The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-02-20

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"6y Heavens! There They Are,
Hughes"
far enough away from the Indian en-
campment-if the latter was situated
as Hughes believed, in the great bend
above-so that no echo of shots would
carry that distance, even through the
| crisp atmosphere. There were two
things the Sergeant had determined
to accomplish if possible-the rescue
OF Miss Molly uninjured, and the cap
| ture of LIE Fevre. No matter how
! deeply he despised the man he could
not afford to have him killed. So far
| as the Indians were concerned there
would be no mercy shown, for IL
the news to the village. With all this
in mind the Sergeant swung out OF
the saddle, dropping the rein to the
ground, confident that the tired COW
pony would remain quiet. His belt
was buckled outside the army over
coat, and he drew his revolver tested
it, and slipped it back loosely into the
holster. Then he pulled out the rife
from under the flap of the saddle,
grimly handling it in his gloved fin
gers. Hughes, his head sunk into his
fur collar, his hot breath steaming in
the cold atmosphere, watched him
curiously.
"Lookin' fer right smart fight,
reckon he said, tr!fe uneasily. BE
! leve me, yer amt goin' ter find tibet
fellar no spring. chicken. He's some
on Their gun play, @sA
II hope he knows enough to quit
when he's cornered." returned the
other pleasantly, sweeping his eyes to
the opening in the hills, for Pm aim
ing to to take him back to Kansas
alive"
"The hell We are!"
That's the plan pardner, and I've
got reason for it. I knew LIE Fevre
once, years ago. during the war, and
I've been some anxious to get my
hands on him ever since. He's worth
far more to me alive than dead, just
now, Hughes" his voice hardening
you'll bear that fact in mind when
the fracas begins. From now on this
is my affair, not yours. You under
stand? You get busy with the two
bucks, and leave the white man to me
Come on now-Gismount"
Hughes came to the ground with
evident reluctance, swearing saVagely
What do yer think I'm yere for
he demanded roughly, IF it want to
shoot that cuss?"
Hamlin strobe swiftly over, an6
dropped hand on the shaggy shout
der.
You are here because I ordered
you to come with me; because if you
hadn't l would have killed you back
there in the shack, you red-handed
murderer Now listen, Hughes. J
know what you area, cattle thief
You and lie Fevre belong to the same
outfit, only he was the smarter of the
two. I have spared your life for a
purpose, and If you fail me now III
shoot you down as would a dog.
Don, try to threaten me, you cur, for
l am not that kind. l am not trusting
you; I haven't from the first, but you
are going into this fight on my side,
and under my orders"
The two men Elared into each 9th.
er's eyes, silent, breathing hard, but
there was a grim determination about
the Sergeant's set jaw that left
Hughes speech}ess. He grinned weak
ly, stamping down tie snow under
foot. Hamlin's continued silence
brought protest to his lips.
Damn II ] know why you say that, "
he began Haven't been square?''
Because I know your style, Hughes.
You hate LIE Fevre for the dirty trick
he played on you, but you'd sell out to
him again in five minutes III you
thought there was any money in It. I
! don't propose giving you the chance
You'll 90 ahead, and you are in more
danger from me than that outfit yon-
. der. Now move and we'll take . look
up the valley"
They ploughed way through. the
drifts to the mouth OF the narrow
opening between the hills, dropping to
their knees in the snow, and cautious
ly creeping forward the last few
yards. Hamlin, convinced that fear
alone could control the ex-cowthief.
kept slightly to the rear.
Nov wait, Hughes" he said, his
voice lowered but still tense with
command. BE careful, man. Crawl
! up there in between those drifts. and
look over. Keep down low, you fool"
The two men wriggled slowly for