Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-05-12

II S W s s':'s; hut :'' ' 's-
| manned.
<OCND NJ s T. L Tint some ri
| LOOKING INTO THE dicu,ors m,stota
nN 49, I W had been made
seemed to be the
only possible explanation. But when
he remembered the three Invisible
horsemen who had passed him on the
| broad mesa he was not 80 sure about
| the mistake.
Most naturally his thoughts went
back to the little episode on the hotel
porch. The passing glance he had CIV
| en- to the three men with whom his
smoking room companion had been
talking did not enable him to identify
them with the three who were calmly
discussing his fate at the nearby fire,
but the conclusion was fairly obvious
none the less.
Thus far he had been either too busy
or too bewildered to think Of asking
questions, but when the more murder
Gus Of the expedients seemed actually
| about to prevail he thought 1t was
time to try to find out why he was to
be effaced
| with any arrangements you gentlemen
| are making" he called across to the
| group Mt the fire. but II you will kind
ly tell me why you think 1t necessary to
murder me I should be immensely
obliged"
You know mighty good and we'll
| why there's one too many Of you on
Lost river jest at this stage O the
game" said the hard faced brigand
who had held the Winchester while
his two accomplices had endorsed and
bound the victim.
'But l don't" insisted Blount good
naturally. so far as l know, there
Is only one Of NEON Lost river or
anywhere else"
''Thatll do for you. 1t amt your
put in. nOhow." was the gruff decision
Of the court.
But Blount was too good a lawyer to
be silenced that easily.
Perhaps you might not especially
regret killing the wrong man. but in
the present case l am very sure l
should. Who do you think I amT
1.-THE boss knows who you are, and
that's enough for u.s." said the spokes-
man Of the three highbinders.
1.-THE bossY questioned Blount.
"Yaas: said the boss. Now hold
your Jaw"
Blount caught ut the word. In a
fash the conversation with Gantry
ficked into his mind.
There is only one boss in this state"
he said coolly, land am very sure he
has not given you orders to kill me-"
whats tfUt" demanded the spokes-
man.
Blount repeated his bit Of informa-
ton. adding. perhaps you'd better
ring for q better connection and ask
your boss II he wants you to kill the
son of his boss?"
At this the tall man came and stood
over his prisoner.
Say. comrade. 1t amt my night for
kiddin', and 1t hadn't ort to be yourn,"
he remarked grimly. 1.-The boss didn't
say you was to be rubbed out-they
never do. But I reckon 1t would save
a heap O. trouble II you was rubbed
out. You don't git over into them
woods on Upper Lost creek with no
papers to serve on anybody. Seer
A great light dawned upon Blount,
and with 1t came the discomforting
chill Of conviction overthrown. As q
the0rist he had always scoffed at the
idea that corporations. which are crea-
lures Of the law. could afford to be
open lawbreakers. But here was a
very striking REPUTATION of the chart
table assumption.
His smoking room companion Of the
Pullman car was doubtless one Of the
timber pillagers who had been cutting
on the public domain. To such a man
an agent Of the national forest serv-
ice was an enemy to be disposed Of as
expeditiously as possible. and Blount
saw that he had only himself to blame,
since he had allowed the man to be-
lieve that he was a government en-
ployee.
Having the clew to the mystery. how
ever. his course was little easier to
steer.
my name Is Blount. and I am the
son Of ex-senator David Blount of this
state" he asserted "Now. what are
vO1r uOincy IN do xryg<h
whats that you sayT grated the
outlaw.
you heard what I said. Go ahead
and heave me into the canyon II you
are willing to stand for 1t afterward."
The hard faced man turned on his
heel without replying and went back
10 the other two at the FIRE. Blount
caught only word now and again Of
the low toned. wrangling argument
that followed. But from the overheard
word or two he gathered that there
were still some leanings toward the
sound old maxim which declares that
dead men tell no tales"
When the decision was reached he
was left to guess what 1t was With
out any explanation the thongs were
taken from his wrists and ankles, and
he was helped upon his horse. When
| his captors were also mounted the
new status was defined by the hard
faced man In curt phrase.
"YOu 90 along quiet with US. and
don't you make no bad breaks. /
more'n half believe you been lynn to
me. but I'm goin' to give you a chance
to prove up. II you don't prove up
you pass out, that's ALL Now git in
line and hike out, and II ye're tempt
ed to make a break Jest ricollect that
chunk O. lead out Of a Winchester
kin travel a heap faster than your
cayuse."
For the first few miles the trail was
30 difficult that speed was out of the
question, but later in crossing a high
lying valley the horses were pushed.
and ten or twelve miles were covered