The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
every bit as much-and more-here.
Do you think Jesse Black will tamely

sit down and wait for us to 6, me up
and nab him? think he'll run"
Then why are you shirl n. eff
| this is the worst spot O all? You amt
no coward boss, leastways you er
was. Why don't you stay by it? That
what I'd like to know"
Johnson grinned approximately.
well, there's always the SUPPOSE
ton that he may not see us until we
ride into his clearing admitted Lang
ford. "Of course, then-it's too late"
Jim blocked the way.
I'm an Ornery, nO-'cOunt cowboy
with no one in this hull world to know
or care what becomes o. me. There
amt no one to care but me, and
can't say I'm a hurtin' myself any
carin' You just wait till | screech,
will you?"
jim" said LangfOrd, huskily, you
go back and behave yourself. I'm the
boss-not you. You've got to obey or
ders. You've sassed me long enough.
You get back, nOw.'
Tell Mary, eff | come back a dead
err" said jim, that women are S'per-
1uous critters. but | forgive her, She
can't help bein woman"
He gave his horse a dig with his
knee and the animal bounded briskly
forward.
Jim You fool boy, Come back"
cried Langford, plunging after him.
Johnson shrugged his shoulders and
wheeled his horse into clever conceal
ment on one side of the path.
Let the fool kids CO." he advised,
anyway"
The two men rode boldly up toward
the house. 1t seemed deserted. Weeds
were growing around the dOOrStOop,
and crOwding thickly up to the front
windows. A spiders silver web gleam-
ed from casing to panel of the warped
and weather-stained door. The win
dows were blurred with the tricklings
of rain through seasons of dust. Ev.
erything appeared unkempt, forlorn,
deSOlate.
There was a sound from the rear.
1t carried a steathy significance. A
man leaped from the protection of the
cabin and was seen running toward
the barn. He was heavily armed.
stop that, Black" yelled Langford,
authoritatively. I'VE are going to take
you, dead or alive-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 and made a bold
dash for the farther woodland not in
the direction where determined men
waited in ambush. What did it mean.
AS his horse cleared the stable, he
turned and shot vindictive challenge
to meet his pursuers.
you won't take me alive-and dead,
| won't 60 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 it be? How
Langford longed for his good rife
and it's carrying power. But he
knew how to use pistol, too. Both
men sent menacing shots after the
fugitive. Langford could not account
for the strange direction. The only
solution was that Black was leading
his pursuers a chase through the
woods, hoping to decoy 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 were true,
Baker and Johnson would take care
! Of him there.
Black returned the fire vengefully.
A bullet scraped his horses flank His
hat was shot from his head He turned
savagely in his saddle with yell of
defiance.
You'll never take me alive!"
The fusillade 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
Il got him." yelled Jim, exultantly.
He spurred forward.