The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-12-02


than anything but sheer recklessness
would have prompted fastened across
the waste. His rifle lay In his hand
and he had pushed his horse to run.
A single fearful instinct crowded now
upon the long strain of the week. A
savage fascination burned like fever
in his veins, and he meant that they
should not get away. Taking chances
that would have shamed him in cooler
moments, he forced his horse at the
end of the long ride to within 100
PAGES of the river, threw his lines.
slipped like lizard from the saddle.
and, darling with incredible swiftness
| from rock to rock, gained the waters
| edge.
From up the long shadows Of the
wash there came the wall of an owl.
From It he knew that Wickwire had
seen them and was warning him, but
he had anticipated the warning and
stood below where the hunted men
must ride. He strained his eyes over
the waste of rock above. For one half
hour of daylight he would have sold.
in that moment, ten years of his life.
What could he do II they should be
able to secrete themselves until dark
between him and Wickwire? Gliding
under cover of huge rocks up the dry
watercourse, he reached spot where
the floods had scooped long, hollow
curve out Of soft ledge in the bank.
leaving a stretch Of smooth sand on
the bed of the stream At the upper
point great powders pushed out OF
the river. He could not inspect tho
curve from the spot he had gained
without reckless exposure, but he
must force the little daylight left I'd
him. Climbing completely over the
lower point, he advanced cautiously
and from behind sheltering spur
stepped out upon an overhanging table
of rock and looked across the river
bottom. Three men had halted on the
sand within the curve. Two lay on
their rifles under the upper point, 800
PAGES from Whispering Smith. The
! third man, Seagrue, less than 80 yards
away, had got off his horse and was
laying down his rifle, when the boot
owl screeched again and he looked un-
4 easily back. They had chosen for
4 their halt spot easily defended, and
!, needed only darkness to make them
u safe, when Smith, stepping out into
). plain sight, threw forward his hand.
They heard his sharp call to pitch up.
and the men under the point jumped.
Seagrue had not yet taken his hand
from his rife. He threw 1t to his
. shoulder. AS closely together as two
fingers of the right hand can be struck
twice in the palm of the left, two rife
g shots cracked across the wash. Two
II bullets passed so close in flight they
+ might have struck. One cut the
l. dusty hair from Smiths temple and
g slit the brim of his hat above his ear;
. the other struck Seagrue under the
g left eye, plowed through the roof OF
e his mouth, and, coming out below his
y ear, splintered the rock at his back.
y The shock alone would have stag
. gered bullock, but Seagrue, laughing
:, came forward pumping his gun. Sin
," clair, at 100 yards, cut instantly into
y the fight, and the ball from his rife
~ creased the allali that crusted Wits
NJ pering Smiths unshaven cheek. Al
I, j., he fired he sprang to cover
= For Seagrue and Smith there wa.
=. no cover; for one or both 1t was deatf
- In the open and Seagrue. with his rife
: at his cheek walked straight into 1t
Taking for a moment the fire of the
three guns, Whispering Smith stood
~ a perfect target. outlined againet tn,
~ sky They whipped the dust from hi
~ coat, tore the sleeve from his wris
,e and ripped the blouse collar from hi
~ neck; but he felt no bullet shock. HI
" saw before him only the buckle o
az Sesgrue's belt 40 PAGES away, and sen
u bullet after bullet at the CLEAN o
," brass between the sights. Both mel
g were using high-pressure guns, AM
as the deadly shocks of the slugs mad
III Seagrue twitch and stagger. The maj
Gu was dying as he walked. Smith
ei hand was racing with the lever, an
ST. had cartridge jammed, the, stee
n, would have snapped like a match.
al (To BE CoNCLUDED)