The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-12-12

mered.
"Get your horses, boys" ordered th
sheriff.
,, 1t was not but few minutes unit
the posse. Gallon riding stolidly on al
extra horse. was scampering through
the streets toward the mountains, nov
absolutely dark, as the moon had set
Sheriff Hawkins was not aware tina
as they crossed a wash a painting
groaning man was crawling on his
belly toward the solitary light which
marked Vale Vista. Nor did Gallon
dumbly riding toward the darkness
which hid the scene of bis crime, real
lie that Wilkerson was within ter
yards of him as they splashed through
the stream
Then suddenly appeared in the sky q
spot of white. which spread until the
murk of the night had turned to dusk.
"Well, thank God It's daylight" said
the sheriff to Gallon IL guess we can
| set your partner all right now" And
even as he spoke the dusk suddenly be
came enriched by the light of the sun
! rising ID the enst The moment it
| struck the brass on his ponys bride
| Gallon involuntarily reined In. Through
his bistered lips he muttered: Gold!
| Ruthw
Tnquiring eyes were turned on him,
The sheriff showed his horse over and
asked. "What goldT
At the same instant came the deputy
on the other side or him
"Say, chief. he says there was no
gold"
A sinewy arm reached out and took
Gallons gun away from him. II think
| better keep this" said the sheriff. his
dark countenance growing stern.
SO this cavalcade made its way
through the fresh California dawn
until there was a sudden break In the
mesa. The deputy threw out his hand
There are hundred gulcheS in these
mountains. Which one is it. pardnerY'
At the word "pardner" Gallon pulled
himself together. The glitter of the
brass on the horses headstall and that
word Should he tell them the location
of that gulch? The stroke of one
horses hoof might disclose the mother
lode. and yet he had told them the out
laws bad killed WilkerSon.
His horse stumbled and threw him
When he got up he gropingly pointed
his hands toward the hills and nut
tered, THAT way, boys-thats where
they got him"
Half an hour later the posse was
grouped about the dead fire, and the
sheriff was staring at a blood stained |
blanket
'There has. been trouble" he said
abruptly. Then he turned on Gallon.
%Why is this coffee hot?" he said, |
lifting up the pot. The brusque tones
of the sheriff cut the silence that fol.
lowed
II don't see your man. don't under
stand this. You are under arrest-for
the murder Of He looked at Gallon,
and the old man involuntarily said.
"Wilkerson."
All day the sheriff. with Gallon, his
arms pinioned behind him. searched
the gullies and gulches for the man
whose blood stained blanket they had
found The old man, taciturn as ever,
merely said. as If repeating by rote.
'The outlaws got him."
When the full moon had risen and
the night life of the desert had begun.
grotesque life, built of 6eeting forms
and bizarre shadows. the sheriff called
halt up the canyon.
On one side of the gulley on which
they were camped the sherif7s men
had built fire. 1t was against rock.
which rose whitley under the moon.
Gallon saw his chance. He worked
his way to the fire and in spite of the
pain held his hands out over the blaze
until he felt the strands of the rope
weaken and finally part.
A moment later be was making his
way to where the horses were tied
de leaped upon the nearest one and
Tithin second was on his way down
he hill into the mist which filed the
valley.
But the noise OF his horses hoofs on
he rough shale of the hillside awak
ned the guard.
Il think will have a cup Of coffee"
le said to himself sleepily and slug
,ishly stretched himself. A moment
ater he flung the empty cof'eepot into
he darkness sheriff" be cried. "he's
,oner'
The sheriff lifted his lanky form as
by a single movement. who's
one?" he yelled
That man. Gallon" replied the
uard
I'VE must get him. boysw the sheriff
aid They rode to the edge OF the hin
nd looked down into an irldescent sea /
( mist, a mere pool of curdling moon {
hine.
He's got away from US. boys" said q
he sherG "We'n never find him s
here"
Gallon rode quickly ON. no longer t
eeking for light, but for darkness. L
nd yet as he felt the pony CULVER un- -
er him he himself felt strange trem
-Wilkerson was still alive-some {
here behind that veil was his enemy
nd the man who knew the location Of 4
lie richest mine in all golden Califor. h
Ia. 4
Mission Street pier marks the point n
D the San Francisco water front where Il
'oner or later every one in this world RI