The Monticellonian., 1919-09-05

we will never get to the station be-
fere dark There is an old shack up
here that ! know Of, and | vote we
spend the night there and hit the trail
again at daylight. It's bad goin' along
this way after dark"
.sWhere is the shack?' asked Davis,
half convinced that the other was
speaking wisely. The Spider pointed
indefinitely to one side.
Il think it's in there. You fellers
wait here till | 20 and make sure. I'll
be back in a few minutes. Easing
| themselves in the saddles and rolling
cigarettes the remaining two settled
themselves down to wait.
Once out of sight the Spider slipped
frem the saddle. Choosing a favorable
spot he drew an extra revolver from in
side his shirt and lashine it In the
fork of tree carefully sighted it down
the trail Then stringing IA small vine
across the path tied it to the trigger
after which he returned to the waiting
pair with the information that the
shack lay in that direction. At once
all three started along the way. Davis
in the lead.
Reaching the point where the spring
CUR was set. the two following rascals
softly drew their horses To one side.
All unconscious of the Spiders treach-
cry. John rode on. his thoughts on
Ethel and the mine From the brush
beside the way came a sharp explosion,
and his horse falling upon its knees.
rolled over upon its side with a bullet
through the brain. Half dazed by the
fall, John sat up just in time to see
the Spider dismount and 90 rushing
through the trees, firing as he ran at
some imaginary foe. Soon he re-
turned. gathering up the evidence of
his futile attempt as he came.
Don't know for sure who he was, as
| couldn't get a good sight of him, but
| Hermit is still camping on our trail, :"
| he explained.
'He won't follow us any farther on
this trip" said Morgan. Taking the
dazed John upon his horse they rode
to the cabin and retired for the night.
In the middle of the night Morgan
and Bellas silently lifted their heads
A moments listening told them that
| Davis was sleeping soundly and MT Il
whisper from the Hawk the Spider
sneaked to the stove and brought him
the coffee pot, which, retaining for n
moment, the other handed back.
Just before dawn the Spider awak-
| ened Davis, also shaking Morgan.
'"Time to be stirring" he announced
and Sleepily they got upon their feet.
| Pouring the coffee which he already
had heated, into their tin cups, Bellas
| rendered each of his companions one.
John, drinking his and thinking of
Ethel, did not observe that the other
men had secretly poured their portions
| through a crack in the floor.
For couple of minutes after he had
finished the draught Davis sat upon
the side of his bunk while the others
spoke briefly of the coming events Of
the day as secretly they watched him.
Moment by moment his head sank low
er upon his chest. until with long
sigh he fell backward upon the blank
cts instantly beginning TO snore. The
rascally pair arose.
Hell be dead to the world for a
couple Of hours after that doping"
laughed the Hawk, as the twain began
gathering the three lariats together.
"And that will give us time enough to
cook his goose for all time" Pass
ing out Of the shack they approached
good sized sapllng which stood close
to the wall.
AT the Hawks direction the Spider
climbed the tree and fastened one end
of the stout lariats to it, after which
he threw the other end of the rope
cross the ridge pole of the shack, so
that it fell down and trailed upon the
fur side To the free end Morgan now
attached a second lasso. after which
he went to an old well from which he