The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-07-01
CHAPTER XIX-Continued

They shifted uneaslly in front O
him. well, there's ben some grum
bin about that gold, JIM" Short
vouchsafed. THE boys kinder seen
to think you amt plannin' to play fail
with 'em. They've put Kramer OF
guard to watch the motor-boat In case
you might be amin to git away with
her"
whats that?" snarled Railway.
He sprang to his feet. From the
door Of the hut he could discern a
shadowy figure near the parapet For
an instant he was about to rush at II
In his rage. But then his cunning
came to his aid. He turned back into
the hut.
Whats their game-and yours?"
Shorty hesitated. "Well, va see
Jim, me and Pierre's allus stood by
va, and we kinder thought we'd let va
know the boys has been talkin' things
over among themselves"
Railway smiled sourly. He knew
the pair OF them would not have hest
tated to side with the mutineers If
they had thought there was any chance
Of outwitting him. Pierre and Shorty
knew Railways vigilance, his infinite
resource.
spill til"
"Well, Jim, ] guess they're gettin
ready to rush you, now you've put out
your light They're aiming to tie you
up and git away with the gold In the
motor boat"
IN fn |
hurt me?" Railway snickered, and the
pair shuffled their feet uncomfortable
He laughed. And his plans to meet
this situation leaped into his mind.
lie must let the men attack and then,
when he had finished with them. he'd
make short work of Pierre and Shorty. |
and Estelle too. His confidence was b
coming back. HN& t
'sThey sent me and Pierre to see II s
you'd gone to sleep here" Il
well, amt" Railway returned. p
laughing again. He knew his non
Guidance at once discounted and 81
bound them to him through fear. "rye
gone to the hut across the neck to saw
good night to the girl, and maybe, II
she presses me, l won't, be hurrying
away. Get thatT he asked, as they
gufrawed self consciously.
You'll go back and tell 'em I'm
gone, Pierre. You got your gun.
Shorty? All right. You and nell
have quiet little session In the
'wamp, waitln' for 'em to come along
he trail one by one-eh, Shortly"
He clapped each one on the shoulder.
There's gold enough In that sack to
make us three mlilonaires, and therell
e d-n sight less sharing" he said
And listen, boys. I've cached 1t, so,
I'm croaked. nobody'll get 1t. See?" \
The men were fools anyway, but
reilly so when their cupidlty was
reused. Railway imagined the greed
'aping into their eyes, and laughed.
e was reckless now. The hooch devil
)de him at last. And in his minds
ie he saw the picture.
And, what holocaust for .Iovce
one could prove anything either,
en- II they caught him. And the
dies Of Lee and Pelly would never
found. There was Estelle, Of course,
I whatever. happened, she would
yer give him away. ~
Curfously, Estelle. who had doomed
prominently as his chief difficulty,
" assumed an insignificant part In
problem. He didn't even consider 'ne
at disposition he was going to make 10
her. en-
You get back, Pierre, and say you and
me going over to the neck" he neck
l. And hold 'em twenty minutes" abou
ierre departed. Railway and "r
rty went softly out Of the hut the ,
ing the pines. Railway felt sure ruft,o
ugh of his companion to walk In va 8
: nun. your
NY "earu the voices or the men And
IT the fire rise into loud declama- wbat
as Pierre returned; then the | can
IDS were cut or as they turned Or,
VIC saeA through the morass. a he
'"e s'aoies came INTO sight SCENE
e the reeds, and the hut beyond. of mr.
a light In 1t. soaa
lthway could see the sllhouetted ord /.
"e '"o women joyce In a ing hi
; motionless. and Estelle upon the sort n
beside her. He swore through his Rut
as he watched them. ona
guess this place viii do" he said Ratbw
lorty. -
ey squatted among the reeds, nm an
pss ~ .neir nands- II had Then,
showing Internationally through aung
light, and 1t was an eerle watch. down
Tor the unimaglnative, In the II W.
cold and blackness. The night anneo :
rustled the dead stalks OF the Ratbw,
the muskeg, more treacherous Tho Of,
he surface Ice that concealed mai,ed
ould never bind 1t, stirred and were 9,
imperceptIbly. like a vast sen. davad
the neck Of land the flames Of were n
amp fire fiickered against the none q,
them.
feniy, after what seemed like loo g
rnity Of time, Shorty whispered Ratbwo
- - a'""ays ear, pulled at They
eeye Of his mackinaw, and rs thew
: With Of
where they Iurlseu they couli same III
urpS moving against tho hool1 ,