Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-01

once, yeats ago, dtf1ng the War. ane
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 wher
the fracas begins. From now on this
is My affair, not yours. You under
stand? Yoa get busy with the two
bucks, and leave tie white man to me
Conc on now-dismount."
Hughes came to the ground wi.t
evident reluctance, swearing savagely
What do yer think I'm yere for
he demanded roughly, 'if it want te
shoot that cuss?"
Hamlin strobe swiftly over, ant
dropped hand on the shaggy shout
der.
"You are here because 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. ]
know what you area cattle thief
You and LIE Fevre belong to the same
outfit, only he was the smarter of the
two. have spared your life for a
purpose, and If you fail me now III
shoot you down as would a dog
Don't try to threaten me, you cur, 70,
am not that kind. l am not TRUSTING
you; haven't from the first, but you
are going into this fight on my side
and under my orders"
The two men glared into each 9th
er's eyes. silent, breathing hard, but
there was grim determination about
the Sergeant's set jaw that left
Hughes speechless. He grinned weak
ly, stamping down the snow under
foot. Hamlin's continued silence
brought protest to his lips.
Damn If know why you say that
he began. Haven't 1 been square?"
Because 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 i've minutes II you
thought there was any money in it. /
don't propose giving you the chance
You'll go ahead, and you are in more
danger from me than that outfit yon-
der. Now move, and we'll take q 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
~ 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"
Inc two men wriggled slowly for
ward, smothered in the snowdrift, I'M
I'll Hughes eyes barely topped the
surface. Hamlin lay outstretched
foot below, watching for the slightest
sign Of treachery. The cowman stared
up the depression, blinking his eyes
IN the snow glare. The impatient
Sergeant gripped his arm.
well. what Is it? Are they COM
ing?"
you bet, an about dead, from the
looks of 'em. Them fellars amt look
IN fer nuthin'. reckon could stand
up straight yere an they'd never see
me. Take a look yerself; it's safe
'nough."
Hamlin drew himself up, and peered
out over the snow, but still gripped
the others arm. With his first glance
up the valley there swept over him a
strange feeling of sympathy for those
he was hunting. 1t was a dismal, de-
pressing picture-the bare, snow-cov-
cred hillsides, and between, founder
Ing weakly through the drifts, the lit
tie party of fugitives. the emaciated
ponies staggering with weakness, the
men on foot, Keeling as they tramped
forward, their heads lowered in utter
WEAKNESS. The girl alone was in sad
die, SO wrapped about in blankets as
to be formless, even her face con-
cealed. The manner in which she
swayed to the movement of the pony,
urged on by one of the Indians, was
evidence that she was bound fast, and
helpless. At sight of her condition
Hamlin felt his old relentless purpose
return. He was plainsman enough to
realize what suffering those men had
passed through before reaching such
extremity, and was quick to appreci-
ate the full meaning of their exhaus-
ton, and to sympathize with it. He
had passed through similar baptism,
and remembered the desperate clutch
of the storm-king.
But the sight of that poor girl sway
Ing helplessly in the saddle, bound
prisoner in the midst of those ruffians,
who had murdered her father before
her eyes and who were bearing her
to all the unspeakable horrors of In
dian captivity, instantly stifed within
him every plea of mercy. No matter
what they had suffered, they were a
ruthless, merciless gang Of cut
threats. and thieves, fleeing from JUS
tice, deserving of no consideration.
Yet their distressed appearance, their