White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-24

mered.
"Get your horses. boys" ordered the
sheriff
1t was not but a few minutes until
ihe posse, Gallon riding stolidly on an
extra horse. was scampering through
the streets toward the mountains. now
absolutely dark, as the moon had set
Sheriff Hawkins was not aware that
as they crossed q wash a painting.
grooming man was crawling on bis
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 ten
yards of him as they splashed through
the stream
Then suddenly appeared In the sky a
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
get your partner all right now" And
even as he spoke the dnsk suddenly be
came enriched by the light Of the sun
rising in the east. The II
struck the brass on his pony's bride
Gallon Involuntary refined In Through
his blistered lips he muttered: Cold
RUTH"
Inouiring eyes were turned on MIN
The sheriff showed his horse over and
asked. What goldY'
At the same instant anne the deputy
on the other side of him
"Say, chief. he says there was no
gold"
A sinewy arm reached out and took
Gallons gun away from him. Il think
I better keep this" said the sheriff, bis
dark countenance growing stern
So this cavalcade made its way
through the fresh California da wn
Until there was a sudden break In the
mesa. The deputy threw out his hand
There are a hundred gulehes In these
mountains. Which one Is 1t. pardnerr'
At the word 'pardner" Gallon pulled
himself together The glitter of the
brass on the lrrse's headstall and that
word Should he tell them the location
Of that gulch? The stroke of one
horses loot 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 he g%ropingly pointed
his 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 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 YOU man. | don't under.
stand this. You are under arrest-for
the murder Of He looked at Gallon.
and the old man Involuntary 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 1eeting forms
a halt up the canyon
On one side OF the gulley on which
they were camped the sheriff's men
had built a dre Ii 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 his
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 filled the
valley.
But the noise of his horses hoofs on
the rough shale Of the hillside awak.
ened the guard.
II think | will have a cup Of coffee"
he said to himself sleepily and slug,
8iShiy SticttucQ ululSeiI. a mOmeQ
later he flung the empty coffeepot into
the darkness Sheriff" he cried. hes
goner"
The sheriff lifted bis lanky form a.
II BY a single movement who's
gomez" he yelled.
That man.. Gallon" replied the
guard.
must get him. boyst' the sheriff
said They rode to the edge Of the hill
and looked down into an irldescent sea
Of mist. a mere pool of curdling moon.
shine
He's got away from us. boys" said
the sheriff We'll never dnd him
there"
Gallon rode quickly on. no longer
seeking for a light. but for darkness.
and yet as he felt the pony culver un-
der him he himself felt a strange trem
-Wilkerson was still alive-some