Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1909-01-07
CHAPTER XIII.


At the edge of the silent town Gideon
Hope paused. What should he do with
the dynamite to insure its harmlessness,
now that he had it?-that was the ques-
tion.
He recalled the explicit directions that
Warren had given him: To sink it in
some unfrequented water course, and he
remembered he had crossed a bridge above
winding little stretm, about a mile from
the town.
Toward it Hope bent his course. He
had proceeded distance when a dull
sound grew into momentarily augmenta-
tive resonance and distinctness.
Klappetty klop-klappetty klop-klap-
petty klop!
In the soft moonlight he observed ap-
preaching two horsemen. An instant
suspicion assailed him. Suppose they were
allies of the mismated pair at the isolat-
ed house, securing the country for him?
''I'll take no chances" he decided quiet
iy-'at least until the dynamite is dis
posed Of"
So he drew aside into some bushes
fringing the road. 1t was well that he
did so. AS the men passed him he was
positive he had seen them in the garden
of the private asylum-hired appendages
of that nefarious institution.
As they rounded a curve in the road
out of view. Gideon resumed his way.
About five minutes later, as he was
nearing the bridge, almost noiselessly a
man mounted on a horse emerged from
the thickets and nearly ran him down.
He brought his animal to a sharp halt
he stared hard at Hope Piece by piece
ne seemed inspecting his clothing as if
identifying him from description.
Gideon stood his ground. Soon he
started to move on.
Click
II want you!" spoke the horseman,
and he now held q revolver in his hand.
He ran his horse fairly upon Hope
leaned over, and aimed a blow at him
with the weapon. Gideon lodged. Then
he grappled with the form leaning toward
him. He felt stinging pain in one shoul-
der-the firearm had exploded
But in wrath and strength he clung to
the fellow. dragged him from the stirrups,
and giving him mighty fling, sent his
head cracking acrcss mass of bowlders
The satchel he had carried strapped
across one shoulder. AS the man lay
senseless, Hope started again for the riv-
er. He staggered. The horse, well train
ed, had not moved away. AS he began
to experience a strange dizziness, Hope
pulled himself into the saddle, hurried by
shouts around the bend in the road.
The two horsemen in advance had prob
ably heard the shout, and were hurrying
back.
"Up-on." !" feebly ordered Gideon, but
In sheer weakness he almost fell across
the horses neck.
Then there seemed lapse of sheer in
sensbility. Again his brain slightly
cleared, and he was conscious of being
borne at plodding gait along wildwood
bride path.
The steed must have taken a course out
of range of the regular road and the pur-
suing horsemen. Day was breaking. Gid
con knew that the bullet wound in his
shoulder was accountable for the great
weakness that made him even forgetful
of the fateful burden of dynamite that
he still carried.
He lapsed into renewed unconsciousness
again revived.
1t was broad daylight now. The horse
was browsing in sort of garden. Near
by was a house. Hope Strengthened up
in the saddle, tried to rally mis- confused
faculties.
He lifted his eyes toward the building
All its windows were closely shuttered
but one. That was on the second floor,
and barred.
There his glance was riveted. Was It
delirium, fancy? For the roseate dawn
illumined figure, wonder eyed, gazing
down at him.
Claire!
CHAPTER XIV.
This had happened: The horse that
had safely borne Gideon Hope to this
unlooked-for destination belonged, as he