Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-04-21

stick here and grab grass while 80
over and give q few kind words to
them fellers that's had bonfire and
have hoped Annie's ground"
The heavier grass which ran along
the outer rim Of the valley wriggled
mysteriously for several minutes and
the crickets stopped their creaky
songs az be crawled along to get as
far forward as possible. He would
surprise them II he could get close
enough, and II he couldn't-well, then
1t was up to the best side to make
good.
He crept- onward to where the grass
was too short for concealment, and at
the edge Of a bare spot rested for a
few minutes, with every nerve strung
to pitch.
It's strange how, when men know
they are doing wrong, they get as
alert as wild animals. Jim had hardly
climbed to his feet and started warily
toward them, when one of the men
sighted him and swung q gun into
view, shouting, as he did so: stop. or
I'll shoot!"
Jim, seeing that further caution was
useless, went ahead. II he had be-
lieved there was chance OF his get
ting closer he was mistaken. There
was a crash, and all four men opened
FIRE on him at once, without waiting to
see whether his errand was peaceable
or not. He had served too many years
on the frontier to take chances, and
their shots went above his head. be-
cause he had suddenly dropped nat up
on the ground. without hesitation.
he fired back. and the one who had
begun the battle pitched forward, and
was out of the fight.
The others started to get away from
the light Of the fire which made them
too good a target, but before they
could do SO Jim fred again. A sec
ond man staggered back, his gun fall
Ing from his hands, and did q wab-
bling turn, while Jim watched.
I'D give 1t to you again." Jim
thought, "but I'm little shy on cart
ridges, and will take chance on that
one being enough"
The man staggered for moment,
then dropped to the ground, where he
rolled over and over, but without Of
fering further fight. Jim saw his fall
and then sprang up and forward. on
the run. The boiling In his blood
caused by that first sight Of the
burmese cabin had long ago given way
to a coe.pr mood, but 1t was none the
less deadly. He knew the chances he
was taking n. running forward. and
resorted to the 10 der trick OF buck
jumping" from side to side as he ran
rendering the aim Of the enemy less
certain.
One of the men stood his ground
and fired repeatedly. Jim felt quick
soaring shock that was followed by an
instant's giddiness, but continued his
forward rush. His opponent was ap
parently out of ammunition, and fran
| tically snapped his hammer on empty
shells. It was this alone that saved
his life. Jim dropped his gun into
aim, and his finger was convulsivelJ
Tightening on the trigger, when he
heard the harmless clicking, and low
cred the weapon.
drop that gun and put your hands
up." he shouted, land tell your pard
ner to come alongside with his hands
up. Quicki or I'll get you and tend t.
him later"
The jumper had sense enough t
recognize that this was his only hope
and did as ordered. The other man
who had been In the background hur
riedly reloading his pistol, came slow
ly forward with his hands In the air
ana stopped beside his accomplish
No one spoke for an instant, and th'
whole scene was like = picture; tive
men standing there in the light Of thu
night with their hands above theii
heads. while in front Of them, will
the glow bringing out the grimnesi
Of his face and the steady, cold glare
of his eyes, was man who leaned
slightly forward with q poised pisto
ready for instant action.
AS IL to add to the seriousness Of 1
all. at one side rested q tragicalll
still shape, and on the ground between
them was seated another man wht
wove to and fro as II unconscious o
the others, and half-delirious from |
wound in his breast which he clutches
with both hands.
who hired you to Jump my Annie
claim?" Jim asked of the man VIII,
had stood his ground, and now Their
was no drawl In his voice, but q sharl
incisiveuess.
The jumper hesitated, and didn't az
pear to want to answer. The packer
gun came suddenly into quick lin
with the mans head, and nothing Blu
brisk confession saved him. Ate
that he was ready to talk. He rea
ICED that the one before him was Il
no mood to stop at anything, least o
all his death. He read something II
the grim, set face that sent a shud
dering question through his mind a
tn whether even the answering Of al
question would bring mercy. 1t SCENE
that at that moment now 1t might be
come an execution. Two examples o
resistance were at his feet.
There was another instant's silence
In which time the man who had beei
rocking backward and forward ON tn
| nro,,ud 0ava aunthAr fwtaf aa0wo