, 1925-01-14
CHAPTER XII-Continued

Hands upl' ordered a sharp voice.
A horseman doomed up in the dark
ness beside the wagon. A second ap-
peared from the brush. Other figures
emerged dimly from the void.
Jack gave his mules the whip and
the heavy wagon plowed into the deep
sand. Before the wheels had made
two revolutions the leaders were
stopped. Other men swarmed up the
side of the wagon, dragged the driver
from his seat, and flung him to the
ground.
Ever though his face was buried in
the san n two men were spread
over his body, the captive was enjoy
fng himself.
This is no way to treat n mans
anatomy-most unladyllke conduct /
ever saw" he protested.
He was sharply advised to shut up.
After the pressure on his neck was
q little relieved. Jack twisted ound
enough to see that his captors We're
all masked.
what is this game. boys-a hold
upt" he asked.
"Yes. A holdup of a %holdup." nm
swered one.
Three of the men busted them.rives
moving the ore sacks from his wagon
to another that had been drl ven out
of the brush. A fourth, whom he
Judged to be Bleyer. was directing
operations. while the fifth menaced
him with a revolver showed against
h small of his back.
sT'U houa tha lam IN SOC, SxiIo,-o ",
he threatened, living up to the situa-
tion. You'd look fine behind the bars,
Bleyer."
A those sacks transferred yet.
Tfm2" barked the superintendent.
yep"
Good. Hit the trail"
The wagon passed cut Of the draw
toward Goldbanks. For some minutes
the sound of the wheels grinding
against the dislntegrated granite of
the rOadbed came back to Jack and
the two guards who remained with
him.
Hope this will be a lesson to you"
said the superintendent presently.
Better take warning. Next time
you'll go to the pen sure"
BET you . new hat that by his
time tomorrow night you fellows won't
be cracking your lips laughing"
Take you. lust order the hat left
at Goldstein's for the man who calls
for It,"
For an hour by the superintendent
watch kIlmeny was held under guard.
Then. after warning the hlghgrader
not to return to town before daybreak,
the two men mounted and rode swiftly
away. Jack was alone with his mules
and his empty wagon.
He restrained himself no longer.
Airth pealed In rich laughter from>h his
throat, doubled him up. shook him I'M
I'll he had to hang onto a wagon wheel
for support. At last he wiped tears
from his eyes. climbed into the wagon.
n continued or the way to the Jack
Pot. At Intervals his whoop of gnyety
rang opt boylshly on the night breeze
Again he whistled cheerfully. He was
In the best OF humor with himself and
the world. For he had played a pretty
good Joke on Bleyer and verinder. one
they would appreciate at Its full with
In . day or two He would have given
q good deal to be present when they
made a certain discovery. Would
hoya smile when yerlnder told her
how the tables had been turned? Or
would she think 1t merely another in
stance of his depravlty?
The road wound up and down over
SCARED hlllsides and through gorges
which cut ,sro the range like sword
-tafta r@r-p ana 90 thn.a 4, ar,. -.
= stiff slcpe toward the Jack Pot. One
hundred and fifty yards from the mine
Jack dew up to give the mules a rest.
His lips framed themselves to
whistle the first bars of a popular song.
but the sound dice stillborn. Sharply
through the clear night air rang II rifle
shot.
Jack did not hear II. A bolt OF
jagged lightning scared through his
brain. The limp hands OF the driver
fell away from the reins n he fell
to the ground. crumpllng ms u dry leaf
thnt Is crushed in the palm.
From the shadow Of the bunk-house
two men stole into the moonlight heav-
lily like awkwa ID beasts OF prey. They
crept steadily forward, rifles In hand.
never once lifting their eyes from the
huddled mass beside the wagon.
The first looked stolldly down upon
the white fnce and kicked he body
with his heavy boot.
by Cd. Dave, us be quits WI Jack
Kilmeny."
The other-it wal Penle. the Cornish
mlner-hnd stepped on a spoke OF the
wheel and pulled himself up so that he
could loot down into the bed OF the
wagon. Flow he broke out with an
oath.
THE wagons empty"
-whats" Trefoyle Strengthened in.
stantly. then ran TO see for himself.
For a IN he could not speak for