
When the feet OF the wrestIers left
the fallen weapon free, Langford, who
, had been waiting for this opportunity
sprang forward and seized it with 6
thrill of satisfaction. Command OF the
situation was once more his. But the
revolver was empty, and he turned tc
throw himself into the struggle empty
handed. Jim would thus be given 9
chance 10 draw.
At that moment Black twisted his
, arm free and his hand dropped like {
lash to his belt, where there was
revolver that was loaded. Jim hugget
him closely, but it was of no use. The
bullet tore its cruel way through hi
side. His arps relaxed their hold-ht
slipped-slowly-dOw Blacl
shook himself from of him Inpatient,
and wheeled To meet his great enemy