Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-13

| the bandits, and the gold was heavy
on Bob. But they slid and ran
thousand wards down the painless
cliff, clutching at briar and stone un-
III they came to a narrow ledge that
belted the mid-heights.
The ledge was clear to view from
above, and below was a sheer drop of
1000 feet. They had to push their
way along it until they could reach
the brush again.
Jose was cursing picturesquely as
he lead the way.
Shots suddenly sputtered from the
cliff top over them.
Make quick!" commanded Jose.
He glided along the foot wide ridge
like snake. Bob followed.
Bob Is Injured.
The shots kept on chugging into
the rocks below, and swishing through
the underbrush above.
They reached the end of the ledge.
1t led into path sheltered Sy fallen
tree trunks and bushes. Jose plunged
into the shelter, then turned suddenly
and stopped.
He had heard the crack of the dry
branches as Bob's body rolled off the
tip of the ledge,
Without an instant's hesitation, he
dived after the body He caught it,
His feet dug into soft dirt and an
chored him. Bleeding from face and
arms and bruised of body, he picked
his master up and started on down
They were out of sight of the rifles
now, but the voices of the pursuing
bandits could be plainly heard. They
were coming nearer and nearer.
"RGtfpr nr0p mo hoE nd RIM I'm
no good the gold doesn't matter,
gasped Bob.
Damn soon not" replied Jose
Jose's Clever Coup.
In a thicket denser than the rest he
laid down his precious burden. With
dying fingers he unlaced Bob's shoes
and pulled them off. He tore his own
grimy footgear away and put on the
shoes of his master.
Il come back" he said, and van
ished into the wilderness Bob's last
conscious thought was godspeed tc
the brave fellow who was risking his
life for him.
Jose was careful TO conceal himself
now, but not careful to conceal his
footprints He dug the unaccustomeC
boots deep into the sand. He reeled
and plunged and slid down the cliff
until he reached the desert level
There he began to skirt the cliff.
Now and then shots battered about
him. The bandits were getting near
er He was becoming exhausted
When he hinged finally into sand
hole, he fell and lay there painting
helpless.
The bandits came up. Black San
chez stopped over the PROSTATE man
laundering curses, picturesque
whole hearted. came from his lips
and were taken by his men.
Not thing on him; he threw the
stuff away snorted one.
Threw nothing; look at them
Shoes" said Sanchez. The COLDS o.
| the other man. He threw the other
man away and took his shoes Hang
him!"
Saved Just in Time.
This was not a curse; it was q
command.
Jose was drao@ed down the path tc
the main road, where the only trees
grew.
"Never mind; just tie him up anl
take few shots at his dirty hearts
| he don't tell where Melville is or
dered Sanchez.
where's Bob?' they asked Jose as
they tied him to tree. Say quick
get shot!"
| Get shot" said Jose.
But around a bend of the road there
sounded Unexpectedly the beat of
hoofs. And an instant later wheeled
into view Ramon Ferrera. the ricn
planter, miner ard magistrate, with
his bodyguard.
Jose, silent until now, resigned 10
death. let out sudden yell. One
spiteful shot blazed at him. but the
bandits scurried for cover like vul-
| lures scared.
Senior Ferrera with his own hands
| cut Jose's bonds The servant was
irving to tell them something but
they could not understand before he
] tainted.
The poor Mexican lay on one OF the
great beds OF the Ferrera villa. when
Bob was brought in. Bob had been
picked up by a party OF prospectors
who heard his groans. The gold was
| safe,
Carmen Ferrera parted her nurs-
| ing art in the m ddle and gave one
share to the master, one TO Jose.
| But Jose's wound healed very SLOW
| ". and when he was strong enough -
n1ElglH4n