Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-01

Sheriff Hawkins was not aware tina
as they crossed wash painting
groaning man was crawling on h1
belly toward the solitary light whic|
marked Vale Vista Nor did Gallon
dumbly riding toward the darkness
which hid the scene Of his crime. real
lie that Wilkerson was within tel
yards Of him as they splashed throug
the stream.
Then suddenly appeared In the sky
spot Of white, which spread until I'd
murk Of the night had turned to dusk
@well, THINK God It's daylight" sail
the sheriff to Gallon. II guess we cal
get your partner all right now" AM
even as he spoke the dusk suddenly b1
came enriched by the light Of the su|
rising in the east The moment
struck the brass on his pony's bridI
Gallon Involuntary refined In. Throng|
his blistered lips be muttered: -Gold
Ruthr'
Inquiring eyes were turned on him
The sheriff showed his horse over AM
asked. what gold?''
At the same instant came the depud
on the other side OF him.
"say. chief. be says there was d
gold"
A sinewy arm reached out and tod
Gallons gun away from him. II thin
l better keep this" said the sheriff. hl
dark countenance growing stern.
So this cavalcade made its wa
through the fresh California daw|
until there was sudden break In II
mesa. The deputy threw out his han}
There are hundred gulches In thed
mountains. Which one Il t. pardner
At the word .pardner" Gallon pulle|
himself together. The glitter OF II
brass on the horses headstail and thu
word. Should he tell them the locatid
Of that gulch7 The stroke of Cd
horses hoof might disclose the moth}
lode, and yet he had told them the ou|
laws had killed Wilkerson.
His horse stumbled and threw HID
When he got up he gropingly point9
his hands toward the hills and mu|
tered. THAT way. boys-th.t,. wheI
they got him"
Half an hour later the posse wf
grouped about the dead Gre. and III
sheriff was staring at blood staind
blanket.
'There has been trouble" be sal
abruptly. Then he turned on Gallon.
"Why IL this coffee hotf" be SAIL
lifting up the pot The brusque ton(
Of the sheriff cut the silence that I'd
lowed.
II don't see your man. ] don't unde|
stand this. You are under arrest-f(
the murder off, He looked ct GalloI
and the old man involuntartly sai|
"Wilkerson."
All day the sheriff. with Gallon, h|
arms pinioned behind him. searchd
the gullies and gulches for the ms
whose blood stained blanket they be
found The old man. taciturn n eve
merely said. as II repeating By rot
THE outlaws got him."
When the fun moon had risen ar
the night life of the desert had begn|
grotesque life. built Of neeting form
and bizarre shadows. the sheriff calle
q halt up the canyon.
On one side Of the guIley on vhid
they were camped the sherinrs me
bad built fire. II was against Q roc
which rose whitley under the moo
Gallon saw his chance He worke
his way to the nre and In spite OF Il
pain held his hands ont over the blas
until he felt the strands Of the roI
weaken and finally part.
A moment later he was making O.
way to where the horses were tie
He leaped upon the nearest one ar
within a second was on his way dow
the hill into the mist which flied Il
valley
But the noise OF his horses hoofs q
the rough shale Of the hillside ava
ened the guard
Il think win have i cup Of coeree
he said to himself sleepily and sluI
gishly stretched himself. A momei
later he flung the empty coffeepot inI
Iuc ourhucS6 OocxMs u9 SxASOs w
goner' ~
The sheriff lifted bis laniy form 4
II By a single movement who
gomez" he yelled .
THAT man, Gallon" replied u
guard q ~
I'VE must get Elm. boysr' the sheri
said They rode to the edge Of the 81
and looked down into an irldescent d
of mist, mere pool Of curdlins moo
shine.
.He's got away from Us, boys ~
the sheriff. wen never flnd III
there @lsa
Gallon rode quickly ON, no long,
seeking for light but for darkness
and yet % he felt the pony culver q,
der him be himself felt d strange der
or-Wilkerson was still alive-som|
where behind that veil was his euem
and the man who knew the location 4
the richest mine IN III golden CaHfo|
Continued Tomorrow