The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-12

carrying that bundle Of mufaed threats
and wriggling muscles to Gabriel's
mount, where he was laid across the
saddle In front Of the lean ranchman.
and IN less time than 1t 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 light Of Ga
briefs horse. Familiar expressions,
some of them profanely strong, as
sured them that they had made no mis-
take in capturing the right man. 1t re-
quired all of Gabriels 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 a narrow defile whose farther
end marked the line of another state.
Harry Barry, shaken into a more CON-
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The blanket was withdrawn from Har-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 ankety-blank-blank is
the matter with you gazaboesr he
beloved wrathfully. us this what
you call a Joke to carry a Teller thir-
ty miles away from the first streak Of
luck he's ever had? I wish I'd kept 1t
to myself!' 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 I 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 hadT demanded Gabriel
sternly. "There want no gal In the
caseT'
Harry Barry stared. Mary GAL"
he managed to say after awhile. but
what's the limb Of a cottonwood tree
got to do with mer
Silently Gabriel passed over the note
that the Mexican had delivered, and
the others stared curiously as the
young man read It.
where's the rest Of itp he demand
ed.
REST of it?" they echoed
1.-THE first part. It's been torn off,"
That's the way 1t was handed to
me-" said Gabriel.
an 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 trace of
humor in his pleasant voice: This
part, boys, sounds mighty desperate,
but when l tell you what was in the
part that the greaser tore OF you'll
understand. The whole note said:
Murray, I've struck silver at 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 The licked one
another about the mistake .ney 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 at 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-
Rmined the notice Of his claim that
was posted. there they waited for him
to speak.
He looked around at their tired faces
and read the satisfaction in their eyes.
There came to him then the full
knowledge of what friendship means
between men.