Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-05-07


long as live" she burst out passion
ately.
He advanced step and stood gaz-
ing down upon her. Her angry glance
met his unflInchingly; and presently
for him the light went out OF the
world.
"very WELL" he murmured. Good.
bye" And with bowed head he turned
and made of through the green timber
toward his own logging-camp five
miles distant
With the descent upon his breast Of
the limp body OF his big woods-bully.
Colonel Pennington had been struck
to earth as effectually ms II a fair-sized
tree had fallen on him, the last Whit
OF breath had been driven from his
lungs; and for the space of minute,
during which Jules Rondeau lay heav-
lily across his midriff, the Colonel was
quite unable to get IL back. Pale,
gasplng, and Jared from soul to sus.
penders. he was merely aware that
something unexpected and discomfort
ing had occurred.
While the Colonel fought for his
breath, his woodsmen remained in the
ofiing, paralyzed into inactivity by
reason Of the swiftness and thorough
ness Of Bryce Cardigan's work then
Shirley motloned to them to remove
the wreckage, and they FASTENED to
obey.
Freed from the weight on the
geometrlc center OF his being, Colonel
Pennington stretched his legs, rolled
his head from side to side, and snorted
violently several times like buck
After the sixth snort he felt so much
better that a clear understanding OF
the exact nature of the catastrophe
came to him; he struggled and sat up,
looking around him a little wildly.
'Where-dId - Cardigan goy' he
gasped.
One OF his men pointed to the timber
into which the enemy had just dis
appeared.
Surround hlm-take him." Penning.
ton ordered. "Tll glve-a months
pay-to each of-the six men that
bring-that scoundrel to me. Get him
quickly Underestimate
Not man moved. Pennington
shook with fury. sect him." he croak.
ed. There are enough Of you to do
the job. Close in on him-everybody.
I'll give months pay to-every-
body"
A man OF that !ndiscriminate mix
ture Of Spaniard and Indian known In
California as cholo swept the circle of
men with an alert and knowing glance
His name was Flavio Artelan, but his
straight black hair. dark russell com
plexion. beady eyes. and hawk nose
gave him such q resemblance 70, a
fowl that he was known among his fel-
lows as the Black Minorca. regardless
OF the fact that this sobriQuet was
scarcely fair to very excellent breed
OF chicken. THAT offers good enough
for me-" he remarked in businesslike
tones. "Come on-everybody. A
months pay for Ave minutes work
j wouldn't tackle the Job with six men,
but there are twenty OF us here"
Hurry" the Colonel urged them.
Shirley Summers fiashing glance
rested upon the Black Minorca. Don't
you dare!" she cried. "Twenty to
one For shamel"
For a months pay" he replied I'm
pudently, and grinned evilly. "And
I'm takin' orders from my boss" He
started on dOg-trot for the timber
and dozen men trailed after him.
Shirley turned helplessly on her
uncle, seized his arm and shook II
frantically. "Call them back! Call
them back !" she pleaded.
Her uncle got uncertainty to his
feet. "Not on your life he growled,
and In his cold gray eyes there danced
the lights of thousand devils. IL told
you the fellow was q ruffian. Now,
perhaps, you'll believe me. Wen hold
him until Rondeau revives, and then
-"
Shirley guessed the rest, and she
realized that II was useless to plead
that she was only wasting time.
bryce! Brycew she called. run
They're after you. Twenty OF them
Run, run-for my sakew
His voice answered her from the
timber: Run? From those cattle?
Not from man or devil" A silence.
Then: $50 you've changed your mind,
have you? You've spoken to me
again !" There was triumph, exulta-
ton In his voice. 1.-THE timber's too
thick. Shirley. couldn't get away
anyhow--so I'm coming back.
She saw him burst through a thlcket
OF alder saplings into the clearing,
saw half dozen OF her uncle's men
close In around him like wolves around
n sick steer; and at the shock Of their
contact, she moaned and hid her face
In her trembling hands.
Half man and half tiger that he
was, the Black Minorca, as self-ap-
pointed leader. reached Bryce first.
The cholo was squat, powerful little
man, with more bounce TO him than a
rubber ball; leading his men by a
dozen yards, he hesltated not an In
slant but lodged under the blow Bryce
dashed out at him and came up inside
hA lAN