Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-10

DrOtneT, Mr. fratt, l-veSterudN-W
finished Yesterday! We found the claim is not
inside the reservation! NY money used
I'm sure for bribery! But they've got to
give YOU back your claim, if it takes every
penny I've got! | sending Glen to let
YOU know. | asked Mir. Lawrence to confess.
You won't let him GO, You mustn't let him
GO am sure that there's something dreadful
going on"
1t was swift, impassoned speech, clear.
ringing. honest in every word 1t thrilled Van
wondrously. despite the things that had BEEN
her letter, and subsequent events. He all but
lost track of the business in hand, in the light
of her sudden revelations. He did not answer
readily, and Lawrence broke out in protesta
ton.
Its infamous" he cried. IF anyone here
except woman had charged-had been guilty
of all these outrageous lies
Half dozen loiterers had halted at the door,
attracted by the shrill, high tones of his voice.
That's enough of that, lawrence" Van in
terrupted quietly. Every word of this is true.
You accepted twenty thousand dollars to falsify
that line Your chief was murdered to get him
out of the way, because it was known you
could be bribed! | came here to get you, and
I'll get all the crowd, if it kills half the town in
the fight" With one quick movement he
seized his man by the collar. Here. Bill, hustle
him Quit" he said to Christler We've got no
time to waste"
Lawrence, the Sheriff, and himself were pro-
iected out on the sidewalk by one of his quick
maneuvers crowd of men came running to
the place. Above the rising murmur of their
voices raised in excitement, came a shrill and
strident cry.
Van, YAM" was the call, from some one in
1t was lean old Gettysburg. Dave and Ma
poleon were pantingly chasing where he ran.
YAM yelled Gettysburg again It's Bar
ger-Barger- in the tent! It's Barger-
up there-deadl'
Barger. The name acted as swiftly on the
crowd as oil upon flame. 1t seemed if the
wave of news swept like a tide across the
street and down the thoroughfare and into
every shop.
their engines purring they stood. Their
drivers dismounted to join the gathering throng
One of the men was Bostwick down from the
hills. He had searched for Beth at Mrs. Dick
and then had followed here.
"Barger! Barger's dead in camp-and the
Laughing Water claim was stolen-and Culver
killed." One man bawled it to the crowd-and
it sped to Bostwick's ears Only one man de-
parted from the crcwd.-Trimmer the lumber
man, swiftly seeking Gambler McCoppet.
Van, in his heat, had told too much, accusing
the prisoner in hand He sienced Gettysburg
abruptly and started to force aside the crowd
Gentlemen, gentlemen move aslde!' he said
I've got By Jupe! there's Bostwick''
1t was Bostwick fleeing to his that Van
had thus timely discovered. Searle had seen
enough in the briefest of glances. He had
heard too much He realized that only in
flight could the temper of the mob be avoided
He had seen this mob in action once before
and the walls of his stomach caved.
Like youthful Hercules in strength and ir-
resistible action, Van went punging through
the crowd to get his man. But he could not
win. Bostwick had speeded up his motor in a
panic for haste. and his car leaped away like a
dragon wings, the muffler cutout roaring
like a Gatling.
Van might perhaps have shot and killed the
escaping man who held the wheel; but he
wanted Searle alive.
A roar from the crowd replied to the car A
score of men madly in pursuit. None of
them knew the details of the case; but they
knew that Bostwick wanted.
They drifted rearward from the hurting car
like fragments of paper in its wake. The few
down street who danced for moment before
the modern juggernaut, to stop it in its course
sprang nimbly away it rocketed past-and
Searle was headed for the desert.
ONE quick, sweeping glance Van cast about
- for horse something to ride. Suvv
was stabbed, unsadded, up the street. Bost-
wick and his cloud of dust were dropping away
in a swiftly narrowing perspective. And there
stood a powerful dusty red car-emptv its
motor in motion!
There was time to search for its owner
There were half dozen different cars with
which Van Buren, was familiar. He ran to it.
u1a at itc love wheel clutch