The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-10-15

ana the Other was to 90 on duty nom
midnight until dawn. The second
watch. with which was the factions
leader. had a nightcap Of the vitriolic
whisky. flung Itself sprawling on the
ground and straishtway went to Sleep
The nrst watch sat around the
cracking brushwood hrs and played
cards for chews Of tobacco, cartridges
and pocket knives, sang strange and
outlandish songs and drank more
whisky. One very drunk Torrey gam
bled away all his tobacco. all his cart
ridges. his knife, his rife and his belt,
his coat and his hat, his booth and his
shirt-and offered to bet his trousers
and his ears on the turn Of . single
card! 1t was funny. and 1t was dis.
gushing, too. It was all the work OF
whisky. which Bill Dale had always
hated because 1t made men fools, made
them mouth their secrets and made
them commit murder .Is-51 dH
After some two hours Of these worse
than bacchanalian orgies the first
watch, heavy with drink, stopped play
ing cards and singing outlandish
songs. forgot all orders and began to
nod. Then 1t was that Dale thought
Of the man who had been his faithful
guardian for many days, the lanky
BY Heck. Why hadn't he thought of
Heck before? He wondered If Heck
had followed him to the trap. II Heck
gone for help.
BY Heck had not followed Bill Dale
to the little basin. But he had fol-
lowed Henderson Goff, and Henderson
Goff had followed Dale to the little
basin. Goff had returned to the Big
Pine Mountain country only that day
and he knew nothing Of the plans Of
the Ball-Torrey faction until he wit.
messed the mockery of a trial. Con
was now crOuchlng In the darkness on
the low line of cliffs to the eastward
from the walnut tree; and not far
behind him, well hidden in the black
laurels. watching him and watching
Bill Dale, crouched By Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gone for
help. because he feared to leave Dale
utterly unprotected In the hands Of
the gang Of cutthroats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself.
When the first watch became a little
more drowsy, he would steal up be-
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
Then he realized that Con had dis
appeared entirely. He crept forward
dlently, his eyes alert, and a moment
later he saw Gon stealing toward the
walnut tree. He climbed nOiselessly
down over the face Of the cliff and
followed Goff like a shadow. When
Goff's hands touched the tree, BY Heck
was within ten feet of 1t. Heck made
sure bis rife was ready and took an
ether step forward, watching. listen
ing.
The shyster coal man leaned around
the tree to the left. In the glow Of
the low-burned fire the blade Of
small knife in his hand cleaned dull
red. He whispered cautiously:
you're In a tx, Dale. And it's
none of my doing, either. Give me
your word that I'll get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll slash
the rope. How about 1t? Sick Of
this country, aren't your" 1.1
There came few seconds of silence
save for the lusty snoring of the sleep
ers and the musical tinkle of the little
creek, after which Gor muttered dis
appointedly:
well, then. hang"
And Heck knew that Dale had re-
fused to sell the MoreIand coal for a
song even to save his life. As Goff
stepped backward, the muzzle Of the
tall hIllman's rife went against the
small Of his back. and the tall hillman
whispered hoarsely. through teeth
tightly clenched:
"Slash at rope, d-n yofe soul
Slash mt rope, or I wisht I may drap
dead Of don't shoot yore backbone
Into four thousand pieces. igod Slash
III"
Cor Strengthened in surprise. The
rifles muzzle went harder against his
back and he knew 1t for exactly what
1t was. He moved q hand upward,
then downward and the cotton rope
vas severed In half a dozen places.
"Stiddy thar. now!" whispered BY
Heck, and he began to back away.
Come along WI me, ye dadslatted,
banjer-bellied skunk. Bill he'll foiler."
The three of them hurried into the
deeper shadows. Soon Heck halted
Gof and turned to Dale.
"S'arch him TO a gun, Bill, old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Goffs
right-hand coat-pocket 4 blued and
utub-nosed magazine pistol.
Dang my eyes and blast my for
rard!" Heck exclaimed in . muffied
voice. Hes plumb death on them
little pOpguns. amt he! Say, Goh,
ef ever ye shoots me with q thing like
that and find 1t out, DANCED Fl don't
spank ye ontel yore nose bloods: Now,
les 20, you'uns. And eff ye Jest cheep
out a noise, Mister Golf. the buzzards
will nick the meat often yOre bones