The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-24

cut the ribbon with one slip of his
knife and looked at his booty. But
the girls immovable and lovely face
drew his eyes again to her. With
sweep Of his arm he lifted his heavy
hat to her and passed out. silent as
eat Of his native mountains.
With the key in his possession Will
kerson becaAe suddenly his own nerv-
Gus self. He must get away instant.
". he knew. Kane would be back in
the morning with warrant. Already
he was being watched by the suspi-
cious troopers. He must escape this
very night.
After short conversation with vi
gas and the appointment Of II future
rendezvous. Harry Wilkerson armed
himself and started lazily down into
the camp to see what was moving.
Nothing stirred. He returned to the
hill camp and thence swiftly and
quietly made his way upward. taking
advantage Of every bush and rock
chat might afford him screen.
He was almost to the top when a
sentry challenged him and stepped for
ward.
"l'm merely goin' out little ways
for a walk" Wilkerson explained.
mot allowed after nightfall," was
the response.
Without further parley. Wilkerson
leaped forward, grasped the mans rifle
and tripped him. A moment later lie
was footing it up to the crest at top
speed, with the sentry's cries for help
urging him on.
Before lie could reach the divide a
bullet whizzed by his head, then an
other. He turned madly and fired rap
idly down into the shadows at his pur.
suers. He cursed himself for his fol-
" when a second sentry appeared
above him. drawn by the fash Of his
shots 10 his hiding place. There was
hut one refuge, the mine shaft. He
plunged obliquely downward for it.
Naturally enough. the troopers
thought their quarry was cornered. but
Wilkerson drove straight on downward
to an old working. mounted again.
crossed by a disused gallery, and final
~ emerged fur up the cliff. On his
way BIZ. had picked up a coil Of rope,
and when he found himself on the
edge OF the precipice and his pursuers
gaining ON him he made one end Of
the rope fast and speedily started to
descend. But the distance was too
great. Before he was halfway to the
bottom he had been discovered, and
he felt the rope being hauled up. In
despair. with q madman's strength. be
swung far out and then in. dropping
on little ledge concealed by the over.
hang Of the clitf.
As the rope came free in their hands
the pursuers realized that their prey
had escaped them. They peered over.
Surely he had foiled the law only to
meet death on the rocks far. below.
On his glddy perch Wilkerson heard
their awed speculations. and laughed
silently. Then he crawIed away. In
the distance he heard the screech of d
locomotive whistle. marking the pas.
sage Of an express: The freight would
be due in two hours. He must make 1t.
Tom Kane arrived early in the morn
ing to find the camp in an uproar.
The Slexicans had quietly vanished.
Ruth was mournin: the loss Of the
master key. and the sheriff, staring at
the now useless warrant. was beyond
words to express his chagrin.
John Dorr alone was serene, though
lie realized that Wilkerson had again
checkmated him. But the immediate
need OF the hour was haste. He in
structed Kane to take charge Of the
mine and directed Ruth to prepare for
a trip to the coast that afternoon.
: Luckily ! copied those figures" he
said grimly.
Two days later John Dorr and Ruth
were steaming up the channel from
San Pedro in launch fitted With div
ing outfit. The skipper Of the launch
remembered perfectly the. burning OF
the steamer and, now that he knew
the position where it sank. gave out
great hopes Of finding the hulk.
THE sea Is shallow there. and the
tiles aren't strong enough to move
her." he stated. The only thing is.
somebody may have been ahead Of US"
"Wilkerson couldn't be ahead Of u.s."
John assared Ruth. II inquired care
fully At San Pedro
Yet at noon his unspoken fears were
realized There was another powerful
launch ahead Of them which their cap
tain identified As . diving and salvage
boat from San Diego.
'Then they'll get ahead of us!' Ruth
lnourned. After all our troublc!''
The launch captain and the diver
both comforted her by stating that the
given position was not fur away. that
it was sometimes matter Of days to
find a wreck even il the approximate
location was known and that ut any
rate they would soon be near enough
to see whether the other craft was
successful.
Two hours later Wilkerson's launch
was swinging easily over the low
swells not u mile from the bluff shore.
and they could see bis diver preparing
to 50 down.
Il hope he doesn't find it, breathed
Dor A. he urged his own men to great.
er speed.
They've struck the spot II those