The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-07-17

suOTtlnR SteeuS 10 COnulllOH VI GULF
parative qrletness, but gradually be-
meath their soothing words and pat
tings of the hand the animals ceased
their quiverings and began tossing
their heads in impatience to once
more resume the journey.
Polly and the others, the path free.
hurried to Dick now unconscious and
swinging at the end of the larlnt. He
was lowered to the ground and re-
vived.
THAT loosening of the rock by n
blast of dynamite was another of the
| tricks of that devil Scarface," said
| Dick as he again regained his feet.
''He and his gang are around here
somewhere and we may expect to see
them at any moment. Well, I've got
| another account to settle with him
now, and you may be sure won't
| forget 1t when 1t comes to the final
reckoning between u.s." TIe turned to
the Indian.
"Where do you think they are,
Tomas?" The latter was listening In
tently and flashing his eagle eyes over
the sides Of the mountains as he noted
every detail Of its rough sides.
II think they around here pretty
close. l think those white devils meb-
be watch everything that happen
mebbe watch us now from behind some
rock. You bet when they see their
scheme no good and we all alive yet
they be heap mad like bunch uf hor-
nets and pretty soon they sneak up
on us and begin to shoot. We bet
ter get out of here pretty quick and
get some place where we can shoot
back or else they get us after ALL"
1.-THE trouble is we can't tell whether
they will come from ahead Of us or
from behind" said Dick thoughtfully
"T'll tell you what we will do. You
go on ahead with them, Tomas and
keep sharp lookout in front and
l will lag little behind and cover
the rear"
Don't stay behind, Dick" protested
Polly, her nerves bit shaken by what
they had just gone through. Come
along with us and we will all fight
1t out together"
sDick was obdurate, however,a and
seeing that they could not argue him
out of his notion, they reluctantly
gathered up their reins and went on
their way, telling him not to remain
too long but to hasten and catch up
with them MS soon as he saw that the
outlaws were not going to come upon
them from behind. Promising them
that he would lose no time in again
overtaking them, he turned about so
that he could watch the trail from the
direction In which they had come.
The three had scarcely gotten out
of sight around bend in the trail than
Dicks attention was attracted by the
sound of small piece of rock that
came jumping down the side of the
mountain close beside him and plunged
over the edge. He cast his eyes up
ward and saw some Of the gang work
Ing their way down the side of the
mountain just ahead where its. slope
was not quite so steep. Had it not
been for the accidental displacement
of the stone which had warned him
as 1t tumbled past they would have
been upon him before he could have
made move to escape or defend
himself. AS 1t was, however, he fig
ured that he had q desperate chance
of winning his way past them before
they blocked the trail and cut Off his
escape. Dick, spurred his horse and
dashed past them and away up the
trail, apparently escaping score of
bullets sent after him. =
Once more 1t had seemed as though
he bore n charmed life, for several
bullets passed through his clothing
and ordinarily he would have been
hit several times. Owing to the speed
with which he dashed away, however,
combined with the fact that the des-
| peradoes were shooting from a posi-
ton of difficulty not bullet hit him.
Not long after he again rejoined his
friends, who had faced about at the
sound of the shooting and were pre-
pairing to go back to his rescue. Eag-
erly they asked him what had taken
place.
| Nothing but a. little brush with
Roper and some of his delightful
friends" laughed Dick. "They should
have got me, but l guess they were
too mad 10 see straight. Anyway,
they never even winged me, short as
the range war, Also. put up lit
tile scheme Gu them as came along
1 that will prevent them from follow
Ing us as frEi as they otherwise
would.
"What die you DOR asked Dolly.
''Took lear olt OF their bosk and