The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-06-19

th0 pdi
Two men-and a gun. boys" he
detained shrilly. Let 'em use up
that bunch OF cartridges and they
won't amount to two whoops. Draw
their nre while -
He did not finish. turning and duck
Ing the leaden messenger which was
sent from the ONCE toward him. In
a few moments he reappeared with
rife. waving II triumphantly above his
head. exultantly shrilling a defiance
toward the two In command.
In command no longer. For two
men and gun had been Offset by this
crowd and a rife.
Quickly Brown Joe made out from
where the fire came, carefully plug
ging away at the aperture. disturbing
and at the same time drawing the fire
OF Grady. And always did his lips
move In careful count, q slow smile
distorting his face evilly as he real.
lied the supply OF bullets must be get
ting low
There's big timber round the
other side OF the shack" he suggested
His fire Is getting weak now. Get
that timber and make a rush at the
door. I'll keep his aim wild with the
rife"
Without hint OF disobedience they
fell into the suggestion Mobilize they
had been led into this affair and now
all the wild. unthinking, ungovernable
impulse OF mob spirit was upon them
Swiftly Grady discharged his revol.
yer In their midst. One man fell and
they stared at him wonderingly,
brutishly panied that such thing
should happen. Brown Joe saw the
hesitancy and let out a wild whoop of
exultation.
Il got him-winged him"
You're a dirty. brown liar" thun-
dered back Grady from the cabin
But his retort was drowned by the
cheer from the mob. as they picked
up the log again and lunged toward
the ONCE door.
Short jabs, boys" yelled the leader,
punctuating his howl by rife shot
Manfully they stood to their work,
rammins. ramming against the door
1t was sagging at the upper corner
now, sasging heavily.
And then, even as they exulted. ii
slapped back into place. REINFORCED
from inside.
Easily as mob Is encouraged it
becomes discouraged quite as readily.
They dropped the log and stared at
one another. then fell back to Brown
Joe for advice. He started to speak,
then started toward the rear window
OF the office. 4 howl OF execration and
triumph coming from his lips
Snatching a lantern and followed
by 4 few of his fellows. he darted out
Into the open, after the swift moving
shadowy outlines OF man who had
lunSed through that window. He was
able to make out the outlines finally,
1t was Grady-Pat Grady, the man
who had knocked him down and
winged him in the same day Rage
gave wings to his feet. He was gain
Ing, gaining upon the man. He started
to yell. then clamped his lips shut,
realizing 1t would require all his
strength to catch up.
Almost upon him. something slipped
from beneath his feet. Wild at the
thought OF losing, he hurled the Ian
tern ut Grady's head. The foreman
ducked and the red-eyed thing crashed
to the ground
Brown Joe recovered his balance
and started again in pursuit, then
halted.
For, from beneath his very feet, a
long silver OF flame was reaching
beautiful little trickling stream of vel
low light over which chung an acrid
black plume OF smoke. II reached out
eagerly. devouringly and the man
leaped back, staring aghast at the fire
monster. creeping, insidously yet re-
morselessly toward the tank from
which the treacherous oil had leaked
v.
After the theater Payne left Julia
and spent restless night Next morn
Ing he was at the grocery store early
to make the selections of food. and
was on his way back when he met the
messenger with the news that the oil
refinery was besieged and burning and
that the old boss was fighting OF the
hordes alone Payne aroused the
sheriff and. loading his car with depu-
ties. rushed OF. only to arrive too late,
Ira Monroe was rescued. tbs true, but
only after his entire plant had been
destroyed by fire
Yesterday he had been rich; today