The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-03-26

HSAn' V& INC upper aeVeAs" Gallon STAN
mered
Get your horses. boys" ordered the
sheriff
IL was not but a few minutes until
the posse, Gallon riding stolidIy on an
extra horse, was scamperinR through
the streets toward the mountains, now
absolutely dark. az the moon had set
sheriff Hawkins was not aware that
as they crossed a wash a painting.
groaning man was crawling on his
belly toward the solitary light which
marked Vale Vista Nor did Gallon.
dumbly riding toward the darkness
which bid the scene Of his crime. real.
Ice that Wilkerson was within ten
yards of him az they splashed through
the stream
Then suddenly appeared in the sky a
spot "f white which spread until the
murk OF the night had turned to dusk.
well. thank God it's daylight" said
the sheriff to Gallon 81 guess we can
get yonr 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 invOluntariIy refined in Through
his blistered lips be muttered: Gold
Ruth"
InQuiring eyes were turned on him
The sheriff showed bis horse over and
asked. What goldf"
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. 81 think
better keep this" said the sheriff. bis
dark cOuntenance growing stern
So this caVaIcade made Its way
through the fresh California dawn
until there was q sudden break In the
mesa. The deputy threw out his hand
There are a hundred gulches In these
mountains Which one is 1t, pardnerT
At the word ''pardner" Gallon pulled
himself together The glitter of the
brass on the horses headstall and that
word Should be tell them the location
Of that gulch1 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 he grOpingIy pointed
his hHnds 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 q blood stained
blanket
There has been trouble" he said
abruptly Then he turned on Gallon
"Why lie this coffee hotT be said,
HftinE up the pot The 0rusQue tones
OF the sheriff cut the silence that fol
lowed
u don't see your man don't under
stand this You are under arrest-Tol
the murder or He looked at Gallon.
and the old man invoIuntarily said
"WilkersOn
All day the shert1. with Gallon. his
arms piniOned behind him. searched
the gulliee HD0 gulches for the man
whose blood stained blanket they had
found rhe old man taciturD as ever
merely said. as If 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 dpeting forms
and bizarre shadows the sheriff called
halt up the canyon
On one side of the gulley on which
they were camped the shprifrs men
had built a fire II was against Q rock
which rose whitley under the moon
Gallon saw bis chance He worked
his way to the FIRE and In spite OF the
pain held his hands ont over the blaze
until be felt the strands of the rope
weaken and dnaIly part
moment later be WAS making his
way to where the horses were tied
He ieaped upon he nearest one and
within II second WAS on bis way down
the hill into the mist which tillpd the
valley
But the noise OF his horse hOOfs or
the rough shaIe Of the hillside awak
ened the guard
y think / will nave a cup OF coffee
De said to himself sIeepiIy and slug
gishly stretched himself moment
later he flung the empty coffeepot int
the darkness sheriff he cried be-
gOne"'
The sherItf lifted his lanky form al
n by single movement Who's
goneT be yelled
That man. Gallon replied the
guard
We must get him. bOysr' the sheriff
said They rode to the edge OF the hi
and looked down into an irldescent sci
Of mist mere pool OF curdlins moon
shine
He's got away from ia boys" saiC
the sheriff "We'll neveI dnd hiu
there
Gallon rode quickly on 90 longe
seeking for light but for darkness
and vet az he felt the pony culver un
DEF aim ne himself felt strange trem
or Wilkersnn was still alive ROne