Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-02-26


Halfway down the broad steps Buck
Mason faced him, In shirt sleeves, his
head uncovered, an ugly "45" In his
uplifted hand Just an instant the
eyes OF the two men met, neither
doubted the grim purpose of the other.
You've got ter do it. Bob" an
nounced the marshall, shortly, dead
er alive"
Hampton never hesitated. I'm sor-
~ / met you. / don't want to get
anybody else mixed up in this fuss.
II you'll promise me chance for my
life, Buck, I'll throw up my hands.
But 1 prefer bullet to a mob"
The little marshal was sandy-haired,
| freckle-faced, and all nerve. The
crowd damned within the Occidental
| had already turned and we're surging
| toward the door. Hampton knew from
| long experience what this meant;
these were the quickly infamed CO.
horts of Judge Lynch-they would act
| first, and reflect later. His square
| jaws set like a trap.
| Cali right, Bob" said the marshal.
You're my prisoner, and therell be
one hell of fight afore them lads
| git We. There's a chance left-leg it
after me-"
Just as the mob surged out Of the
Occidental, cursing and struggling,
the two sprang forward and dashed
into the narrow space between the
livery stable and the hotel Moffat
CHANGED to be in the passageway, and
| pausing to ask no questions, Mason
promptly landed that gentleman on
the back of his head in pile of dis
carded tin cans, and kicked viciously
| at yellow dog which ventured to
snap at them as they swept past. Be
hind arose yolley of curses, the thud
Of feet, an occasional voice roaring
out orders, and sharp spat of re-
volver shots. One ball plugged into
the siding Of the hotel, and a second
threw a spit of sand into their lower
ed faces, but neither man glanced
back. They were running for their
lives now, racing for a fair chance to
turn at bay and fight, their sole hope
the steep, rugged hill in their front.
Hampton began to understand the
purpose of his companion, the quick,
unerring instinct which had led him
to select the one suitable spot where
the successful waging of battle
against such odds was possible-the
deserted dump of the Shasta mine.
With every nerve strained to the
uttermost, the two men raced side by
side down the steep slope, ploughed
through the tangled underbrush, and
toiled up the sharp ascent beyond.
At the summit of the ore dump the
two men flung themselves painting
down, for the first time able to realize
what it all meant. They could per-
ceive the figures of their pursuers
among the shadows of the bushes be-
low, but these were not ventur:ng out
into the open-the first mad, needless
rush had evidently ended. There were
some cool heads among the mob lead
ers, and it was highly probable that
negotiations would be tried before
that crowd hurled itself against two
desperate men, armed and entrencn-
ed. Both fugitives realized this, and
lay there coolly watchful, their breath
growing more regular, their eyes soft
ening.
| WNuC Is dll IuSS dUOut, ally
how?" questioned the marshall, evil
IDENTIFY somewhat aggrieved. Il wus
just eatin' dinner when Teller stuck
his head in an yelled yed killed
somebody over at the Occidental"
Hampton turned his face gravely
toward him. Buck, don't know
whether you'll believe me or not, but
I guess you never heard me tell a lie.
or knew of my trying to dodge cut of
a bad scrape Besides, haven't any
thing to gain now, for reckon you're
planning to stay with me, guilty Or
not guilty, but l did not kill that fell
low. 1 don't exactly see how l can
prove it, the way it all happened. but
give you my word as a man, did
not kill him."
Mason looked him sauarely in the
eyes, his teeth showing behind his
stiff, closely clipped mustache. Then
he deliberately extended his hand, and
gripped Hampton's. "Of course I be-
lieye We. Not that you're any too
blame good, Bob, but you amt the
kind what pleads the baby act. Who
was the feller?"
q Red Slavin.'
}. moi" and the hand grip perceptibly
! tightened. Holy Moses. what ingrati-
e tude! Why, the camp ought to get to-
]. gether and give We vote OF thanks,
a and instead, here they are trying their
> level best to hang you. Cussedest
r sorter thing a mob is, anyhow: goes
!. like a flock O. sheep after leader,
h an bet could name the fellers who
+ are a-runnin' that crowd. How did
q the thing happen?"
e Both men were intently observing
: the ingathering of their scattered pur-
4 suers. but Hampton answered gravely,
4 telling his brief story with careful de-
s tail, approaching the Importance OF
4 | ,onnSine full confidence in this quiet