The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-02-10

1itNAit nON hVl RtNh NhhV
~~zS ticcd by his outlaws, and be
EeE2D fore amy one in the camp
could make sure that the man was
dead a couple of the Mexicans had
quickly slipped down the hin 90 him.
They found him still alive. Without
paying any attention to John DORIS
men. who were still doubtful of the
outcome or the battle. they dragged
their fallen leader away and up into
their own temporary camp.
Ii was not long before Wilkerson re-
vived. lie was terribly bruised and
almost insane from physical pain and
wild rage at his defeat. 1t was with
difficulty that the unsmiling outlaws
restrained him. Their chief took upon
himself the task of making ii plain to
wilkerson that this was no time for
rash and unorganized attack.
They have beaten Us so far, senior"
he said quietly, land You are very
sick. Tomorrow we shall see"
The hex mornings sun had scarcely
touched the peaks OF the mountains
when WilkersOn stretched his stiff,
sore limbs and began n fresh campaign.
He made 1t clear to the leader OF the
Mexican outlaws that they must work
swiftly.
1T won't be long before the news OF
this lighting gets out and the authori
ties take "A hand" he said. But IL we
can just get this mine into our posses
sion in the next three days | can hire
You and your men as peaceable work
men and swear that Dorr and his gang
are trying "a take our property AWAY
by force. | guess my word will be As
good as his"
Every we'll" agreed the Mexican
after thoughtfnlly considering the mat
ter. we can get back Into Mexico IN
twenty-four hours from here. So long
as you pay US and let ns-what do
you call it-loot. my men are with
you"
wilkerson coveruy studied the des
perado's impassive visage. Jose Vigas
bore a renowned name on the border
for daring. shrewdness and wicked
ness. He was known rs The Merci.
less For five years he had had Il
price set on his head. yet because OF
the loyalty OF his adherents and his
own fearlessness he had escaped
No man better fitted for a sinister
purpose could have been found. Yet
mingled with Wilkerson's satisfaction
at having such a tool TO his hand was
a dread OF the man himself. and his
calm insistence on the privilege of loot
ing the camp when 1t was captured
gave him n sense OF ausea
After all. they were Americans down
there I'm the Master Key" camp.
Through his binoculars he could see
Ruth ON the porch OF the bungalow.
vigas. too. saw her. He took no pains
to conceal the cruel interest In his eyes.
The next few days resulted In little
advantage to either side. John Dorr
could not reopen the mine nor eve
send In for much needed supplies be.
aus OF the constant menac Of the
outlaws. who occasionally fired scat
tering shots down into the gulch as n
warning that they We're yigilant.
On the other hand. wilkerson found
ii impossible to seize the camp with
out precipitating a battle. from which
he shrank. Deeply involved as he al
ready was In crime. he dreaded 10
cross the border line which would for.
eve place him beyond the pale and
make him an outlaw.
Instead. he used every method to
put himself %outwardly In the right. He
sent plea after plea to the sheriff OF
the county TO come and restore order
asserting that he had been driven from
his rightful property by violence and
that the situation wns such that. with