Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-18

mapded- step back. and let me
PAST"
They obeyed. He swept them with
watchtul eyes. stepped past aud slam
med the door behind him. Men were
already beginning to pour into the sa-
loon. uncertain yet of the facts. and
shouting questions to each other. To
tally ignoring these. Hampton thrust
himself recHessiy through the crowd.
Halfway down the bread steps Buck
Mason faced bin. in shirt sleeves, his
head uncovered. an ugly As" in his
upllfted hand. Just an instant the
eyes OF the two men met. neither
doubted the grim purpose OF the other.
You've got ter 60 II. Bob" an
nounced the marshall. shortly, dead
er alive"
Hampton never hesitated. I'm sor-
~ I met you. I don't want 20 get
anybody else mixed UP in this fuss.
If youa promise me a chance for my
life, B0ck. III throw up my hands.
But l prefer bullct to a mob"
The little marshal was sandy-haired.
freckle-faced and an nerve. The
crowd jammed 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 innamed CO.
horts OF Judge Lynch-they would act
first and reflect later HIS square
jaws set like a trap.
All rirht Bob" said the marshal
You're my prisoner. and therein be
one her of "a GCht afore them lads
git ye There's "a chance left-leg &C.
after me-"
Just as the mob sureed out OF the
Occidental, Curs.ng and struggling.
the two spraug forward and dashed
into the narrow space between The
livery stable and The hotel NoGat
CHANGED 90 be in the uassageway. and
pausing TO ask no questions. Mason
promptly landed that gentleman on
the back of his head in a pile of dis
carded tin cans and kicked viciousiy
az a yellow dog which venured TO
snap at them as they swept past Be
hind arose a voilay of curses. the thu3
Of feet. an occasional voice roaring
out orders. and q sharp spat of re-
volver shots. one ban plugged into
the siding OF Che hotel and q second
threw q spit of sand into their lower
ca faces. hut neither man glanced
back. They were running for their
lives now. racine for "a fair chance 20
turn at bay and nsht their sole hope
the steep rugged hin in their front.
Hampton BEGAN 90 understand the
purpose Of Dis companion. the quick
unerrng instinct Which had led him
90 select tho emo suitable spot where
the succo sfnl waglBg OF battle
against such Dads was poss.hic-the
deserted dump az the Shasta mine
With every nerve strained 90 the
uttcrmost. the two men raced side by
side down the steep slope. pl0ughod
through the rried underhrush. oud
toilcd ARP the sharp ascent beyond.
At the summit of The ore dump the
two men nuog themselves painting
down for the lret time able 10 realize
what it an mcant They could per-
ceive The figures OF thoir pursuers
among The shadows of the bushes be-
low. but these were not vontur.nE out
. into the oren-tho first mad. Needless
rush had evidently ended. There were
some cool heads among tho mob lead
ers. and it was highly probable that
negotiations would bee tried before
that crowd buried itself against two
desperate men. armed and eltrcuch
cd Both fue.lves realized this. ana
lay there cool'y watchcul. their breath
growing more regular their eyes soft
ening
"Whut is an this fuss about. any
how" questioned The marshall. evil
IDENTIFY somewhat aggrieved IL WIS
just eatn' dinner when a follcr stuck
his head i'm an yelled ye'd killed
somebcdy over at the Occidental"
Hampton turned his face gravely
toward him. Buck. I don't know
whether youu believe me or not bat
I guess you never heard me tell lie.
or knew of my trying 20 dodge ont of
a bad scrape Besides. I haven't any
thing 20 gain now, tor I reckon you're
planning 90 stay with me. guilty or
not guilty but ! did not kin that fel-
low / don't exactly see how l can
prove IT, the way il all happened. bu,
give you my word as q man. ! did
not kin uiin."
Mason looked him squarely in the
eyes. his teeth showing behind his
stH. closely clipped mustache. Then
he deliberately extended his hand. and
gripped Hampton's. "Of course I be
heye ye. Not that you're any toe
blanc good. Bob. but you amt the
kind what pleads the baby act. Who
was the feller?"
Red Slavin."
NO" and the hand grip perceptibly
uehtened Holy Moses. what ingrati
tude, why. the camp ought 10 get to
gether and give We a vote OF thanks
and instead, here they are trying their
level best to hang you. Cussedesi
sorter thing a mob is. anyhow: goes
like flock o. She sfter a leader
an I bet I could raD the feliers who
are a-runnin' that crowd. How die
the thing happen"
Both men were intently observing
the ingathering of their scattered pur
suers. but Hampton answered gravely
telling his brief story with careful de