Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-08-21

where few white men have ever been.
They could hunt a year with an army
and not find us. You and Webb will
clear out, riding for the railroad and
then streaking out to the coast and
meeting us later, or you can stay with
| the bullion in the hills and light out
after every one thinks you've skipped
Roach, the chief and / will be masked
and will come back hefe. Talk with
the agent and I'll explain later"
Dinsdale's face darkened.
you're all right, Joe. But don't
know your chief, the man you call
Number One I'll stick by the dust till
get my share of it.
| "Glad to have you do that" readily
agreed San Juan. Horseshoe knows
us and he prefers to ride for 1t and get
his later. We plan to work together
and do more work. We want you with
us. You'll make good one to guard
the stuff. But it'll be lonesome work,
as we won't dare quit town for a
month or six weeks"
"T never get lonesome when I have
quarter of a million for company" said
Dinsdale, with grim smile. "And
amt doubling your chief any. Your
word goes for him as well as for your
self But always do banker to keep
close to my earnings. You're planning
to stay here and sell out sort of natu-
raj, huh?'
''The selling out is already planned
I've been talking 1t for some time.
Folks will think I'm off for South AT
RIGA with Kitty. She thinks I'm going
with her. had intended to. But I'm
through with her."
II thought you were helplessly in
love with her."
Il am" groaned San Juan. "And
that's why I'll not go to South Africa
with her. She doesn't care for me ex-
cept to have me stand by and scare
off folks who bother her. No more
watchdog work for mine. I've had
enough"
/ Dinsdale and Amos Roberts, the cap
tain Of the guard, rode in advance OF
the treasure-coach. Throughout the
hills and at the various ranches, or sta
tons, relays of horses had been wait
ing for month. Horseshoe Webb. sit
! ting his horse awkwardly, was one OF
/ the eight men galloping along beside
the coach. A few hundred feet In the
rear came two more guards.
All the men carried their rifles ready
for instant service, although no at
: | 10 ~, - - ~ ovn00f-
ed. Good time was made over the
corduroy road, and none Of the twelve
men observed anything to arouse sus-
picion. Ten of the guards had made
/ the trip several times and scoffed at
| the idea Of road-agents daring to try
for the gold. The holding up of one
consignment and the theft Of twenty
| five thousand dollars only proved 1t
was foolish to send out treasure under
guard of two men.
/ Roberts admired Dinsdale immense
ly because of his exploits among the
Ogalala. Credit for the escape from
Slim Butte was given almost entirely
to him despite his insistence that Scis-
sors deserved all the praise. Dead
wood City could imagine the picture
man in only one role, harmless and
very clever peddler Of paper pictures.
So Dinsdale's vehement disclaimers
were accepted as the workings Of mod
esty.
Roberts elected to ride with the new
man and he kept his tongue wagging
necessarily. Dinsdale listened, shrewd-
" appraising the man and concluding
that the fellow would know no fear in
an emergency, but would be easily de-
ceived. Among other gossipy things
Roberts said there would have been
thirteen guards If one of the regulars
hadn't been intoxicated when it came
to pull out from the gulch.
"And thirteen is unlucky. I'm NOR
ia. glad he quit. Not enough agents
in the hills to hold up this outfit" he
boosted.
81 should say not. Guarding
coach is soft money. Injuns may give
us some fun, but the agents will think
twice." replied Dinsdale.
At Rapid City fresh horses were
ready. The coming of the coach caused
but little interest. 1t carried much
wealth, securely guarded. The agents
wanted none of that game. But the
/ town was most anxious to learn the
latest Indian news, as extravagant
stories Of danger had been relayed by
volunteer and irresponsible messen-
gers. The guards were eagerly ques-
toned. Was Crazy Horse camping on
the Belle Fourche? Had Sitting Bull
! cut off the Bismark and Fort Pierre
trails with a force of six thousand
braves? Was there any truth in the
report that the bulk of Crooks COM
mand had suffered the fate Of Clusters
. five companies? On receiving reassur-
ing answers some persisted in believ-
ing the sending out of the gold evil
denced fear of an early attack. One
man bitterly complained:
they'll take out the dust under
guard, but they don't fix 1t so the
women and children will be safe.
Colds more precious than human
life."
'We've got to be in Sidney in fifty
hours. So long" shouted the driver
as the last trace was secured; and the
long whip cracked over the leaders
and the coach plunged ahead.
With the Spring creek crossing
ahead the rear guard rode In closer.
Horse-thieves were reputed to have
/ So hoy