The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-02-27

knowed!"
A murmur of wistful desire arose and
Lanky Smith restlessly explained it: FHe
rampages In bout midnight an wakes us up
with his racket When we asks what he's
dom with our possessions he suggests we 90
toh-l. Hetakes his rifle, Pete's rifle, Buck
brand new canteen, bout eighty pounds of
cartridges an other useful dufle, all tn
tobacco, an blows away quick "
"On my cayuse, F" murmured Red.
"Wearin' my good clothes, added Billy,
sorrowfully
can my boots, sighed Hopalong.
81 amt got no field glasses no more, 8"
grumbled LanlSy.
"But he only got one laig of my new
pants" chuckled Skinny. II was too
strong for him. "
"He yanked my blanket Off me, which
makes me steal Reds, grinned Pete
(Which you didn't keep very long!"
retorted Red, with derision.
(Which makes us all peevish," plain
lively muttered Buck.
Now amt it a HI of a note?" laughed
Cookie, loudly, forthwith getting scarce.
He had nothing good enough to be taken
An whichever was it run agin yore face,
oASAhA9 SyA1PdLllCLlCtiIy inquire t1Opd-
long. Mighty good thing it stopped, " he
added thoughtfully.
Never mind my facet" snorted the
peace officer holly as his deputies smoothed
out their grins 81 want to know where
Nelson Is an id quick! Well search the
house first"
"Hold on, responded Buck "North of
Salt Spring Greek yo're sheriff; down here
yo're nothin'. Don't search no house. He
ain'tlhere F."
"How do know he ANTI" snapped
Nolan.
"My words good; or therell be another
election stolen up in yore county, rejoined
Buck ominously. AN / wouldn't hunt
him too hard, neither. Well punish him.
Nolan wheeled and rode towards the
hills without another word, his posse press
ing close behind. When they entered
Apache Pass one of them accidentally ex-
ploded his rifle, calling forth an angry
TRADE from the sheriff. Johnny heard it,
and cared little for the warning from his
friend Lucas; he waited and then rode
down the rocky slope of the pass on the trail
of the posse, squirting wickedly at the dis
tant group as he caught glimpses of them
now and again, and with no anxiety regard
ing backward glances. Lots wifeU have
nothing on them if they look back, he
muttered, lingering his rife lovingly. At
nightfall he watched them depart and
grinned at the chase he would lead them
when they returned.
Four weeks passed, weeks of hunger and
nervous strain, and he was getting desperate.
He had learned that Greener and his hancee
were going down to Linnville soon, since
PerTy's bend had no parson; and his cup Of
bitterness, overlooking, drove him to risk an
attempt to leave that part of the country.
He had seen none of Petes Gordon al
though he had looked for them, and he be-
lieved he could get away. So he rode
cautiously down Apache Pass one noon,
planning his route. The sand, washed
down from the rock walls by the last rain,
deadened all sounds of his progress, and as
he turned sharp bend he ran into Greener
and Norah Joyce, not fifty feet away. They
we're laughing at how they had eluded and
escaped the crowd of friends eager to accom-
pany them-but the laughter froze when
Johnny's gun swung up.
ends up, Greenerl" he snapped, vi
ciously, remembering his promise to Nolan.
AAASS JOyNC5 II you AIaAS LAOuDlC IL III NOoL
him his life. "
Turned highwayman, eh?" sneered
Greener, keenly alert for the necessary
fraction Of seconds carelessness on the
part of the other.
miss Joyce, you will please ride along;
/ want to talk to him alone" Johnny re-
quested.
eyes, dear, that's best. I'll join you
soon, urged Greener, flashing her look
she understood instinctively.
But Johnny was too wise to fall into the
trap: Don't get out of my sight, an don't
make no noise or signs; if you do he'll have
to pay for it"
"You coward" she cried angrily. Cow
ard!" and delivered an impromptu
lecture that sent the blood surging into the
fugitive's wan cheeks But she obeyed,
slowly, and when she was out Of hearing
Johnny spoke.
"Greener, yo're not going to marry her.
You know what you are, you know how
yore first wife died-an' don't intend that
Norah shall be abused as the other was.
I'm fugitive, hard pressed; I'm weak from
want Of food, and from hardships; all I
have left is a slim chance of gettin' away
I've reached the point where can't harm
myself by shooting you, an I'm goin' to do
it rather than let any trouble come to her.