The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-04-29
Copyright by A. C. AcCluzg q Co.


Copyright by A. c. AcCluzr q Ca.
L succeeded in reaching my feet, ana
stood there. a moment. gaining what
view I could through the dark
ness. The short struggle, desperate
as it had been, was not a noisy one,
and / could hear nothing about us to
indicate any alarm. Kennedy had one
hard knee pressed into Rale's abdomen
and the star-rays reflected back the
steel glimmer Of the pistol held threat
eningly before the mans eyes. The
horses beyond stood motionless, and
the two women in the saddles appeared
like silent shadows. 1 stood up once
more, peering through the darkness
and listening. Whatever was to be
done must decide, and quickly. ..
Have Rale stand up, but keep tdm
covered. Don't give him any. chance
to break away; now wait-there is a
lariat rope hanging to this saddle; I'll
get it,"
1t. was a strong cord and of good
length, and we proceeded to bind the
fellow securely in spite of his objec-
lions, l taking charge of the pistol,
while Tim, who was more expert, did
the job in a workmanlike anner
snow gag him, Tim," I said quietly.
Yes, use the neckerchief. That will
90 all we can hope for is q few hours
start"
rs Kirby dead?''
I'm afraid not, but he has got an
ugly bump and lost some blood; his
head struck a rock when he fell. It
will be a while, I imagine, before he
wakes up. How about your man?'
He crossed over and bent down
above the fellow, feeling with his
hands in the darkness.
II reckon he's a goner, cap," he ad-
mitted, as though surprised. "Gosh, /
must'r hit the cuss harder than I
thought-fair caved in his he'd, the
pore devil. I reckon it's no great loss
ter nobody"
But are you SUR he is dead? That
will put a different aspect on all this,
Kennedy! I exclaimed gravely, facing
him as he o to his feet. 'That and
the belief / now have that Kirby has
already consummated his plan of mar
riage with Miss Beaucaire."
"YOu lei he has"
"Yes, that he has forced the girl
to assent to some form of ceremony,
probably legal in this country. I over
heard enough between him and Rale to
suspect it, at least, and she is even
now under the influence of some drug.
She hasn't spoken, o does she seem
to know what is going on about her.
They strapped her into the saddle"
1.-THE h they did"
1T has been a hellish affair all the
way through. and the only way in
which / can serve her, if this is so, is
by getting her away-as far away as
possible, and where this devil can
never find her again. What bothers
me right now is your case"
"Mine? Lord, what's the matter with
me?''
Considerable, I should say. You
can't be left here alone TO face the re-
suit of this nights work. If Gaskins
is dead from the blow you struck him
these two fellows will swear your life
away just for revenge. Even if you
told the whole story. what chance
would you have? That would only ex-
pose us, and still fail to clear you. 1t
would merely be your word against
theirs-you would have no witnesses,
unless we were caught"
II reckon thet's true; I wasn't
thinkin' bout It,"
'Then there is only the one road
to take. Tim," I insisted. "We've got
to strike the trail together"
Wharf"
IT cannot answer that now; I haven't
thought it out yet. We can talk that
matter over al W. ride. / have a map
with me. which will help us decide the
best course to choose. The first thing
is to get out of this n%eighborhood be-
yond pursuit. # you only had a horse"
THAT two critters down in the
crick bottom. I reckon tibet Kirby an
Gaskins must'r tied 'em thar.
Good; then you will go; you agree
with me?"
THAR amt nuthin' else fer me ter do
-haDgin' amt never bin no hobby o.
mine"
''Then let's start" decisively. "Pick
up one Of those horses down on the
bottom and turn the other one loose.
I'll lead on down the trail and you a
herman Peterson or Devils LAKE on
January 20, received . draft for $1,722
from the Workmen's Compensation.
Bureau IN settlement OF his claim for
injuries On the 18th Of last August
while running i planning machine at
the shop Iof Jensen and Erickson.
Mr.. Peterson IS naturally feeling
very good over the settlement received
from the bureau. This sum was ~
eeived from the bureau ii 1 lump, Ia
~~rn--nA = * 49, - $500 m ~.z.-1.Y - ~n&s