The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-06-12

f-SAPPt'J uhoWCtCh
IF you want us, come In and get
u.s. Smoke away all you want to. and
be cursed to you"
"Have 1t your own way, You'll be
hollering different tune before long"
called the desperate as he applied
the match. Then rs a thin column Of
smoke arose from the ignited pile and
went creeping like a black serpent
into the shaft, yell of triumph arose
from the gang without.
"rhey will probably make rush
when their eyes and lungs begin to
ill up," grinned Scarface to his COM
panlons. Have your guns ready,
boys, and when they come out, give
1t to them" Eyes glued upon the
opening and revolvers ready, expect
antly the outlaws waited for the ap-
pearance Of their victims. i
Scarface and his companions. with
grins of satisfaction, stood by the.
tunnel mouth into which flames and
heavy smoke were drawn In deadly
quantities. Suddenly they heard the
approach of many men, and, looking
around, saw the posse closing In. Not
for an instant considering aght
against such Odds they dashed to
their own horses and were away.
Within the tunnel, Dick and Teel,
choked and blinded and all but over
come by the heat. realized that it
meant death to hold out moment
longer and, raising their hands, stag
| gered out-not to face the outlaws,
as they supposed, but amidst friends.
There was a moment of surprise all
around.
The outlaws continued their retreat
to shack owned by Scarface, where
they halted to plan new attempt to
| get the pieces Of flag. Bringing a
long piece of fuse from the shack,
he left one end beneath corner of
the building and took the other end
to a clump of bushes at the edge of
the clearing. There they built fire,
about which they seated themselves
and waited.
Dick and Teel, having recovered
from the heat and smoke, took two Of
the deputies and started after the out
laws, while the sheriff and Polly and
the others turned back to the Ran
some cottage. AS the former were
riding along, one Of the deputies.
pointing off the trail, said:
"Scurface has a shack up there"
"There they are. Well get them
now" exclaimed Dick, and all spurred
for the clearing. The outlaws saw
them coming and rushed for the front
door, into which they dashed and
out rear door. which they barred
after them. Their pursuers, not real'
izing trap, rushed after them into
the shack, and, as they did so. their
enemies raced around a corner and
slammed and barred the door, making
them prisoners.
It didn't take Dick and his men
long to realize their predIcament. Nor
was the volley Of bullets sent through
the only window needed as warning
that. they could not fight their way
out. Then, waving handkerchief,
Scarface advanced into the clearing
and shouted:
you're shared good and proper,
but I'm going to be good to you. You
can come out and be riddled by bul.
lets or you can stay and be blown to
hell by the dynamite I've planted
, under the shack"
Realizing that If they remained they
could hope to live only until the fuse
had burned to the corner of the shack,
the men with one voice scorned the
surrender terms.
"Shoot at the fuse" said Dick. and
score of bullets tore up the earth
all around, but never hitting the fuse
"What do you say-the flag or the
, dynamite" was the last call of Scar.
face, as the sputtering end. no longer
in view of the inmates of the shack
, began to disappear beneath the tim
ber.
"Blow and be damned" shouted
1, Dick, and the brave fellows, with q
, final volley at the outlaws, retired
from the window and braced them.
selves for the explosion.
| at begins to look as though they
. had got us at last" said Dick as they
waited for the blast which must blow
e the shack and all 1t contained into
8 matchwood. Teel, saying nothing
3 nodded and, Dick drawing his watch
' began to toll of the seconds that were
!. ushering them into eternity. Through
i the minds of the imprisoned four wild