Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-12

mere chance OF coming 20 grips with
| Bull Grierson vas everything. For
the moment half regretted having
/ brought him along but Il was too late
/ for repining now. As we conversed
/ the three horses were swinging ahead
| az steady gait They seemed 20 be
about equally matched IN point OF en-
durance. but the rest OF the Sancho
| crowd had fallen hopelessly behind.
1T looks as II It's going 70 be up
TO the four OF US" remarked Gaines.
as he glanced back. We'll. Grierson
only has three shots. n we've reckoned
right Thstll leave one TO finish him
az the worst"
He ended the sentence with a hoarse
laugh. and urged his mount forward
1 could not help marvelinE how Grier-
son, with HIS wounded horse. still man
aged TO maintain his lead. Presently a
series or rocky hills succeeded 10 the
ezpanse OF desert Still following the
red trail, we broke through an opening
in the rocks and entered the Grizzly
canyon. Here and there a pool OF wa
ter appeared. the bottom OF the canyon
for the most part being dry. except
whore an occasional underground
stream appeared on the surface. stop
ping 90 water our horses. Eames'
mount. after drinking. laid down and
refused 20 rise.
Just my luck" complained Games.
bitterly. You'll have 90 play lt out
without me. boys"
Leaving him behind. We pushed
ahead. and little further Gaines
broncho fell heavily. apparently e1-
hausted. Gaines attempted 10 rise
but slipped back again uttering an ex.
clsmstion OF rage.
My ankles twisted all out OF gear. %
he said. sayageiy u can't 40 ON. Do
the best YOU can Reno. he can't be far
on now"
While I halted 10 speak with Gaines.
Shercline was forging steadily ahead.
and turned a bend in the gulch. AS
apurred forward 70 overtake him, the
echo OF shot rang through the can
yon AID In a few more moments I
turned the corner A wounded horse
evidently the property OF our quarry.
lay stretched on the rocks Shercliffe
oismounted. was crouching behind a
bowler. gazing AZ the precipitous
height OF the left wall
4 saw him up there a minute ago"
he said. TRANQUILITY. but fancy I
missed him"
AS he spoke / glanced up and saw
the figure OF man crawling across a
projection on the face OF the cliff. and
recognized Grierson. His hat was gone
and in place OF II a lood-stained rag
encircled his temples. Shercliffe's re-
Volver rang out. but evidently without
enect as Grierson continued TO crawl
onward. Looking attentively az the
face OF the clin ! discerned the path
up which Grierson had struggled. II
was an ugly climb. but as the outlaw
had so far managed Il successfully, I
concluded that / could do likewise.
Keep your eye on him, Johnny"
said, and try your luck with a shot
whenever he stops to rest. I'm going
up after him. If he ever gets over the
edge OF the cliff he has a chance to
get clear"
Shercline uttered a cry OF remon-
STRANGE, but springing forward 1
caught at the scraggy bushes and pro
iecting footholds and commenced the
upward climb. II was a tough con
tract and not Improved by the thought
that G-ierson had still a couple OF
shots at his command, but ] set my
teeth and struggled on, taking advau-
tage OF every little bit OF cover Of
fered by bush or bowlder, whenever /
stopped TO take breath. Qrierson's
whole object, however. now seemed to
be TO gain the top OF the cliff without
hating to shoot at his pursuers. and
for this I felt profoundly thankful
Looking below for an instant was dis
gusted TO behold Shercliffe also toll
ing up the face OF the cliff. Evidently
he feared lest he might not be in st
the final act OF the drama and cursed
his youthful impetuosity
At last Grierson gained the brink.
and / saw his legs vanish overhead. I
crouched behind a convenient bowl
der, half expecting him to try a snap
shot. but none came, and / resumed
my climb. Presently / reached a
granite projection on the edge OF the
elm. and, drawing myself up, found
myself standing on the rough country
bordering the desert. In the distance
saw Grierson lodging among the hill
locks and running swiftly across the
plain, and took up the chase which had
now became foot race Glancing
back. I saw Shercline Just climbing
over the edge OF the cliH
For a man who had passed through
trying physical experience Grierson
ran with extraordinary speed. Still I
was gaining upon him after about a
aaila ar strenuous effort when beheld