Connecticut western news., 1920-03-25


 hereafter done to him will be paid for to the limit. No guilty man will es- cape So the boys are getting busy. I figured they would be-"
 The former convict leaned forward angrily "Lemme see that paper"
 His guest handed 1t over, an index finger pointing out the item. Large as life, Blackwell. No, sir. You ce'- tainly didn't ride herd proper on that opportunity"
 Don't be too sure it's gone, MT. Sheriff"
 They've got you dead to rights. Read that personal again. Learn 1t by heart 'The friends of l.. C. give warning.' You better believe they're rounding up your outfit. They know I'm alive. They know all about the Jack of Hearts. Pretty soon they'll know. where you've got me hidden"
 You'd better pray they won't. For if they find the nest it will be empty. Look out of that window behind you."
 Luck turned. The cabin was built on a ledge far up on the mountain side. From the back wall sloped for a hundred feet an almost perpendic- ular slide of rock.
 There's a prospect hole down there," Blackwell explained savagely. You'd go down the Devils Slide what's left of you, I mean-deep into that prospect hole. The timberings are routed and the whole top of the working ready to cave In. When your body hits it there will be an avalanche with Mir. Former-Sheriff Cullison at the bottom of 1t. You'll be buried without any funeral expenses, and l reckon your friends will never know where to put the headstone."
 The thing was devilishly simple and feasible. Luck, still looking out of the window, felt the blood run cold down his spine, for he knew this fel- low would never stick at murder if he felt 1t would be safe.
 "So you see Pm right; you'd better pray your friends won't find you. They can't reach here without being heard. If they get to hunting these hills you sure want to hope they'll stay cold, for just as soon as they get warm 1t will be the signal for you to shoot the chutes."
 Luck met his triumphant savagery with an impassive face. Interesting if true. And where will you be when 1 my friends arrive? I reckon 1t won't | be a pleasant meeting for MT. Black we'll"
 "I'Il be headed for Mexico. tell | you because you ain't liable to go around spreading the news. There's 1 a horse saddled in the dip back of the hill crest. Get it?'
 From far below there came through the open window the faint click of horses hoofs ringing against the stones in the dry bed of a river wash. Swiftly Blackwell moved to the door, taking down a rifle from it's rack as na did so. Cullison rose noiselessly in lis chair. If it came to the worst he meant to shout aloud his presence and dose with this fellow. HampeTed as le was by the table. the man would | get him without question. But if he
  lairy throat while there was still life n him he could promise that the Mex can trip would never take place.
 Blackwell, from his place by the ioor, could keep an eye both on his prisoner and on a point of the trail ar below where horsemen must pass o reach the cabin.
 A rider came into sight and entered he mouth of the canyon. He was waving a white handkerchief The nan in tue doorway answered the sig lal.
 "Not your friends this time. Mir Sheriff" Blackwell jeered.
 "l get stay of execution. do IF" 'he cool drawling voice of the cattle nan showed nothing Of the tense feel, ng within.
 He resumed his soH+ a@d tho reading f the newspapers. Presently. to the nan that came over the threshold he poke with casual nod. Morning, CaSs."
 Fendrick mumbled a surly answer. he manner of irOnical cOmradeShp is captive chose to employ was more han an annoyance. To serve his ends was necessary 10 put the fear of cath into this mans heart. which was thing he had found impossible to do. The logic of circumstances was driv- 1g the sheepman into corner He ad on impulse made the owner of the
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