The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-10-13
CHAPTER xII.--(contInued.)

mo; | have ridden this country for
years. and there is no ranch pasturing
cattle along the Salt Fork. Miss Hope.
l want you to comprehend what 1t is
you have escaped from; what you are
now fleeing from. Within the last two
years an apparently organized body
Of outlaws have been operating
throughout this entire region. Often.
times disguised as Indians, they have
terrorized the Santa Fe trail for two
hundred miles. killing travellers In
small parties. and driving on stock.
There are few ranches as far west as
this. but these have all suffered from
raids. These fellows have done more
to precipitate the present Indian war
than any act of the savages. They
have e~ndeavored to make the authori-
ties believe that Indians were guilty
Of their deeds Of murder and robbery.
Both troops and volunteers have tried
to hold the gang up. but they scatter
and disappear. as though swallowed
by the desert. l have been out twice,
hard on their trail. only to come back
bafled. Now, l think accident has
given me the clue"
She Strengthened up; glancing ques-
tioningly at him through the dark
ness.
This il what ! mean, Miss Hope.
I suspect that cabin to be the rem
devious of those fellows, and l half
believe Hawley to be their leader"
Then you will report all this to the
authorities 2"
He smiled grimly. his lips com
pressed.
Il hardly think SO; at least. not for
the present. l am not blood-thirsty,
or enamored Of man-hunting. but
happen to have a personal interest In
this particular affair which ! should
prefer to settle alone" He paused
swiftly reviewing the circumstances
Of their short acquaintance. and al
suddenly determined to trust her dis
erection. Deep down in his heart hs
rather wanted her 10 know. The fac
Of the matter is, that Neb and l here
were the ones that particular POSSE
we're trailing.
"You!" her voice faltered. HI
said those men were under arres
for murder. and had broken jail"
He also said 1t was easy to con
vict men In this country If you onl,
knew how. 1t is true we broke jail
but only In order to save u lives; l
was the only way. Technically, VI
are outlaws, and now run the risk o
immediate re-arrest by returnini
north of the Arkansas. We came t
you fugitives; | was charged wit
murder. the negro with assault. Sc
you see. Miss Hope. the desperat
class of men you are nov ~associatin
with"
The slight bitterness in his ton
stung the girl into resentment. Sh
was looking straight at him. but
the gloom he could not discern tn
expression Of her eyes.
II don't believe It," she exclaime
decisively, 'you-you do not look lk
that!"
my appearance may be SUFFICIENT
convince you" he returned. rather dr.,
ly, but would weigh little before
Western court. Unfortunately, Ii
evidence was strong against me;
would have been had the case evs
come to q trial. The strange thin
about It raj that both warrants wei
sworn out by the anne complainant
and apparently for a similar purpose
Black Bart Hawley."
What purpose7"
ITO keep us from telling what '
knew regarding q certain crime.
which either he. or some of his I'M
mate friends. were deeply interested
But 1t would all come out at Il
trial, wouldn't 1T"
There was to be no trial; judi
Lynch settles the majority of SUI
cases out here at present. 1t is g
tremely simple. Listen. and ! will Y
you the story"
He reviewed briefly those occr
rences leading directly up to his
vsst saying little regarding the be