, 1908-09-10

"Hed SlhVln.
mol" and the hand grip p%erceptibiy
frightened. Holy Moses, what ingrati-
tude! Why, the camp ought to get to-
Eether and give ye a vote Of thanks,
and instead, here they are trying their
level best to hang you. Cussedest
sorter thing a mob is, anyhow; goes
like 4 flock O. sheep after a leader,
an / bet ] could name the fellers who
are a-runnin' that crowd. How did
the thing happenT"
Both men were intent1y observing
the i~ngathering of their scattered pur-
suers, but Hampton answered gravely,
telling his brief story with careful de-
tail, approaching the Importance Of
reposing full confidence in this quiet,
resourceful companion.
"All 1 really saw of the fellow" he
concluded, was a hand n arm as
they drove in the knife. You can see
there is where II ripped me, and the
unexpected blow of the mans body
knocked me forward, and of course I
fell on Slavin.. 1t may be ! drove
the point further in when I came
down. but that was an accident. The
fact is, Buck. | have every reason to
wish Slavin to live. I was Just get
ting out of him some Information ]
needed"
Mason nodded, his eyes wandering
from Hampton's expressive face to
the crowd beginning to collect be-
meath the shade Of a huge oak a hun
dred yards below.
Never carry a knife, do YET"
NO"
Thought not; always heard you
fought with a Caught no sight
Of the Teller after ye got up7"
"All 1 saw was the crowd blocking
the doorway. knew they had caught
me lying on Slavin. with my hand
grasping the k%nife-hilt, and, somehow,
I couldn't think of anything just then
but how to get out of there into the
open. I've see vigilantes turn loose
before, and knew what was likely to
happen!"
Sure. Recognize anybody in that
frst bunch?"
Big Jim, the bartender, was the
only one / knew; he had a bung-start-
or in his hand"
Mason nodded th%oughtfully, his
mouth puckered. TITS him, II half
q dozen other fel1ers of the same
stripe, who are kickin' up all this fra
cas-. The most of 'em are yonder
now, an II 1t wusn't fer leavin' a pris-
onsr unprotected, darn me II ] wudn't
like to mosey right down thar an
pound a little boss sense into that
bunch O. cattle. Thet's bout the only
thing ye kin do fer a plum fool, so
long as the law won't let ye kill
him"
Tn really sorry that o got mixed
up in this, Buck" said Hampton,
"for 1t looks to me about nine chances
out of ten against either of us getting
away from here unhurt."
"Oh, I don't know. It's bin my ex-
psrience tibet there's alters chances II
you only keep yer eyes skinned. II
We kin only manage to hold EN- back
till after dark we maybe might creep
away through the bush to TAX a hand
in this little game. Anyhow, it's up
to US to play it out to the limit. Bless
my eyes, II those lads amt a-comin'
up right now"
A half-dozen men were starting to
climb the hillside, following a dim
trail through the tangled underbrush.
Mason stepped up to tie ore dump
where he could see better, and watch
cd their movements closely.
Hi, there!" he called, his voice
harsh and strident. you fellers are
not invited to this picnic, IN there'l
be somethin' dom II you push along
ny higher"
The little bunch halted instantly
Just without the edge of the heavy
timber. turning their faces up toward
the speaker.
Nov. see here, Buck" answered
one. taking a single step ahead of the
others, and following his hand as a
trumpet to speak through, at don't
look to us fellers as II this affair was
Any Of your funeral, nohow, Int we've
come long ahead of the others Just
on purpose TO give you a fair show to
pull out of 1t afore the real trouble
begins. Sabe?"
"Is tibet so?"
The little marshal was too far away
HSf thch W pClSSlNS noW nlb tccII
SGT beneath the bristly mustache.
You bet! The boys don't consider
tibet it's hardly the square deal your
takin' up agin 'em in this way. They
lected you marshal of this yere camp,
but 1t warn't expected you'd ever take
NO sides long with murderers. Thet's
o stiff fer us to abide by. So come
ON down. Buck, an leave us to at
tend to the cuss."
IF you mean Hampton, he's my
prisoner. VIII you promise to let me
take him down to Cheyenne feI
trial?"
Wal. / reckon not, old man. We
kin give him a trial well 'nough here
In G~lencaid," roared another voice
from one of the group, which was ap
parently growing restless over the de