Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-10-18


lifting Miss Herrick off her horse and
half carrying her off toward the
rustling cottonwoods. Jim, making
pretense of leading his horse, followed
until Hays stopped at the border OF
what appeared a round grove OF cot
tonwoods impenetrable to the sight.
"Oh, for G-d's sake-let go of meF
gasped the girl, and sank down on the
grass.
"You may as well get used to thet,"
replied Hays, In a low voice. do you
want anythin' to eat7"
"Water-only water. I'm-chokins."
"Tll fetch some, an a bed fer you
Little did Hays realize. as he strobe
back to the horses that Jim stood there
N the gloom, a clutching hand on his
gun and mad lust for blood In his
heart. Jim knew he meant to kill
Hays. Why not now7 But as before
he had the sagacity and the will TO
resist a terrible craving.
With nerveless hands he unpacked
AZ outHI AhcH nc Bat uoUh "poh
his bed roll, exhausted, and gazed
around him. The place fascinated. An
owl hooted down somewhere In the
canyon, and far away a wolf bayed
bloodthirstily.
Soon a crackle Of fire tnrned Jim
to see a growing light, and dark forms
OF men. Jim waited until he saw Hays
go to the camp fire, and then he, too,
Joined the men.
what kind of a roost Is 1t, Hank1
Anythin' like the Dragon canyon7"
mo. | seen that place once. It's a
cave high up-forty feet mebbe, from
the canyon bed. Only one outlet to
tibet burrow, an thets by the same
way you come. This roost has four.
We could never be ketched In a hun
dred years."
Hank, how'd the lady stand the
rider"
"She's all IN"
Gosh, no wonder. Tibet was a job
fer men,"
Reckon I'll put up the little tent
fer my lady guest"
Hank, how air you goin' to collect
tibet ransom nowY inquired Lincoln.
i dunno. Heeseman shore spoiled
my plan"
Jim watched the robber chief min
lister to the wounded Latimer. While
he was bandaging the wound Jim stole
away In the darkness toward where
the chief had left his prisoner.
1t raj dark as pitch toward the
grove Of qcottonwoods, but Jim located
gray objects against the black grass.
He stole closer.
Where are you, Miss Herrick?" he
called In a tense whisper: TITS Jim
WALL
He heard a sound made by boots
scraping on canvas. Peering sharply
he finally located her sitting up on q
half-unrolled bed, and he dropped on
n knee. Her eyes appeared unnat-
urally large and black In her white
face.
"Oh, you must be careful. He said
he'd shoot any mar who came near
me-" she whispered.
HE would-if he could. But he'll
never kill me. Miss Herrick," jim
whispered back. Il want to tell yon
I'll get you out Of this some way OF
other. Keep up your courage. Fight
him-if-"
II felt you'd-save me-" she inter
rupted, her soft voice breaking. "Oh
If | had only listened to you'll But
wasn't afraid. | left both my door
and windows open. That's how they
got In. I ordered them out. But he
made that Sparrow man point a CUR
at me. He jerked me out Of bed
stunned. Then he ordered me to dress
TO ride"
Keep your nerve" %interposed Jim
with a backward glance toward the
camp fire. But I'll not deceive you
Hank Hays is capable OF anything
His men are loyal. Except me. Tn
with them. though / don't belong te
the outfit. / could kill him any time
but I'd have to fight the rest The
odds are too great. I'd never save yor
that way. You must help me play fol-
time-till opportunity offers"
Il trust you'll do as you say. . .
oh, thank you"
"You said he robbed your" went or
Jim, with another look back at camp
Hays was standing erect.
"Yes. | had four thousand pounds
In American currency. The Sparrow
hawk man found it-alse- my jewelry
... Another thing which worries
me now-he made me pack a bundle Of
clothes, my toilet articles"
"Ahuh. But where was Herrick all
this while?"
"They said they had tied him up In
the living ROOM
"How much money did Herrick have
on hand?"
II don't know, but considerable"
ut is a good bet he robbed your
brother, too. That's make this ran
som deal look nshy, ever II there were
nothing else"
"Therel He Is coming. Go-go
You are my only hope"
Without a look Jim rose to glide
away along the grove. He realized