Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-10-05
CHAPTER XIII contlnusd.)

the girl who says that her name IL Hope,
joins u the escape
CHAPTER Kill contlnusd.)
No; have ridden this country for
years, and there is no ranch pasturing
cattle along the Salt Fork. Miss Hope.
want you to comprehend what II u
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
teTrorized the Santa Fe trail for two
hundred miles. killing travellers in
small parties, and driving on stock.
There are few ranches as far west az
this. but these have all suffered from
raids. These fellows have done more
e prectpitate the present Indian war
than any act Of the savages. They
have endeavored to make the authori-
ties believe that Indians were guilty
Of their deeds of murder and robbery.
Both troops and volunteers have tried
70 hold the gang up, but they scatter
and disappear. as though swallowed
BY the desert. have been out twice,
hard on their trail. only to come back
ban1ed. Now, think accident has
given me the clue
She Strengthened up; glancing ques-
tioningly at him through the dark.
ness.
- ssvv,y,ia.ata ,,,l,,,+ q 1855, nG,.. r1r,a
J suspect that cabin to be the rem
devious Of those fellows, and | half
believe HaMley to be their leader. Y
Then You will report all this to the
authorities 2.
He smiled grimly. his lips COM
pressed.
Il hardly think 70: at least. not for
the present ] 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 as
suddenly determined to trust her dis
erection. Deep down In his heart he
rather wanted her to know The fact
Of the matter is, that Neb and here
were the ones that particular posse
were trailing
You her voice faltered. He
said those men were under arrest
for murder. and had broken JAIL
He also said 1t was easy to con-
Wet men In this country II you only
knew how. 1t IS true we broke jail.
but only In order to save our lives; 1t
was the only way. Technically, we
are outlaws. and now run the risk Of
immediate re-arrest by returning
north OF the Arkansas. We came to
you fugitives; was charged with
murder. the negro with assault. So,
you see. Miss Hope, the desperate
class Of men you are now associating
with"
The slight bitterness In his tone
stung the, girl into resentment. She
was looking straight at him. but in.
the gloom he could not discern the
expression Of her eyes.
Il don't believe It. she exclaimed
decisiyeiy. syou-you do not look like
that!.
my appearance may be suficient to
convince you" he returned. rather dry
"; but would weigh little before q
Western court Unfortunately, the:
evidence was strong against me; or
would have been had the case ever,
come to- u trial The strange thing
about It was that both warrants were.
sworn out BY the same complainant.
and apparently FOR 4 similar purpose
Black Bart. Hawley.' 4
What pnrpos4i' r s
70 keep us from telling what We.
knew regarding 4 certain crime in
which either he. or some Of his init
mate friends. were deeply interested"
.'But 1t would all come out at the
trial. wouldn't Il 4.
There was to be- no trial: Judge
Lynch settles the majority Of such
cases out here at present It Ii ex-
trench simple. Listen. and | win tell
yon the story.
He reviewed briefly those occur
renees leading directly up to his ar
rest. Saving little regarding the hor
rOrs Of that scene witnessed near the
Cimmatun Crossing but making sum
.ciently clear his very slight connec-
tion with It. and the reason those who
Were guilty of the crime were 20 anx-
,ious 10 ret him out Of the way. She
listened intently. askiug few Quea-
lions. nntil he ended. Then they both
looked up. conscious that dawn was