Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-09-30

mount, where he was laid across the
saddle in front OF the lean ranchman.
and In less time than IL takes to relate
the incident they were away. riding
like a streak for the state line.
The animated form of their captive
only added speed to the flight Of Ga
some of them profanely strong. as
sured them that they had made no mis-
take in capturing the right man. 1t re-
quircd all OF Gabrie's iron strength TO
hold the angry captive in place.
The mysterious change that heralds
the dawn found Gabriel, Jim Lewis,
the Crane and Tim Lewis riding
through narrow deflle whose farther
end marked the line OF another state.
Harry Barry, shaken into more COM
Portable posture. but his head and
shoulders still enveloped in the blan-
ket, was permitted to ride White Star,
while his friends with voices lowered
during their infrequent converse man.
aged to conceal their identity from
him.
When they were safely on another
territory they paused and gathered
into a semicircle about the prisoner.
The blanket was withdrawnfrom Har-
ry Barry's indignant countenance,
and he split the morning air with
whoop of disgust when he viewed the
faces of his friends In the wan day
light Worn and haggard they were.
but each pair OF faithful eyes viewed
him with brotherly love.
what in the y-blank-blank is
the matter with you gazaboes~ he
beloved wrathfully. us this what
you call joke to carry a Teller thir-
ty miles away from the first streak of
luck he's ever had7 wish I'd kept 1t
to myselfW he looked around at their
crestfallen faces, his own anger abat-
ing in the light of concern he read in
the eyes fixed on him.
Were your friends, Harry" boom
ed Gabriel solemnly. "What we've
done this night has been agin the law.
as we all know 1t, but don't believe
one mothers son of US would have
done It for anybody but you. Seems
like 1 couldn't bear not to hear you
laugh no more" The rough fellow
drew his sleeve across his brow, and
for an instant his troubled and betray-
ing eyes were hidden.
The others nodded assent mot for
nobody but you. Harry" added the
Crane crustily.
Harry Barry stared at their woebe-
gone faces with bewildered eyes. He
looked little like a condemned man
a man who had faced death but few
short hours before-a man who had
escaped certain hanging from one of
the three cottonwoods at Satan's Gulch.
whats the rumpusT he demanded
at length. 'You got my note all
right?"
That's why we came. and-what's
happened that you call the limb of a
cottonwood the first streak of luck
you ever had?" demanded Gabriel
sternly. 'There want no gal In the
case?"
Harry Barry stared "Nary GAL"
he managed to say after awhile. "but
got to do with me2"
Silently Gabriel passed over the note
that the Mexican had delivered, and
the Others stared curiously as the
young man read IL.
"Where's the rest of it7' he demand
ed.
REST OF it?" they echoed.
''The first part. It's been torn or"
THAT'S the way 1t was handed to
me-" said Gabriel.
''I'l bet the greasy toad tore some
OF 1t Off to make a cigarette" sput-
tered Harry Barry. Then. turning to-
ward them, he said without a trace of
humor in his pleasant voice: "This
part, boys, sounds mighty desperate,
but when tell you what was in the
part that the greaser tore or you'll
understand. The whole note said:
Murray, I've struck silver ut Satan's
Gulch after all! Come to the three
cottonwoods and bring the boys to
celebrate. It's the Last Chance And,
boys. the name OF the new mine Is
Last Chance"
His careless young face grew very
tender as the four yelled themselves
hoarse with delight. They joked one
another about the mistake they had
made, and as they turned about and
rode back over the trail into their own
state they discussed. with much laugh
ter, the pains they had taken to bring
Harry Barry away from his streak OF
luck. Harry Barry's favorite theme
for months had been his belief that
silver ore would be found Mt Satan's
Gulch, and he had utilized his three
weeks vacation to prospect that re-
gion thoroughly, with the best Of sue
cess.
Harry Barry himself was the only
serious one In the party bound for the
cottonwoods. At last. when they all
drew rein under the trees and had ex-
amined the notice of his claim that
was posted. there they waited for him
to speak.
Helo0ked around at their tired faces
and read the satisfaction in their eyes.
There came to him then the full
of what friendship means
between men.
Friends" he said gently, 81 under
stand now why you rode down to the
three cottonwoods, and you must have
believed some in me to do what you
did. This amt going to be big mine
there ain't fortune In it--but. no
matter what size 1t is. there's Eve
partners In ft. and it'a name is Friend.