Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-08-05

With q yell Of pain Gardiner sprang
o his feet, jerking the farmer into a
ialf-sittlng posture as he did so. and
Harris, with great gasp for air, re-
inquished his sudden and unexpected
advantage. But GARDENERS head was
igain In command he rushed through
he door, half falling over the obstruc-
ion as he went, and In an instant was
ost In the gloom Of the night.
For some minutes Harris lay on the
ioor, recovering his breath AS the
,xygen welled back into his lungs he
began to realize that, save for his
choking, he was unhurt. With return
ng strength his thought reverted to
Allan and, calling the boys name, he
;prang to his feet. The first thing was
o get light. He found matches in
lis pocket. struck one, and peered ca
yerly into the gloom as Its pickering
lame beat back the darkness. blan-
ret, rolled and stained, lay in the door
way, and within was figure that
night once have been man. Harris
Ieart almost stopped at the sight All
an" he gasped "my boy, Allan" He
Iptoed across the crumbling floor to-
ward 1t, holding the match before him.
mans boot and part Of a trouser leg
,rotruded from the mass. He held the
match downward. leaning over them.
they were not Allan's.
"Thank God" he murmured, swell
ng with great hope, "thank God for
hat"
He struck another match and found
he lantern When he had lighted 1t
le surveyed the little building. and
Jaw Allan's gun lying at the end far
hest from the door. Not until that
moment did he think of the money.
Allan had been uppermost in his mind,
md when he thought Of Allan money
vas no consideration. But now n great
wave Of understanding rushed in upon
aim. Yes, the bag was gone. They
lad 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
Joy 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
hem empty-handed. They had fred at
lin as he rushed from the building
hat was the fash he saw few sec
,nds 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 1t plainly enough. He be-
gan to wonder what had happened to
Gardiner and Rifles. Had they been
shot down as they wound through the
wOods2 This was evidently the work
,f a gang prepared to stop at nothing.
Harris never for a moment suspected
ais old neighbor of treachery. He was
himself hard, grasping, money seek
ing man, but he had code of honor
aone the less, and within its limita-
ions none was more honorable than
ne. To have done what Rifles had done
would have been quite impossible Tor
John Harris. and because It was Inn
possible for him its possibility for
Riles never suggested itself.
Harris had not yet fully realized the
oss Of his money. II was overshad-
pwed by the more tragic events of
which one evidence lay before him.
Sis anxiety for Allan doomed larger
n his mind, although he had little
toubt the boy would take proper care
IF himself, and. even If unarmed.
would come back with the money and
perhaps with prisoner. The fuct
hat Allan had not taken his gun was
reassuring; II there had been any
great danger he would not have left II
behind. But he must get out now and
nd In the search
AS he reached this decision his eve
aught CLEAN of something shining
IN the floor. He walked to 1t and
'ound revolver. fully loaded except
'or one chamber, which had been dis
'harged. "This is evidence" said he
important evidence" Harris had
Ill the Old Ontario contempt for this
Kind of weapon, and knew compare,
lively little about il, but he concluded
rom its appearance that 1t was al
most new. As he examined 1t his eye
Tell on the initials. ~. r." cut In the
grip.
~. t." he said to himself. -. I.
Those initials seem familiar. I'll just
cave this thing where found It. I'M
Ill the police see it,
Replacing the weapon on the floor.
ne stole out the cabin. avoiding the
silent obstruction In the doorway. Out
;ide he stood for moment undecided.
The circle of light from his lantern
night beacon Allan hack to the shan
", but 1t would also prove signal to
he robbers. II they were still In the vi.
Unity. The roar of water came up
rom the valleys, but above or through
hat roar suddenly he fancied he heard
4 sound from the bushes near at hand.
He held his breath and listened in
emily Yes, there it was again--a hui
nan sound. beyond question. half
yroan, half gurgle. He turned in the
direction from which 1t came and stole
luietly forward. Half-a-dozen yards
rom the building the light revealed.
irst shadow. and then figure lying