The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-24

lips as he wound up his reel and stole
swiftly along cattle-track up from
the river, but a sudden light cleaned |
In his eyes and his muscles hardened
with excited tension. He knew the
shanty TO which Gardiner referred, as
they had once been there together
and he resolved that II there were go
ing To be any "doings" in that locali-
~ tonight he would furnish share of
the excitement. Unfortunately, the
ford was on cross-road little used.
and it was two miles back to the
ranch. By the time Travers reached
the ranch buildings, caught and sad !
died his horse made a frultless search
for his revolver, substituted rifle
which lay at hand and ut length
found himself upon thestrail, darkness
was setting in. and Gardiner and Rifles
had many miles start of him.
When the two plotters stopped TO let
their horses drink at the ford Gardiner
suddenly broke Off from their CONVEX
satiOn 10 make Il few remarks about
Travers and Harris. Rlles had lis
tened indifferently until his eye caught
sight of Travers. half concealed
among the cOtton-woods that fringed
the stream. He clutched Gardeners
arm.
"S-s-sh," he cautioned. "Jim's just
behind the bank. I'm sure / saw him,
an he heard you, too"
Good" said Gardiner, quite undis-
turbed. "Now we can 90 on" They
reined up their horses and plunged into
the swifty-running water. You see"
said Gardiner, as the horses took the
opposite bank with great strides. their
wet hoofs slipping on the round houi-
ders that fringod the stream--"Nou
see, | knew jim was there all the time.
| Those remarks were intended for his
! benefit.
ITS all quite simple. Jim VIII hurry
back to the ranch, saddle his horse,
and follow us. by the way, ! didn't
tell him borrowed his revolver. That
may delay him some. But he Sould
arrive mt the shack i'm time 10 be TAX
ing few stealthy observations just
about the moment the Harriscs are
hunting for their money bag, | hope
Allan doesn't use that shotgun on him.
4 shotgun makes an awful hole in a
man, Rnes."
Rifles experienced an uncanny feel
ing up his spine.
well" continued Gardiner, 81 prom
Used to lay the whole plan before you,
when we were safe on the road with
no possibility of any strange ears
cooked for what man might happen
to say. It's all easy sailing now. The
big thing was to get them on the road
with the coin. That's what | needed
YOU for. Rifles. And you didn't do too
bad had 10 prod you along bit but
youn thank me for ii when it's all
over.
''Now this Is how II will work out
to a 4. The two Harrises will get NJ
TO the shanty about dark. They'll pitch
camp there and begin to wonder when
we'll be along. Well, we won't be
along until it's good and dark, even II
we have to kill time on the road. II
Trayers catches up on us we'll just lei
him make one of the party. which VII
be sort of embarrassing for jim. Blu
he won't catch up. Well. when lt'
good and dark-there'n be no moon til
after midnight-and they're botl
sleepy with their long drivejh the higl
altitude. we will arrive near by. Yo'
will 30 up 10 the door and take a lool
on the quiet. ! will go up to the win
dow and do the same. There's m
glass in the window. and there's m
door on. either. as | remember. WEI
size up things inside, particularly tn
location of the coin. Then you shoN
Yourself. Tell 'em I have the owner
the mine out there in the trees but TN
old fellow won't come in until he ma
, talk with them. Tell EN- they bette
not show the money until they cha
> with him a few minutes. Likely they
fall for that, as they don't seem
have the slightest suspicion. But
they, balk at leaving the money IL
them bring it along. Once out In tn
dark the rest will be easy. But 1 M
y ure they'll leave the money In IN
shack--it's just for few minutes. 20
:. know-and they'll reason that it's sal
: in miles. Well. you lead them
down through the bush. As soon
q you do that I'll slip In through u
n window. gather up the long green an
d cache It somewhere in the scrub. fo
" won't be able to find me at first, b'
n when you do I'll say that the old re
q low wanted 10 go up to the shack hir
h self to meet them, and let him e
IS Then well all 60 back to the shac
q and find both the money and the
% man-the mine owner, you know
d missing. Then Wen start hue nj
I. cry and all hit into the bush. You al
will gather up the spoil and make
Is quiet getaway for the night. or cours
r Wen have to turn up In the mornii
le to avert suspicion, but we can tell the
le we got on the robbers trail and II
u lowed Il until we lost ourselves In q
lie bush. In the meantime the Harris
will be tearing around in great excii