The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-12

woods on Upper Lost creek with no
rapers to serve on anybody. Seer
A great light dawned upon Blount,
and with IL came the discomforting
chill Of conviction overthrown. As a
theorist he had always SCORED 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 ofsthe
timber pillagers who had been cutting
on the public domain. To such a man
an agent Of the national forest serv-
fee was an enemy to be disposed of as
expedftiousiy 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
you going 30 do with meY'
whats that you say?" grated the
outlaw.
"You heard what said. Go ahead
and heave me into the canyon If you
are willing to standtfor'it afterward."
The hard faced man turned on his
heel without replying and went back
to the other two at the fire. Blount
caught only a word now and again Of
the low toned, wrangiing argument
that followed. But from the overheard
word or two he gathered that there
were stu 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 it was. With
out any explanation the thongs were
taken from his wrists and ankles, and
he was helpede upon his horse When
his captors were also mounted the
now status was defined by the hard
faced man,in curt phrase.
you go along quiet with us, and
don't you make no bad breaks. I.
more'n half believe you been lynn to
me, but I'm goin' to give you chance
to prove mp. If you don't prove up
you pass out, that's all. Now git-in
line and hike out, and If ye're tempt
ed to make break Jest ricollect that
a chunk o. lead out of a winchester
kin travel a heap faster than your
cayuse."
For the first few miles the trail was
so 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
at gaIlop.
When the canyon trail came out
upon broad uplands and became a
country road, with ranches on either
hand, watered by irrigation canals
into which the mountain torrent was
diverted, there were no familiar land
marks to tell BIount whittier his cap
tors were leading him.
As he was able to. determine by
holding his watch face up to the moon
light, twas nearly midnight when the
silent cavalcade Of four turned aside
from the main road into an avenue Of
huge cottonwood trees.
At its head the avenue became a cir
cular driveway, and frontingAthe drive
way stately house, with a massive
Georgian facade and colonnade por-
tico, flung its black shadow across
the white gravel Of the carriage ap-
preach.
There were lights IN, one wing Of the
house, and another appeared behind
the fanlight in the entrance hall when
the leader Of the three highbinders
had tramped up the steps and touched
the bell push.
Blount had a neeting glimpse Of a
black head with q crown of snowy