Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-17
By
FRANCIS LYNDE

Why there's one too many of you on
Lost river jest at this stage O the
game" said the hard faced brigand
who had held the Winchester while
his two accompIices had endorsed and
bound the victim.
But I don't" insisted Blount good
naturally. so far as ! know. there
is only one Of neon Lost river or
anywhere else"
.'Thatn do for you. 1t amt your
put in. nohow," was the gruff decision
of the court.
But Blount was too good & lawyer TO
be silenced that easily.
Perhaps you might not especially
regret killing the wrong man, but in
the present case I am very sure
should. WHO do you think I ann
The boss knows who you are. and
that's enough for US" said the spokes-
man of the three highbiuders.
THE boss?" questioned B!ount
''Yaas; I SAID the boss. Now hold
your jaw
Blount caught at the word. In
fash the conversation with Gautry
fiickad into his mind.
There Is only one boss in this state"
he said coolIy, and 7 an very sure he
has not given you orders TO kill me"
Whats that:" demanded the spokes-
man.
Blount repeated his bit Of informa-
ton. adding. Perhaps you'd better
ring for better connection and ask
your boss if he wants you 70 XIII the
son of his bcss?"
At this the tall man came and stood
over his prisoner.
Say. comrade. it amt my night for
kiddin'. and it hadn't ort to be yourn,
he remarked grimly. The boss didn't
say you was TO be rubbed out-they
never co. But I reckon it would save
a heap o trouble # you was rubbed
out. You don't git over into them
woods on Upper Lost creek with no
papers TO serve on anybody. See?"
\ great light dawned upon BIount
and with IL came the discomforting
chill Of a conviction overthroSn. AS
tleOrist he had always scoffed at the
idea that corpora tons. which are Crea-
lures of the Jaw. could afford 10 be
open lawbTea kers. But here was a
very striking refutation of the chart
table assumption.
His smoking room companion of the
Pullman car was doubtless one of the
timber pillagers who had been cutting
on the public domain. To such a man
an agent of the national forest serv-
ice was an enemy to be disposed of as
eXpeditiously 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 70 the mystery. how .
ever. his course was a little easier TO
steer.
My name is Blount. and I am the +.
son of ex-senator David Blount of this /
state" he asserted. Nov, what are !
you going to do with me:'' /
What's that you say?" grated the |
outlaw.
You heard what said. Go ahead /
and heave me into the canyon if you .
are willing TO stand for 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
he low toned. wrangling argument
hat followed But from the overheard
word or TWO he gathered that there
were still some leanings toward the
sound old maxim which declares that
dead men tell no tales"
When the decision was reached he I
was left TO guess what it was. With
'ut any explanation the thongs were
aiken from his wrists and ankles. and
lie was helped upon his horse When
ais captors were also mounted the
lew status was defined by the hard
aced man in curt phrase.
You go along quiet with US. and
ion't you make no bad breaks.
nore'n half believe you been lyin' 10
ne. but I'm goin' TO give you chance
o prove uU. If you don't prove up