Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-06-05

! there would be u station-or he could
risk dropping it out of the window
near some water tank or something.
But the plain slid by. Il level monot-
ony. broken only by the rose and emer-
aid and gold of the setting sun. Scath-
lin grew more and more desperate. 1t
was growing dark. and he dared not
throw the wallet where he could not
find it again, or where someone else
might find it-and yet! They were
nearing Hawk valley. The morning
would bring them within the ranging
OF Hollis men-that band of trained
and devoted outlaws who were as re-
l~entless in their justice as they we're
careless of their lives. No mercy was
to be expected from their hands il
once he fell among them. He shivered
as a tall shaft of a oavc tree, dead and
stark. stood out in the distance against
the clear gold of the sunset line. 1t
was on such q tree he had seen a
cattle thief hang. CHASTITY against the
sky. as he rode by once just at night
fall. 1t might easily be his fate be-
fore another sunset. II he could not
get away in the night all chance of
escape before they reached Hawk val
ley was gone, for we'll he knew Jasper
Hollis men were set at intervals along
the way, sentinels ready to head him
on. FAndrwhat treatment could he ex-
pect from either Jasper Holt or his
men with that discriminating wallet in
his pocket? He had been a fool to take
up with H%arrington's offer. Money OF
no money, it wasn't worth the risk. He
was getting to be an old a and not
SO ready to face death as when his
blood was hot and his hand steady.
He had not rel any weapons of de-
tense. thanks to his grim captor who
had disarmed him while he slept, the
first night of their journey together.
There had been any open recog-
milton of the fact between them. save
that n glance as Scathlin put his
hand to the pocket where it had been
and was nOta He had charged with
his eyes in one look Of helpless fury,
and Hollis clear gray eyes had met his
unfiinchingly in acknowledgment. That
had been all. but Scathlin' knew then
that there was r0thing for him but to
evade Holt and get away IL possible.
He would stand no chance in an open
conflict, and his captor was untiringly
vigilant. He glanced again at the
stern face opposite him. wondering
what would be the fate to which he
was surely, swiftly fastening. States
prison? Or would they take the law
into their own hands? He knew what
that might mean only too we'll, and
again the desperate look passed yer
his face with Hate and Murder looking
dimly from his eyes. How he would
like to spring at that slim brown
throat opposite him and throttle the
life from the young fellow. Only a kid
Ia mere kid-and yet he had with
stood many, and had power to cruch
Scathlin In spite OF all his boosted
cunning. The look Of a serpent crept
into the little cleaning eyes Of the
old man as he noticed the quick glance
his companion cast at the girl across
the aisle; and his W eyes followed
filled with hate. Yes, he would like to
drive his fat, hairy fingers into the
white throat Of the girl before the
teyes of her gallant defender II only he
had Holt helpless! But instead, here
was he, helpless himself! And he
must find a waysto escape before morn.
ing. Or else get rid OF that walletsln
come safe way. Surely, surely HOLT
would be on his guard sometimes for q
little space. He had scarcely sle1F q
wink for four days: how could hAsep.
dure It much longer?
short by the entrance Of the conductor
a& last and he turned to watch the girl
as che spoke to him.
Il was to have had q section ire
served for me-" she was saying to the
conductor. my %brotherinla y, Mr.
James Harrington. OF Hawk valley. ar
ranged for II. and telcsraphcd lhAs4ha,
It mi all right. See. have the tele
gam. But the porter said I mus,
come In here until l saw you be9iuse
~ had no ticket for the Pullman.
She held out the yellow cnveIops
and the conductor looked At It. n
, i"Yeur brothers name IL Harrington
!. You arc going to Hawk valley?',
j He: loL;,ed ut her sharply. Wei
, juct wal a few minutes TIL 4 &
|; Though I ; next 81 and then TN ses
!: to It, II ought to be al right"
: Hc hustled ON his way attending 4
Mo passengers and the glrl 9 bacl
sAn9asnsta Nit: fssg