The Arizona copper camp., 1920-09-04

nearly as possible to the center, by the
nOlseleSS movement of a hand under
water. No alarm greeted it's progress,
and at last, confident that they were al
ready safely below the extent of the
guard line, the two men, clinging to it's
wet sides, ventured to kick out quietly,
and thus hasten its progress. 1t came
ashore at the extreme end of the curve,
and, after moment of intent listen
ing, the voyagers crept up the sand,
and in whispers discussed the next eff
fort of their escape. The belts were
unstrapped from about the log, reload
ed with cartridges, and buckled around
dripping waists, before they clambered
cautiously up the low bank. The road
was just beyond, but between them
and it arose the almost shapeless form
of a small house, a mere darker
shadow in the gloom Of the night.
Where are weT' questioned West
colt.
"Just back of old Beecher's shack.
He's trucking down Benson way, but is
liable to have some grub stored inside.
[ was countin' on this for our COM
missary department. Come on, Jim;
time is money just now"
The door was unlocked, and in less
than ten minutes they emerged once
more into the open bearing their spoils
-Wescott, a slab of bacon and a small
frying pan; Brennan paper sack of
cOrnmeal, with a couple of specimens
of canned goods. He had also resur-
rected a gunny sack somewhere, in
which the things were carefully
wrapped, and made secure for trans
portation.
''Didn't feel no terbacco, did yer,
Jim?" the marshal questioned solic-
itously. ST reckon not, though; OF
Beecher never would leave nuthin'
like that lynn round. Well, Lord we
ought ter be thankful fer what we've
got. Now, if we can only get away
with them hosses."
They wormed their way forward to
the edge of the road through fringe
of bushes, Westcott laden with the bun
die. Except for the sound of distant
voices and an occasional loud laugh,
the night was still. They could almost
hear their own breathing, and the
crackle of a dry twig underfoot
sounded to strained nerves like the
report of a gun. Crouching at the
edge of the road they could see
fairly well what was before them, as
revealed by the lights shining forth
though the dingy windows of the
saloon. A hum of voices echoed out
into the night, but the platform in
front of the door was deserted. Oc-
casionally some wanderer either en-
tered or departed, merging into the
crowd within or disappearing through
the darkness without. To the left of
the building, largely within its shadow,
stretched the hitch rail to which were
fastened fully dozen cow-ponies, most
of them revealed only by their restless
movements, although the few nearest
the door were plainly enough visible
in the reflection of light. Brennan's
hand closed heavily on the arm of the
other.
'Wen pick out the two critters far
thest from the light" he muttered,
'an' trust ter luck. Well have to lead
'em ways afore we mount. Shall we
try it nowY
''The sooner the better"
"That's me. Blamed if thought I'd
be hoss thief, but when feller as
sociates with Bill Lacy there's no
knowin' what he will come to. We
better try the other side o. the road,
jim"
They were in the flicker of light for
scarcely an instant, merely two dart
ing shadows, vanishing once more
swiftly and silently into the gloom.
Nor were they much longer in releas-
ing the two cOw-ponies. WestcOtt tied
his bundle to the cantle of the saddle
and then, bride reins in hand, the do
cile animals following their new mas
ters without resistance, the men led
them over the smooth turf well back
from the range of light. They were a
quarter Of mile from the Red Dog
before Brennan, slightly in advance,
ventured to enter the road.
"It's safe enough now, Jim, an we
don't wanter lose no time. Ever
crossed Shoshone"
"No."
swell, it's little bit o. hi after
sunup, an we'll have a twenty-n1ile
ride before we strike water. Well
start SLOW"
They swung into saddle, the road be-
fore them a mere black ribbon revealed
only by the CLEAN of a few far
off stars peering through riffs in the
clouds. Brennan rode slightly in ad-
vance, trusting his mount largely to
pick out the way, yet leaning forward
eagerly scanning every shadow and
listening for the slightest warning
There was some movement to, the left,
where the hotel trail led down the
bank, and instantly both men drew
up their ponies and remained intent
and rigid. Brennans hand rested on
hn