Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-02-05

struck its fangs into his neck Mckee,
springing up with an energy that scat
tered the sticks he was piing. tore the
reptile loose, hurled it upon the ground
and stamped it into the earth. Then
he picked up one of the brands and
with it cauterized the wound All the
while he was cursing volubly-the
snake, himself and even Dick Lane,
who was now lying in dead faint
caused by the torture.
Curse such Il prospector! Not drop
Of whisky in his outfit. I'd slit his
tongue fer him if he wasn't already
done fer. must keep movin', movin',
or Pm a dead man. | must hustle
along to the mountains, leadin' my
horse. Up there I'll find YARDS to cure
snake bite that my Cherokee grand
mother showed me. The rurales will
have to get the other ponies, but some
day I'll come back after Lanes cache"
A half hour later the Mexican guards
appeared upon the scene and unbound
Lanes unconscious form from the sa-
huaro which the fire had consumed to
within a foot of his bowed head They
deluged his face and back and bathed
his tortured feet with the contents of
their canteens and brought him back
to life. but, alas. not to reason.
Six months later there limped out of
Chihuahua hospital discharged pa
tent wry necked. crook backed, with
drawn features and hair and beard
streaked with gray. 1t was Dick Lane
restored to his old physical strength. SO
far as the distortion of his spine
caused by his torture permitted, and
to the full possession of his mental
faculties. He mounted one of the cap
tured ponies and rode off with the
proceeds of the sales of the others In
his pocket to purchase provisions for
return to his prospecting.
Before plunging into the wilderness
he wrote n letter:
Chihuahua Mexico.
Mr.. John Payson. Sweetwater Ranch,
Florence Ariz u. s. A:
Dear Jack-I have been sick and out of
my head in the hospital here for the last
six months Just about the time you all
We're expecting me home | had a run In
with the Apaches. And who do you think
was with them? Buck Mckee. the half
breed that l ran off the range two years
ago for tongue Sitting. After | had done
for all the rest he got me. ard-well. the
story's too long to write / rather think
Mckee has made off with the gold had
cached just before the fight. I'm going
back to see. and If he did I'll hustle
around to find buyer for one Of my
claims. don't want to sell my big mine.
Jack 1 tell you | struck 1t rich! But
that story can wait till get back. Your
loan can't. though. expect to receive
5000 by express some time before 1 put
in an appearance. l hope you got the
mortgage renewed at the end of the year
II my failure to show up then has caused
you trouble. you'll forgive me. old fellow,
know. under the circumstances. I'll
make 1t up to you | owe you every
thing. You're the best friend man ever
had. That's why I'm writing to you in
stead Of to Uncle Jim. for want you to
do me another friendly service. Just
break it gently to Echo Allen that I'm
alive and we'll. though pretty badly dam
aged by that renegade McKee, and tell
her that 1t wasn't my fault wasn't home
on the day l promised. She'll forgive me.
l know. and be patient awhile longer.
It's all for her sake I'm staying away.
Give her the letter l nclose Your old
bunkie. DICK LANE.
ITO be continued 8N