, 1921-12-23

brought IA a dsmi3ohn from the wood
pile and poured cut throo coffee cup.
OF thu cold amber fluid that their tired
systems cr1ved- This was later wash,
ed down with hot coffee that Pete
tho leader, prepared by melting snow
that had drtftet convcnientiy under
Tho door Then Badman number three
wrestied with a frozen haunch of
meat and melted ID a skillet fun OF
hrd. while Pete and partner Bnt
etnpued h three sacks and eagerly
assorted their contents. There were
bulky bundles Of g~reenbacks and LID
e-ty bonds. neal little rolls of gold
and silver coin-all a man could con-
~veninntly pack behind a saddle. There
WIS a red-str1ped mail pouch Of tough
canvass. with combination lock; and
this looked foolish and futile. as Pete
remarked. after he had siashed
through the canvass with q heavy
hunting knife Registered letters in
neat packages. and q few items of
jcweiry were tumbled forth upon the
rough table. and the letters were
rified and their contents assorted and
classified There were some large
bank drafts upon which Pete looked
obviously. remarkdng that this paper
would require careful and rapid handl-
ing In order Il realize anything on
a falling market.
We viii give Slim these perfectly
good securities" re remarked focui-
arly. He has had business expert
ence and viii know how to peddie
them. You and me better taks 4 G
raah unr.ta 49,. Gill; -. -n~a -
the cook. ION tho New York Stock
growers Bank for ten thousand dol
lars. Wen give you this and a couple
more for your shSre."
you'll play Heir sourly responded
the crusty Slim as he shielded his face
from the sputtering fat.
This absorbing game OF finance. I'm
terspersed by hot portions or liqror
and hearty rations OF food. continue
far into the night without arriving at
a satisfactory division OF the treasure
which was ut last tumbied back into
h sacks to await the morning.
Three weary bandits ut last sought
tho comfort OF the hunks ready n,
hand; and with feelings OF oxuitation
rather than guilt. they were soon
snoring as soundiy as Big Mac Nc
Gregor. the cattieman, and Old Bene
dict were snoring at tho Seventeen
Mile Ranch twenty miles away.
The grey morning dawned and the
bandits continued TO siumber heavily
whilo Big Mac. who had breakfastet
by iamplight was hitting the TRAIN 10
Saddle Rock. praying that the old
mares had survived the storb. The
roads- were heavy with drifted snow
and there was no one abroad. Mac
soon had to leave the Salt Creek trail
and take TO thc open plains towards
Saddle Rock. which is n part OF the
rimrock across the Irish Park. A
spiteful gale OF wind had started the
snow to crawling through the sage
brush like frozen vnpor. II stung the
face and froze upon the breasts and
shoulders of the struggling horses.
The wagon tracks were ohliterated
nearly as fast as made. and the wheels
creaked n mournful dirge.
Mac paused in the shelter OF a butte
to light q pipe. and he noticed horse
tracks in the sand where the snow
had blown clear. Instinctively he ex-
amined Them and saw also mems boot
tracks-several riders had disrnounted
here.
Funny" he unused, some fool
hunters. I reckon" Upon an exposed
slab of sandstone were the teltale
scratches that TO the plainsman's ex-