White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-19

roured by wolves while the bandits
start with Bessie for the border.
Blake. worn out by mental torture
and physical exertion Ia striving TO
break his lariat bonds, fell back
against the stakes resigned to his
fate, while the wolves. emboldened
by the eeasing OF his struggles,
crowded about waiting only for a
leader 10 signal for the feast. A
vivid flash Of lightning illuminated
the forest, then another as with
swifness and fury a storm swept
over the mountain top. Awed by
the brightness of the flashes and the
crashing of the thunder, the coward
~ wolves skunk back a few PAGES and
sat on their launches hungrily eye
ing their helpless prey. A bolt
struck a great pine nearby, splitting
il TO the middle. the top crashing to
earth a few feet from Blake. Terri
fed now, the wolves fed yelping back
into the forest. Then came the rain
in binding torrents, ~drenching and
;eviving Blake.
Bessie. meanwhile. had visions.
first of her husband being devoured
by wolves and then again she visual
lied him, his wrists bound by ropes
which were attached to two horses.
On one was Comanche. IN the other
Red Johnson. She could see. in her
excited Imagination, the look OF
agony on his face as Blake dashed
one horse and Curly the other. send
ing them ~gaiioping In opposite direc-
lions.
Black Jack had said the sun would
shrink the rawhide and give Blake a
stretching. He had not figured on
the rain-the rain loosened It. A
thrill of hope shot through Blake's
form as h felt the first give" of the
water-soaked bonds. He r%edoubled
his struggles and slowly the ropes
relaxed about his hands and feet. He
kicked one stake free. A hand was
released and he staggered to his feet.
free and saved from the wolves whose
mournful bowls came to him on the
dying blasts of the storm.
Far away up the mountain, UNI
touched by wind or rain. the outlaws
were gathered about a camp fire.
They we're in a happy mood. Blake
vas out OF the way, devoured by
wolves, they thought; his woman"
was their prisoner and they had the
100000.
Comanche Pete entered the circle
carrying a dead sheep. Breakfast
he grunted as he threw the carcass
at Black Jacks feet. He showed
a knife, red stained, and the outlaw
leader. nightly pleased. gave him a
bottle.
One by one. the outlaws. overcome
by WEAKNESS and liquor, fell over
asleep, leavig only Black Jack and
Johnson by the fire discussing plans
for the morrow. Fifty feet away,
in the shadows. securely tied to a
tree, and closely guarded, was .Bes-
sic, watching every move the men
made. hoping ever for an opportunity
to escape. a hope that never seemed
darker.
Her guard. approached the fire and
demanded a drink, to be cursed by
Black Jack who ordered him back.
you've got to watch the woman
tonight. You've got to keep awake
and sober" he growled.
Pete returned from dressing the
sheep and lay down near Bessie, ap-
parently asleep. Black Jack and
Johnson were dead to the world. On
ly Bessie and her guard were awake,
the latter with eyes fixed %hungrily
on the bottle protruding from the
Indians pocket. He crossed noise
lessly to where the Indian lay, una
ware Pete saw every move. and took
the bottle and returned, half drain
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