The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-09-14

1t was toward the west, therefore,
that Welleston kept throwing occa-
sonal glances as the Mexican under
the influence of the long blue revolver,
saddled his horse with haste while
Pitt stood sullenly by. Still keeping
an eye on the three outside, through
the doorway, Welleston stepped back
into the saloon, snatched a handful
of sandwiches one of the helpers had
been preparing for the evening, wrap
ped them in newspaper and thrust them
into the pocket of his leather chaps.
Then he picked up his rifle from a
corner, threw cartridge belt over his
shoulder, seized a quart bottle OF
whiskey from behind the bar and re-
turned to where the trembling Mexican
was holding his horse,
"There's no use trying to put a
bit in your mouth, SAM" he said;
everybody knows I'm the only one
around here who could have done it.
Besides, see all the girls have turned
out" And he waved hand at the
dance hall where a group Of frightened
inmates had flocked to the porch,
attracted by the recent shot. so,
it's goodbye" exclaimed Welleston
iocularly, as he climbed rather pain
fully into the saddle. Then with a
sudden thought he pulled up his horse
and took one final look westward.
Amy more broncos around here,
Sam" he queried, jerking thumb at
Pitts old mount. "Well," he added
at the saloon-keepers negative shake
of the head, maybe it's safest to stow
him away" And with a shot which
stretched the old horse kicking in the
corral he waved a knocking hand at the
Infatuated saloonkeeper and cantered
gaily away Pausing hundred yards
from the door he drew from the pocket
the revolver he had taken from behind
the bar and looked at it disdainfully.
"Jest the thing all saloonkeepers
like him would be apt to buy" he
muttered to himself "a lousy little
thirty-two, cheap make, and ten to
one he got it in pawnship." And
he cOntemptuously flung the weapon
beside the road.
Putting his horse to a steady canter
he rode due east for the foothills which
loomed up fifteen miles away. That
his pony could easily cover this in fair
time, going at the tireless lope TO which
he was usually put, his rider was sure.
He had no dread of dangers in front.
The hills into which he was about
to plunge were too barren even for
sheep-only few Mexican settlements
were scattered here and there, and it
was not a land of the telegraph Five
miles on the west side of Pitts place
were the foothills on which the armed
guards prowed. But he knew the day
men would not be relieved for three or
four hours, by which time it would be
dark. From the hamlet itself he knew
no one could issue, Even the keeper
of the dance hall and the few male
Mexicans went to the camp OF the
sheep herders each day--the MeXicans
for employment, the dance hall keeper
to stir up business for the evening and
illicitly smuggle some liquor to the
range.
1t was going to be hard struggle in
the mountains-he knew that But
he reflected that he could win through
in few days-through passes so rocky
that he would leave no trail. Once on
the other side of the range, he had
money enough to escape, he believed,
as soon us he could work his way down
and get in touch with some railroad.
So as darkness commenced to fall in
the depression between the mountains,
although the sun could still be seen
brightly touching the tops of the ranges,
he reached the first of the foothills and
let his firing pony drop to walk as he
commenced the incline.
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