New Britain herald., 1925-01-06
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Joan" presumably the daughter of Buck Daniels, an old recluse, also helps Gloster In his escape, show ing him the way to safety. Haines, struck down by a bullet. tells Joan before he dies that she is not the daughter of Buck Daniels, but of Dan Barry, a fearless rider of the old plains. Now Gloster continues his flight from a pursuing posse. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 He was plainly enough visible. The arroyo was not wide. and the stars were deadly bright. He could only hope that, by drawing the brim of his sombrero over his face, and 'fattening himself against the wall, he would not be seen as the front of the posse rolled by.
 They came now, with three or four eager riders rushing in the lead and riding all the harder as they heard the beat of hoofs from their quarry so short distance be. fore them. These were no short winded sprinters, overburdened by riders of unusual weight. They rode like averaging whirlwinds.
 On they pushed, and then raised yell, for down the canon ahead of them the noise of the gelding's gallop had fallen away to a trot,
 Scatter, boys." yelled the com manding voice of Sheriff Sim Har- gess. That devil is slowin' up to fight, Shoot Straight when you see | him"
 His voice was plotted out by the roar of hoofs as the main body of the posse rode past. In a few more seconds they would find that he was not with the gelding; then a brief search as they scattered in all directions, and finally he must be taken back to prison, trussed up like calf.
 There were forty men in that group, and in the rear came two or three stragglers. One, 1t appeared, had fallen behind beca use some thing had gone wrong with his cinchcs. At any rate, he was now overtaking the main body hand over hand,
 With secret pang Gloster saw the wide shoulders of that horse working. With such a mount to carry him"
 He leaped from his place with a shout. The racing horse, seeing this sudden apparition, snorted and, throwing back it's weight, tried 10 swerve away. That was the moment that Gloster chose for leaping. In spite of its efforts to stop, the horse was dashing away at a smart pace. and the double impact of the speed of the horse and Gloster's leap was all transferred to the luckless> rider.
 He was smitten from his place as clcanly as any champion In the olden days picked an enemy out of the saddle in the lists and sent him crashing to the ground.
 Down he went, and into his place in the saddle slipped Harry Clos ter.
 Gloster saw a narrow cattle path going up the side of the arroyo. Up this he went. The posse stormed after him. They were far too tmpa- tisnt 10 go up the path one by one; so they crashed Up the steep bank with plying spurs and many oaths. There were three falls and a thou sand curses, but in a few seconds all were over the edge and headed into the plain beyond.
 Nevertheless, they had taken more out of their horses in that brief group of seconds than in q mile of hard running. The handi- cap might balance the weight Of ! Gloster in the saddle.
 So. as last, he hoped. And after the next furious half mile, in which he barely managed to hold them even, his hopes increased. Some of them were using their guns, pump ing shot after shot. in his direction. For his own part, he was jockey ing his horse with the utmost care, swaying with every stride, leaning to cut the pressure of the wind. Yet all this would not do. They began to gain again. The firing stopped There was a period of fierce and silent riding. and then he saw that they were creeping up steadily on either flank.
 Desperately he looked about him. Had he a gun, he might have driven them back to arms length and given chance for some sort of maneuvering. But now all he could do was to use up the last strength of the mustang in a final burst.
 Where should he direct his flight East of him the ground fell away and the down slope was one of temptation. Going down hill his weight would not tell so much against the laboring horse that car ried him. And in the hollow there was long line Of trees. "lilo"s' no doubt, were most of them, but they could give him shelter,s and ii he could gain that screen they would hunt him cautiously.
 He fattened himself along the neck of his mount, drove home the spurs, and felt the gallant mustang pour out the strength of his heart in the final effort. Down the hili they raced, drawing away from. the clustered men Of the posse at every jump. A bullet sung at his ear, fol- lowed by the crack of the report And then the trees were before him with the rush of the hard riders just behind. They passed the screen of the first trees. The others entered with a roar.
 He kicked his feet out Of ooth stirrups. halted the horse on braced and sliding hoofs. true COW pony fashion. and then swung himself up cp,o an oyerhanging branch. A