The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-04-26

amined my gig and pockets, and ther
the spokesman said:
That's all right. You can go ahead
We were just fooling.'
II told them that they could 90 ahead
ard would follow when got good and
ready. Off they drove swearing al
themselves and at me, and as soon as
they were out OF hearing drove bacl,
picked up my key and landed it safely
'The government knew well enough
that there was smuggling going on III
here. and they sent along a spcci::l
agent to spy it out. He was a smooth
one, and he nearly got me. This fsl-
low--his name was Dart--went direct
to Dumas place and said that he had
got into little trouble in the states,
and he wanted Dumas to take care CT
him until it blew over. That flatterct
Dumas pride, and the old man took
him in and made much of him. Dart and
Dumas became great chums. They
went duck hunting together. they
hsbcd and drank together. As soon as
] saw Dart ! suspected him. and he
wasn't Sow in guessing what brought
me To see Dumas so regularly. Dart
tired TO pump me by being hail fellow
and by cursing the customs officers. |
was only boy. but | wasn't so easily
caught as all that. | defended the Gus
toms men and condemned smuggling.
Dart just winlied his left eye in a know
ing sort of way. Fortunately, as it
turned out. Dumas didn't give away his
tunnel. He admitted to Dart that his
place was headquarters for SNUG
glers but he didn't commit himself any
further.
81 had made three successful trims
while Dart was staying with Dumas,
and | guess that my success had made
me bit careless. My fourth trip was
the last smuggling expedition that I
ever engaged in, and it came SO near be-
ing my finish in all ways that it
thoroughly frightened me- 1t was a
cold. nasty night in October. and I
reached Dumas place about eight
o'clock Dartwas sitting in the barroom,
and joined him. We drank more than
the usual quantity of ale. and when
Madore came in whistlingi to indicate
that my key was strapped OH the gig
said
"We'l. Dart, Tn going just as soon
as Madore can hitch up.
"I think I'll take little horseback
ride myself he answered, and see if I
can't clear my head of this ale
This disturbed nc. for couldn't say
anything for fear he might get on to the
right track and suspect my gig. / have
since thought that Dart suspected that
picked up my goods somewhere alcrg
the road, and he expected to detect me
in the act. I hurried out to the barn
and drove out Just as Dart came out of
the barroom to get his horse sadd'ed
'Three miles down the road and Just
after I had crossed the line heard a
horse gulloping behind me- knew it
was Dart, and that ne would overhar.
me unless I could reach a fork a mile
ahead and confuse him as to which road
l had taken. Whipped up my mare and
we flew. AS l looked over her head into
the darkness l saw a light that was
evidently q lantern just about where the
forks of the road were. Dart had cor
ncred me. l knew it. AS soon as saw
that lantern knew that. revenue Off
GERS were with it. couldn't sin nv
key because the straps were tangled I'D.
In an instant had made ND nv mind
what to do. There was a. fairly level
fed on my left with no fence on the
road. Without stopping nv mares
speed turned into it. Nv pig burned
clean off the ground. It was rough
riding. but l realized that it was nv
only chance. The noise that r,.ude &C.
ing across that field warned Dart and
the other officers, what had happened.
and they yelled to me to stop. | didn't.
and then followed n dozen or more shotc
from their reviewers. The balls
whistled over my head. dent know
how | got to the woods. found
score of old wood roads. and selecting
one of them. walked nv horse in art
waited. | heard those fellows beating
the bush around me for two hours.
had slipped the key out ard concealed
it, but didn't want to be captured.
even though they had no evidence
against ne. The officers gave it up. and
drove home at daylight minus the key.
My mare was used up. and a friend of