The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-25
Chapter 40
Dash For Freedon

a S TED rode out of Clear Water
"A with Zeke Farley and his
posse Of four men grouped before
and behind him, his eyes scanned
the outskirts of the town.
His weeks enforced rest had
done him world of good, in spite
of the mental strain he had been
under, and he felt like different
man from the weak and nearly
fainting person who had come into
town by this same route such a
relatively short time before.
What are those old buildings
down there?" He turned to Joe,
who was just behind him, and
nodded toward the north end of
town with an air of idle curiosity.
Just a bunch of old shacks,"
Joe answered. First off, it looked
like the town was going to spread
that way. Then, the railroad come
a mile farther south than they'd
reckoned, and left that end fat.
Cleaned Ran Simpkins and a cou-
pie of others out complete, and
their places have been deserted
ever since"
They're not much to look at"
Ted observed carelessly, cleverly
disgusting the excitement that
coursed through him at the
thought of Kay being concealed
somewhere in those ruined shacks.
The time for break was not yet,
and Heaven only knew when it
would be. But at least he knew
where to head to look for Kay.
One thing would be in his favor:
II he once made a getaway, the
last place they'd expect him to
make for, would be Clear Water
Basini And while they were
scouting for him in the mountains,
he'd at least have a chance to get
back and free Kay. After that,
il didn't much matter what hap
pened, he thought recklessly, as
they left the confines of the town,
and headed up the trail on the
west side Of the central divide.
A Pretext For Tagging
EOR two hours they had been
\ climbing, and the long purple
shadows thrown by the setting
sun filed the deep canyon that
yawned at their left, as they
rounded the high cliffs on their
right.
So far there had not been the
slightest chance for a break, but
Ted was pinning his hopes on the
more open regions above, just be-
fore they struck the big timber.
For kay's sake, as well as his own,
he could not afford to let his inn
patience lead him to take too reck-
less chances.
To his relief, Zeke Farley had
decreed that they should push on
after dark, until they reached the
more dangerous passes.
Ted's attitude Of alternate weak
irritation and apathy had per-
suaded Zeke Farley, as Ted in
tended it should, that he was
incapable of any desperate or
daring action, and this feeling had
communicated itself to the other
members Of the posse. So when
Ted complained of his cinch being
too loose, causing his saddle to
slip, there was no objection raised |
TO his dismounting to fix It.
BY this time, they had left the !
narrow defile through which they |
had been pushing their way up
ward. and had come out on rock |
ledges that were bordered by
steep slopes scantily wooded with |
scrub spruce and pine. A stream |
Of water. cutting its way down !
from the upper levels, had carved |
out for itself a canyon so feet or |
50 in depth, but fairly narrow at |
the top. Wooded slopes rose again |
on the far side of the canyon.
The thin, exhilarating air of the |
high country sent a thrill Of Ella
ton through Ted. Anticipation of |
daring action at last set his blood |
tingling through his veins and, as |
he bent to his cinch. a heady reck- |
leSsneSs took possession of him.
One by one, the men passed him, |
as he fumbled clumsily with the
leather. AT a bend in the trail, so |
feet or so from him, Zeke Farley, |
who was in the lead, called inn |
patiently, SECT a move on" and
rounded the curve. calling to Joe |
20 wait for Ted.
At this instant, Ted's clumsy
faltering changed TO dynamic ac-
ton. Springing into the saddle. he |
seized his mounts name and |
twisted IL desperately. as he raked |
him with his heels.
ADaring Leap
CNoRTING and terrified. the |
~ horse wheeled and plunged |
down the trail with frantic srecd.