Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-01-29

kerSon became suddenly hls 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 lie must escape this
very night
After n short conversation with VI.
ras and the appointment Of future
rendezvous. Harry wikerson armed
himself and started iazily down into
the camp to see what was moving
Nothing stirred. lie returned 10 the
hill camp and thence swiftly and
quietly made his way upward. taking
advantage of every bush and rock
hat might afford him screen.
He was almost to the top when a
sentry challenged him and stepped for
ward
"Pm merely goin' out little ways
for a walk" wilkereon explained.
"Not allowed after nightfall." was
the response.
Without further parley. wilkerson
leaped forward, graspcd the mans rife
and tripped him. A moment later he
was footing It up to the crest at top
speed. with the sentrys cries for help
urging him on.
Before he could reach the divide a
bullet whizzed by his head. then an.
other He turned madly and fired rap.
idly down into the shadows nj his pur-
suers. He cursed himself for his fol-
ly when second sentry appeared
above him. drawn by the fash OF his
shots to his hiding place. There was
but one refuge. the mine shaft He
plunged obllquely downward for It
Naturally enough. the troopers
thought their quarry was cornered. but
WilkersoD drove straight on downward
to an old working. mounted again.
crossed by disused gallery and Hnal.
ly emerged far up the cliff. On bis
way he 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 10 the
bottom he had been discovered, and
he felt the rope being hauled up. In
despair. with madman's strength. he
swung far out and then In, dropping
on a little ledge concealed by the over
hang of the cliff
AS tta rope came free In their hands
thu 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 giddy perch Wilkerson heard
their awed speeulations and laughed
silently. Then he crawled way. In
the distance he heard the screech OF a
locomotive whistle. marking the pas
sage of an express. The freight would
be due In two hours. He must make It.
Tom Kane arrived early in the morn.
ing to find the camp In an uproar
The Mexicans had quietly vanished.
R1h was mourning 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
he realized that wilkerson had again
checkmated him. But the immediate
need OF the hour was haste. He in
strueted 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. aud the |
tides aren't strong enough to move
her." he stated. The only thing is, |
somebody may have been ahead OF u.s." |
"Wilkerson couldn't be ahead OF u.s." |
John assured 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.
AhNh bhSs ~ Set uutdu VI US! hutn |
Inourned. After all our troubler
The launch captain and the diver |
both comforted her by stating that the |
given position was not far away, that |
IL was sometimes matter of days to /
find wreck even II the approximate
location was known and that at any
rate they would soon be near enough |
to see whether the other craft was
successful.
II hope he doesn't ind it!' breathed |
Dorr as he uEged his own men to great
er speed.
They've struck the spot II those
figures OF yours are correct" was the
reply. But time will tell"
When the two boats were close to-
gether John saw that Mrs. Darnell was
with Wilkerson. He could see the
bronze CLINT OF her eyes, her eyes illed
with a minglfno of tFinmnh and ha