The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-05-05


while Harris is asleep. Allan. watching.
shoots and kills an intruder tRilesJ. not
window, sees the shooting and enters the
cabin. seeking the money. In the dark
ness Allan grapples with him and is shot.
staggering out into the open. Harris,
aroused from deep slumber. seizes Gar
diner and in the ensuing struggle bites
his opponents thumb. Eludng him, Gar
diner escapes with the money. Travers
who knows Gardiner and has suspected
1oul play comes to the cabin and is
Grey OF the Royal Northwest Mounted
Police. sent by the banker from whom
they convey Allan to Arthur's ranch,
where. unknown to them. Beulah and her
mother are staying
CHAPTER XI-Continued
With a yell of pain Gardiner sprang
10 his feet. Jerking the farmer into
half-sitting posture as he did so, and
Harris. with Il great gasp for air, re-
linquiShed his sudden and unexpected
advantage. But Gardeners head was
again in command; he rushed through
the door. half falling over the obstruc-
ton as ne went and in an instant was
lost in the gloom of the night.
For some minutes Harris lay ON the
floor. recovering his breath. AS the
oxygen welled hack into his lungs he
began tO realize that, save for his
choking. he NCaS unhurt. With return
Ing strength his thought reverted to
Allan, and. calling the boys name, he
sprang TO his feet. The first thing was
10 get II light He found matches in
his pocket. struck one, and peered ca
gerly into the gloom as its pickering
flame beat back the darkness. \ blan-
ket, rolled and stained, lay in the door
way. and within was Il figure that
might once have been n man. Harris
heart almost stopped at the sight: cal
Ian" he gaSped. my boy, Allan!" He
tiptOcd across the crumbling floor to-
ward il. holding the match before him.
A mans boot ana part Of Il trouSer leg
protruded from the mass. He held the
match downward. leaning over them.
They We're not Allan'S.
THANK God" he murmured. swell
ing with n great hope. "thank God for
that"
He struck another match and found
the lantern. When he had lighted ii
ne surveyed the little building. and
saw Ailan's gun lying AT the end far
thest from the door. Not until that
moment did he think of the money.
Allan had been uppermost in his mind,
and when he thought OF Allan money
was no consideration. But now a great
wave of understanding rushed in .pOn
him. Yes, the bag was gone. They
had been attacked by robbers. KnOwl-
edge of their expedition had in some
way got to evil ears, and while he
slept Allan had been set upon. The
boy had emptied his gun-the huddled
mass in the doorway told that tale
plainly enOugh-but other robbers had
seized the cash and Allan had pursued
them empty-handed. They had fired at
him as he rushed from the building
that was the flash he saw Il few sec
onds after the first loud report. He
was not quite clear as TO his own
share in the fight. but he saw the gen
eral plan of il plainly enough. He be-
gan TO wonder what had happened TO
Gardiner and Rifles. Had they been
shot down as they wound through the
woods? This was evidently the work
of a gang prepared TO stop at nothing
Harris never for moment suspected
his old neighbOr of treachery. He was
himself hard, grasping, money-seek-
none the less, and within it's limita-
tions none was more honorable than
he To have done what Rifles had done
would have been quite impossible for
John Harris, and because il was i'm
possible for him its possibility for
Riles never suggested itself.
Harris had not yet fully realized the
loss of his money. 1t was overShad-
owed by the more tragic events OF
which one evidence lay before him.
His anxiety for Allan doomed larger
In his mind, although he had little
doubt the boy would take proper care
of himself, and. even if unarmed,
would come back with the money and
perhaps with a prisoner. The fact
that Allan had not taken his gun was
reaSsuring; if there had been any
great danger he would not have left it
behind. But he must get out now and
aid in the search.
As he reached this decision his eye
caught CLEAN of something shining
on the floor. He walked TO it and
found revolver, fully loaded except
for one chamber, which had been dis
charged. This is evidence" said he
Important evidence" Harris had
all the Old Ontario contempt for this
kind of weapon, and knew COMPARE
lively little about it, but he concluded
from its appearance that it was al
most new. AS he examined it his eye
fell on the initials, "J. t." cut in the
grip
j. T." he said TO himself. 81. T.
Those initials seem familiar. I'll just
leave this thing where I found il, I'M
til the police see it,
Replacing the weapon on the floor,
he stole out the cabin. avoiding the
silent obstruction in the doorway. Out
side he stood for moment undecided.