White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-28

SR0N Jou u hhtfC III tuul udnuiuG0
dress"
vigas kissed a dirty hand to the
stars. In honor of the lady" be said,
with brayado. Never shall it be said
tina Jose vigas was ignorant of the
n~iceties of demeanor, senor."
Finding his protests useless, Wilker-
son subsidized. vigas departed. appar-
camp. He yer stopped for a chat
with a watchful trooper. who readily
believed his casual statement that be
was going on a lovers expedition.
1t was just midnight when Vigas
stood over the bed on which Ruth lay
asleep. For a long moment he stood
there in his gaudy finery watching her.
He seemed almost on the point of wax
ening her III order to satisfy his over
weening vanity. But the clank of a
bride chain outside warned him that
he stood in great peril. With swift
fingers he touched the ribbon. bent
over and gently drew out the key. He
cut the ribbon with one slip of his
knife and looked ut his booty. But
the girls immovable and lovely face
drew his eyes again to her. With a
sweep of his arm he lifted his heavy
hat to her and passed out. silent as a
cat of his native mountains.
With the key in his possession Will
kerson became suddenly his W nerv-
u self. He must get away instant
ly, he knew. Kane would be back In
the morning with a warrant. Already
he was being watched by the suspi-
cious troopers. lie must escape this
very night.
After a short conversation with VI
gas and the appointment of a 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
that might afford him screen.
He was almost to the up when a
sentry challenged him and stepped for
ward.
I'm merely goin' out a little ways
kCf u Wdlh, NnheioOu cApidlucu-
Not allowed after nightfall," was
the response.
Without further parley. Wilkerson
leaped forward. grasped the mans rife
and tripped him. A moment later he
was footing II up to the crest at top
speed. with the sentry's cries for help
urging him on.
Dafap. no xatlI raach tho dirfHa n
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
ly when a 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 obliquely downward for it.
Naturally enough. the troopers
thought their quarry was cornered. but
Wilkerson drove straight on downward
10 an old working. mounted again.
crossed by a disused gallery and final
ly emerged far up the cliff. On his
way be had picked NJ a coil of rope.
and when he found himself son 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 a madman's strength. he
swung far out and then in. dropping
on a little ledge concealed by the over
hang of the cliff.
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 giddy perch Wilkerson heard
their awed speculations and laughed
silently. Then he crawled away. In
the distance be heard the screech of u
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 norm
ing to find the camp in an uproar.
The Mexicans had quietly vanished.
Ruth was mourning the loss of the
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. lie 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.