New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31

| know And | IL tel you HOW you hliN"'
And I'll tell the others here, 50 they II know.
| found a letter on the bunkhouse floor last
night and it showed that you'd br1bed
man in Our camp, and paid him part OF the
money. to keep YOU informed. reckon we Il
probably hang that man within the next lew
minutes. 1t was one Bill Ridley"
With an oath, his brows Sowing, ana ms
face livid with rage, Ridley took step Tor
ward. and his companions, the men OF the
claim. stepped back from him as II from
something poisonous. -,
so we had a Judas with us, did we;
growled Hank, glaring at Ridley; but the
latter had eyes only for Frenchy.
81 said I'd settle scores with YOU before /
left this claim Ridley shouted, suddenly
,sing all control of himself, "and III settle
1t this way, for keepsl' -,
Almost as his last words came, and WIN
extreme swftness, his hand flew to his side
and he whipped a gun up and fired; but even
as he did 50 Frenchy made the side leap that
IS known 10 men Of the frontier as buck
iunoping.-that quick and battling move
and at the same instant, 50 closely that the
two reports blended into one, he also hred'
shooting from the hip with absolute pre-
cision. He stood poised on the balls OF his
feet. crouched TO jump again, II necessary,
and with the gun still in position Tor second
shot: but it was not necessary.
Ridlcv's mouth opened as if to gasp out
another oath, his head appeared to drop, his
knees 10 wavcr, the gun pitched from ms
hand and fell forward, even as he plunged
hcadlong 10 the earth For fraction OF an
instant he duiycrcd there. and then slowly
turned over on his back and stiffencd his
lees. the fingers Of his opened hand twitchng,
and then was still Frcnchv still held his
position. was still as calm rs he had been
and his face expressed no emotion whatever
save steady watchiulncSs.
TT was as if the tragedy had bound everyone
L in a spell. so incredibly quick had been ITS
contamination. so deadly its certainty, 50
irrcmediahlc its result. Then, as II released
from action. Harics sworc a single great oath.
4 man back Of him threw up an arm; but
quicker than his motion came the sound o.
another shot. and the harsh voice OF old
Hardpan as be- fired, "NOnc Of that,
The man uttered q howl Of pain, the pistol
ne had clut,hcd went Gathering out on %
'arc rock. hc whirlci hall round, and It was
seen that his pistol arm was dangling at the
elbow. where the heavy ball from Hardpan
gun had broken IL as If It was straw.
Up with your hands there, all OF you.
lin shouted his voice rising above the
echoes Of the shot and the cry. up with
your bands. or wen make this shamhle,
now that we've started.
Hank. the miner who had called Ridlcs "a
Judas. wa, now standing above the supmc
BODY. and Dc also had produced gun,
which was lcyclcd directly at Har'cs head.
Frcnchv had pivotcl on his feet with the
'oadlv and still smoking Colts turned to-
ward The group Jim was holding rifle for
action. and Iardpan was standing stock
still I'm the attitude he had assumed when
firing On the gunman near Harjcs There
was mo- mis,a.ng the rcicntcssncss Of their
attitude. their readiness 20 shoot, and their
ability 90 kill Iarics, evidently taken by
surprise. shocked bv ,hc killing he had seen,
and the ouickness % ,hc.. any move Of his
own dcspcralos had paled and seemed half
uarllyzcl with fear.
ZIP with Your hands there. YOU shouted
t., miner whose revolver was IN line with
Uaric, face. I'D rather h.Il YOU than any
man know III.
The promoters hands went up with
riii.uiou alacritv
osborne. go among '... c fellows and get
their shuotin. irons. commanded Haripan
20 the miner who had taken no part m the
mnular. We amt going o. Kill any more