Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-02-04

Mexicans were getting restless, and
the sardonic vigas limited sharply that
he was impatient
"All right" Wilkerson agreed. "we1l
Just go down to the road In the morn
ing and then walk into the camp.
Leave 1t to me. I'll simply say I've
come back to take charge and you are
my miners"
vigas twirled his wiry mustaches.
"And' Them
The men looked each other in the
eye. That evil glance was sufficient
John Dorr and Tom Kane. mean
while, had been In constant consulta-
ton. One thing was constantly in their
thoughts.
Ruth oughtn't to be here" John
would say dismally. 'If it weren't for
her we could quickly settle these out
laws. for that's all they are"
II reckon nobody would cry at the
inquest" the cook returned, IF we did
pot few of them. But, as you say.
the girl Is here. and that puts fighting
out Of the question. Unless they start
it." he added cautiously.
"Wilkerson is bound to make some
kind of a move mighty soon," said
Dorr. "He can't satisfy those fellows
Of his for long"
Yet when Wilkersen appeared at the
entrance to the camp one morning
with a motley train of followers Dorr
was at a loss to know what to do.
Wilkerson was apparently peaceful
and expected a peaceful reception.
His boldness had almost carried him
through when the ignorance and Gu
pidity of one Of vigas' men gave John
and Kane the sorely wished for open
ing.
The Mexican peered into the win
dow of one Of the cabins and saw
gold watch on the table. Instantly he
broke the glass with the butt Of his
carbine and reached in for his booty.
Dorr and Kane had warned the mi
ners at the first appearance of Wilker-
son that there might be trouble brew
ing, but that the first blow must come
from the other side.
know the sheriff. He's listened to
both sides, and he don't rightly know
which is the one to take. But one
thing is certain-he's got to keep order
and protect human life and our prop
erty. If those fellows make a wrong
move we've got the sheriff on our side.
Seer"
They had seen the point, with many
mutterings. They had quietly prepar-
ed themselves for just the occasion
which the Mexican's act now gave. AS
the bandit pulled his arm back with
the watch in his hand revolver crack
ed, and the arm fell shattered to his
side. And as Wilkerson glanced fu-
riously about him be saw the camp
ready. He cursed the maddened Next
can and grasped vigas by the arm.
stop your menu he implored.
Don't let them fire a shot or we are
lostn
1t was too late. Passions long re-
strained now broke out, and within
minute a battle was raging between
the walls OF the gulch.
The miners had the advantage. They
fought from the shelter Of their own
cabins, and they were united by
common purpose. Their attackers
were scattered, were divided between
lust for loot and thirst for blood and
had no sure refuge nor rendezvous.
Yet they would eventually have made
the camp untenable had not the
thoughtful sheriff prepared a surprise
for both parties.
After consultation with his advisers
In the county seat he had appealed to
the governor on the ground that as one
OF the opposing forces was Mexican
he felt that superior authority should
handle so delicate a situation. The
governor had agreed and ordered
troop of cavalry to the master Key"
to preserve order. II was just when
Wilkerson had seen his chance for a
grand coup that the troopers arrived
Ruth, with some OF the women, had
taken refuge In Johns house on the
hill, with old Tom Kane as their body
guard. Wilkerson knew that II he
could capture Ruth he could make his
own terms. He directed several of his
men to make detour around the hill
and effect this Meanwhile he set fire
TO a cabin below In order TO distract
the attention OF Dorr and his men.
The ruse had nearly succeeded but
for Kane's quickness. Though he had
not used his gun for many years, he
had lost none OF his old time Skill and
xhAn the maraudsrs mads their dnal