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


friends. 1t was impossible to judge
ones aim Alright. His horse staggered.
Another bullet sang and purree
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.
81 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 go without gun if you won't give
me yours"
They rode cautiously up to the pros
trate figure. It 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 a 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 it's 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 it's 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 Bars.
''Now, damn you, we're Quits!" he
cried, hoarsely.
There was not time for Jim to draw,
but, agile as a cat, he threw himself
against Blacks arm and the bullet
went wild. For a moment the advant-
age was his, and he wrested the
weapon from Blacks hand. It fell to
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 wrestlers left
: the fallen weapon free, Langford. who
had been waiting for this opportunity,
sprang forward and seized it with a
thrill of satisfaction. Command of the
situation was once more his. But the
revolver was empty, and he turned to
throw himself into the struggle empty
, handed. Jim would thus be given q
chance to draw.
At that moment Black twisted his
arm free and his hand dropped like a
fash to his belt, where there was a
revolver that was loaded. Jim Rugged
him closely, but 1t was of no use. The
, bullet tore it's cruel way through his
side. His arms relaxed their hold--he
slipped-slowly- Black
: shook himself from of him impatiently
} and wheeled to meet his great enemy.
"Quits at last!" he said, with an
ugly smile.
, Quits indeed! For Jim, raising him.
self slightly, was able to draw at last;
} and even as he spoke, the outlaw fell.
Jim, my boy" said Langford, huski-
ly. He was kneeling, Jim's head in his
arms.
We'll, boss" said Jim, trying to
smile. His eyes were clear.
ct was my affair, Jim, you ought
not to have done it." said Langford
brokenly.
i ITS all right-boss-don't you wor.
/ ryI saw you-in the hall that night
You are-the boss. Tell Mary so. Tell
} her l was-glad-to go-so you could
} go to her-and it would be-all right
She-loves you-boss-you needn't be
afraid"
Jim, cannot bear it; / must go in
: your stead"
/ ITO Mary-yes." His voice sank
: lower and lower. An added paleness
{ stole over his face, but his eyes looked
into Langford's serenely, almost hap.
PLY.
"Go-to Mary in my stead-boss, .
he whispered. Tell her Jim gave his
: boss-to her-when he had to go-l
: used to think it was 'Mouse-hair'-l
am glad it is-Mary-tell her goodbye
) tell her the Three Bars wouldn't be
/ the same to Jim with a woman in Il
, anyway-tell her"
t And with a sigh Jim died.