The Jasper news., 1920-06-03
CHAPTER V-contInusd.


ular slide of rock.
There's prospect hole down
there" Blackwell explained savagely.
You'd go down the Devils Slide
what's left of you, l mean-deep into
that prospect hole. The timberings
are rOtteG and the whole top of the
working ready to cave in. When your
body hits 1t there will be an avalanche
with Mr.. Former-Sheriff Cullson at
the bottom of II. You'll be buried
without any funeral expenses, and !
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 II
he felt 1t would be safe.
80 you see I'm right; you'd better
pray your friends won't find you.
They can't reach here without being
heard. If they get-t 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 impasslve face. Interesting
If true. And where will you be when
my friends arrive? l reckon II won't
be a pleasant meeting for Mr.. Black
we'll"
an be headed for Mexico. l tell
you because you amt liable to go
around spreading the news. There's
q horse saddled in the dip back of the
hill crest. Get itr
From far below there came through
the open window the faint click of a
horses hoOfs ringing against the
Swiftly Blackwell moved to the door,
taking down a rifle from its rack as
he did so. Cullison rose noiselessly in
his chair. If II came to the worst he
meant to shout aloud his presence and
close with this fellow. Hampered as
he was by the table, the man would
get him without question But If he
could only sink his fingers into that
hairy throat while there was still life
in him he could promise that the Mex
ican trip would never take place.
Blackwell, from his place by the
door, could keep an eye both on his
prisoner and on point Of the trail
far below where horsemen must pass
TO reach the cabin.
A rider came into sight and entered
the mouth of the canyon. He was
waving q white handkerchief. The
man In the doorway answered the sig
nal.
mot your friends this time, MIR.
Sheriff." Blackwell jeered.
II get stay of execution, do IT.
The cool drawllng voice Of the cattle.
man showed nothing Of the tense feel
ing within.
He resumed his seat and the reading
of the newspaper. Presently, TO thC
man that came over the threshold ht
spoke with a casual nod.
Morning, Cass."
Fendrick mumbled surly answer
The manner OF ironical comradeshiI
his captive chose to employ was NOR,
than an annoyance. To serve his end
II was necessary to put the fear o
death into this mans heart, which wa
thing he had found impossible to dc
The logic of circumstances was drlv
ing the sheepman into corner. H
had on impulse made the owner of tn
Circle Q his prisoner. Seeing him II
there unconscious on the floor OF tn
Jack of Hearts, 1t had come to hiI
In a flash that he might hold him an
force a relinquishment Of the Del Or
claim. His disappearance would el
plain itself II the rumor spread tha
he was the w. & S. express robbie
the ruin of his business, but alread
he had regretted 1t fifty times. Threat
could not move Luck In the least. II
was as hard as iron.
SO the sheepman found himself b.
tween the upper and the neither mil
stones. he could not drive his prl
Oner to terms and he dared not releaE
him. For II CullisOn went away III
pledged he would surely send him I
the penItentiary. Nor could he hol
him prisoner indefinitely. He ha
seen the personal" warning in bot
the morning and the afternoon paper
He guessed that the presence of Il
ranger, Bucky O'ConnOr, In Saguact
was not chance. The law was clio
Ing IN on him. Somehow CullIson mui
be made TO come through with a r
IinqulshmeDt and pledge not
prosecute. The only other way OF
would be to let Blackwell wreak h