The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-07-10

six pieces Of a chart flag, the only key to
the location of buried treasure Scar
face has another piece, and he kills Pol
ly's father and gets hers. A struggle to
the death for the missing flags and the
treasure begins. Three other flag hold
ers join Dick. They are caught by Scar
face out on the desert and left suspended
over a cliff to perish.
Suspended bound and gagged,
along the sheer face of the cliff, DICK
and Polly and their companions faced
death that would be mercifully
quick in the blistering desert sun.
Scarface and his evil pals turned in
their saddles and laughed wickedly
at the futile struggles of their hap
less victims. Six pieces of the "Rlven
Flag" were in their possession, and
they had put Dick out of the way for
good and where shortly there would
be no evidence to tell the tale. Scar
face was in an almost merry mood as
he led his murderous band out into the
desert.
II told you that the time would
come when we would get even with
those trouble makers who were all the
time butting into our affairs" he told
his companions gleefully. 81 reckon
by this time they wish they had staid
home and minded their own business.
They never had q chance with me
from the beginning, and I beat them
to every bet. Furthermore, we have
now got six pieces of that rag in our
clutches and it won't be long before
we have the seventh and last. Then
for the treasure and merry life for
ever after"
"Hurrah for Scarface and the treas
ure," cried his companions exulting-
1y. Squirting their horses deeply they
rode on their way with boisterous eX-
ultings over their success.
Meanwhile Tomas, son of Red
Cloud, had not been idle. Unseen by
the others, he had watched the Sc
cret visit of the renegade Indian to the
camp Of the outlaws upon the occa-
sion when the renegade had offered
to show Scarface where Red Cloud
was buried with his piece of the flag,
and had instantly suspected that the
otllSi was up " SOIlle lIeuCll-
cry. Knowing that he would be able
to follow their trail he had let the
conspiracy proceed In order to find
out what 1t was. He kept his own
counsel until the outlaws had left,
then he commenced to take action.
Tomas rode into the outlaws camp
while the ashes were yet warm, and
quickly took up the trail. mile out
on the desert a huge vulture winged
It's way above him toward the cliff,
followed by a score of Others.
"Ah!" said he softly MS he watched
the great bird circle about in ever
narrowing circles. "Those white
devils who wanted to disturb the
grave of my ancestor have been up to
some heap bad business. But Tomas
will find out. He will watch where
the vulture alights, and there he will
find something" Keeping his sharp
eye upon the circling denizen of the
sky he rapidly approached the spot
that the bird hovered over.
Further, yet, out on the sands, Scar
face looking backward through his
field-glasses, saw the birds, and an evil
grin spread over his features.
Take look. They have-visitors,
he said, handing the glasses to his
companions.
"Great God The vultures," ex-
claimed Screweye, and he and the 9TH
ers shook their heads ominously, as
though the thought of leaving their
victims to be eaten alive was too
much, to stomach.
Deep dyed villains though Screweye
and his companions were, they began
looking out of the sides of their eyes
at Scarface with disfavor While they
had no compunctions at thought of
their enemies suffering an unpleasant
death, the thought of the girl hang
ing there in midair and food for vul-
lures even while she lived made them
twist bit uneasily in their saddles
as they rode on.
Tomas had no glasses, but his eyes,
following the vultures made out the
human forms against the cliff. For
an instant he wavered between keep
ing on after the outlaws and return
ing. Then swinging his horses head,
he galloped back to the cliff.
Shots from Tomas pistol that scat
tered the vultures reused Dick and
the others to renewed struggles, and
the Indian, connecting their predica-
ment with some new villainy of Scar