The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-08-16

placed the package pl 1p9d against tiie door
and returned 10 his companion. Had to
leave ii outside he reported, "We'll come
back this way an see il she's taken it in.
A horseman rode over hill to the south Of
the cabin and looked searchingy below him,
noting the pile Of Mood and the tracks Of the
wagon. He dismounted and began to recon
hotter, for he bad not avoided the trails and
towns TO Slip up at his journeys end. Snow
was in the air and he knew that in two days
the range would be covered deep enough 10
check all but necessary riding. II would
deter any puncher Of the O. Bar-O from riding
to the hills out Of mere curiosity. The smoke
from the chimney looked good after his long
ride, for it meant a fire, and he was cold. He
did not know who might be inside the cabin,
but he Nopldt find out quickly enough. As he
watched he saw Il woman pass by window
and he walked quickly down the hill When
he turned the corner Of the house so as to get
i to the kitchen, he saw that the rear doorwa
H.
an empty water-barrel through it.
All alone'" he asked, pleasantly, thumb
ling the hammerof his Winchester and peering
past her into the house.
She started and exclaimed, and the barrel,
rolling down the slope, got in his way. As he
cleared it the door slammed shut and he
heard the heavy bar drop into its socket He
threw himself against the thick planks in vain
and beat upon them with the butt Of hisrife
in burst OF rage. Another thud reached his
ears and he cursed himself for not having run
to the other door instead OF losing time over
one barred beyond all hope Of entrance by a
rifle butt.
"Open this door," he shouted savagely.
"Ill bust il to splinters in minute d y hear
Open IT. | amt in no joking frame af mind,
even ii YOU arel"
He looked around for some means OF lore
ing the barrier and espied hea.y cAopplng
log not lar away Laughing a'agely he ran
to il and managed TO drag it to the kitchen
After great effort he got il from the ground
and on his shoulder, and staggering forward
under it, rammed it against the doar. The
impact doomed out sullenly, then again and
again, echoing from hill TO hill in the crisp air
I'm show herr" he grtted
The baitering-ram was 50 heavy and un-
wieldy that he could not use il handily
enough 10 2et quick results, and The door
made Of txo tacsnesses OF twomch OAK
planks are bencd top and bottom, was bar
rier to hc rccsoncd with. But Il WAS giving
slowly, bat giving. Split from top 20 bottom
and held together BY the dagonally rlaccc
second LAYER Of planks and by the Thick olk
bars, it was beginning 10 weaken and eatl
booming echo among the hills marked hi
progress.
Waffles, riding down the pass halt a mill
behind his men. suddenly paused and listcne(
intently. A dua. booming came to his ears
What was it? A fcld-gun fired miles ava,
might sound like that, but there were no field
guns on that range, he told himself Dyna
mite2 No-he knew the sound Of that; any
how, who would use dynamite in the hills
Thought occurs quickly and he was gallopins
back along the trail as the echo died out
Something was wrong at the cabin and n,
amount Of conjecture would tell him what !
was s-he must see for himself Anothe
crash. louder than the first, came to his ear
and was followed by others. a Acow-pony CA
cover much ground in few minutes when
tries, and his elay-bank was trying.
As he turned the bend and the cabin cam
! into view he saw figure staggering under
large log, and another crash awoke th
) echoes
"What tn h--l' he cried, drawing rel
suddenly. His hand raised and cloud q
I, smoke flashed past the clay y-bank's head, an
then the animal plunged through il, ior th
range was too great for a Colt. Again h
hand raised and cloud OF smoke envelope
t the horses head, and then the animal wei
down suddenly, pinning its rider unaer