Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-08

-cet your horses. boys" ordered the
sheriff
II was NOT but a few minutes until
the posse. Gallon riding stolidly on an
extra horse. was scnmpering through
the streets toward the mountains, now
absolutely dark. as the moon had set
sheriff Hawkins was not aware that
as they crossed q wnsh painting.
grooming man was crawling on his
belly townrd the solitary light which
marked Vale Vista Nor did Gallon.
dumbly riding toward the darkness
which bid the scene Of bis crime. real
lie thai Wikerson was within ten
yards Of him as they spIasbed through
the stream
Then suddenly appeared In the sky
spot of white. which spread until the
murk OF the night had turned to dusk
"wen thank God it's daylight" said
the sheriff to Gallon II guess we can
get your partner all right now" And
even as he spoke the dusk suddenly be
came enriched by the light of the sun
rising In the east The moment II
struck the brass on his pony's bride
Gallon involuntarily refined In Through
bis bIistered Ups he muttered; "Gold'
Ruthr'
Inauirlng eyes were turned on him
The sheriff showed his horse over and
asked. "what gold?"
At the same instant came the deputy
on the other side OF him
.Say. chief. be 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. pardnerT'
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 gulchf The stroke Of one
horses hoof might disclose the mother
lode. and yet he had told them the out
laws had killed Wilkerson.
His horse stumbled and threw him
When he got up be gropingly pointed
bis hands toward the hills and NUT
tered, "That way. boys-that's where
they got him"
Half an hour later the posse was
grouped about the dead Gre. and the
sheriff was staring at blood stained
blanket
There has been trouble" he said
abruptly. Then he turned on Gallon
"Why is this coffee hotT be 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 or 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 II 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
a halt up the canyon.
On one side Of the gulley on which
they were camped the sheriff's men
had built fire. 1t was against a 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 be felt the strands of the rope
weaken and finally part
A moment later he was making bis
way to where the horses were tied
He leaped upon the nearest one and
within a second was on his way down
the hill into the mist which filed the
valley.
But the noise of his horses hoofs on
the rough shale~of the hillside awak
ened the guard.
II think win have a cup of coffee, "
be said to himself sleepily and slug
gishly stretched himself. A moment
later he dung the empty coffeepot into
the darkness Sheriff." be cried, "he's
gonel"
The sheriff lifted his lanky form as
II by single movement -Who's
gone7" he yelled
THAT man. Gallon" replied the
guard
I'VE must get him. boysr' the sheriff
said They rode to the edge Of the hill
and looked down into an irldescent sea
Of mist mere pool OF eurdling moon
shine
He's got away from Us. boys" said
the sheriff -We'll never lind him
there
Gallon rode quickly on. no longer
seeking for a light but for darkness.
and yet as he felt the pony CULVER IN.
der him he himself felt strange trem.
or-Wilkerson was still alive-some
| whara hahtnd that vQil uuao HE anamv