The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-22

the paddock. His ejaculation was due
to most incredible discovery. Some
one had forgotten to take the key out
of the paddock He laughed shrilly,
witlessly. Twenty seconds later he
was out in the little anteroom or vesti-
bule, painting and still chortling. The
outer door opened readily to the lift
ing of the latch. He peeped out eau
tiously, warily. The square was de-
serted save for few men hurrying
along the street toward the drill
where the drum and fife were playing
and men were shouting loudly.
Thereupon Martin Hawk did the in
comprehensive thing. He squared his
brawny shoulders, set his hat rakishly
over one ear, and sauntered out of the
jail, calmly stopping to latch the door
and even to rattle it to make sure 1t
had caught!
He was far too cunning to dart
around the corner and bolt for safety.
That would have been the worst kind
Of folly. Instead. he strobe briskly Off
In the direction from whence came the
strains Of martial musicl So much
for the benefit of watchful, suspicious
eyes. But as he turned the corner of
Bakers store his whole demeanor
changed. He was off like frightened
rabbit. and as soft-footedly. Three
men stepped out from behind a wagon
on the far side of the square. The
flare Of n bonfire reached dimly to
the corner around which the fugitive
had scurried. One of the men gave
vent to subdued snort, and then spat
hurriedly and copiously.
"We1l never see hide nor hair of
him again." quoth he. He won't stop
running till daybreak. I guess you'd
better wait about ten minutes, Jake,
and then fire few shots. That'n put
new life into him. Course, lot of
blamed fools will cuss the daylights
out Of me for letting him get away
right under my nose. and all that, but
let 'em talk. He's gone for good, and
lucky to get rid Of him SO cheaply."
Il guess you're right, sheriff."
agreed one Of his companions. From
all hear, Mrs. Gwyn would have a
hard time provin' 1t was him as stole
her"
"Supposin' she did prove it, what
them" broke In the high sheriff of the
bailiwick. "The county would have
to feed him for couple Of months or
so and then turn him loose again to
go right back to stealing. same as be-
fore. The best way to punish thief,
accordin' to my notion, is to keep him
everlastingly on the jump, scared to
death to show his face anywheres and
always hatin' to go to sleep for fear
he'll wake up and find somebody
polntin' a pistol at him and sayin',
Well, got you at last, dank ye.' Be-
sides, lockin' Mart up isn't going to
bring back Mrs. Gwyns sheep, is itf'
when that gal of his tells her story
In court tomorrow" advanced the
third member of the group, "there1l
be plenty of people in this town that
won't be put off a second time by any
fife and drum shinanlgan."
Anyhow" said the sheriff, Il didn't
want to have the blamed skunk on
my mind while we're organizin' the
company. It's bad enough havin' to
go out and fight Indians without wor-
ryin' all the time I'm away about
whether anybody back here has had
sense enough to keep Martin from
starvin' to death. guess we'd better
mosey along up to the drill ground.
boys. Martins got into the bushes by
this time. and If I'm any kind Of a
guesser he amt dawdlin' along smell
lin every spring flower he comes
across"