The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-05-05

~oA 11S caught OuS Oh
the horses left by the outlaws and
started down the gulch.
Better wait for the orders Of the
old man." Brand advised.
"I'n just ride ahead and keep in
touch with these fellows" Gray
called back.
He passed a laden pack-mule.
Part of the load was silver, he
guessed. The mule had got over its
fright and was picking at the shrub.
berry.
After he was through the boulder
field. he put his mount to a canter,
regardless of the brush which caught
at him as he plowed into the chap.
arral. He was riding the gray geld
ing upon which he had seen Morg
Norris leave town.
Presently he saw in front of him
a man on foot. Sometimes the pan
was running. sometimes walking. In
the space Of three or four minutes
he looked back a dozen times. Fear
of death was riding him hard. AS
Gray drew nearer. the fugitive took
refuge behind a mesquite.
Don't you come any closer" he
warned, his voice quavery with ter
ror.
The man was Lou Howard. Dur
ing his flight he had dropped the
rifle because it interfered with
speed.
Reach for the sky" Gray or
dered. mo funny business or III
drill you through"
A bullet whistled past his head.
He swung from the saddle and
moved forward. In his hand was a
forty-four, ready for action. The rife
he had left beside the horse.
Don't you'll" shrieked Howard.
"You keep back"
Get 'em up" snapped Gray.
Quick"
The hands of Howard went up, the
weapon in one Of them.
Don't kill me-" he begged.
Gray disarmed him.
you'll be safer tied up" the cap
tor said. Keep you from being
killed by one of the boys when they
get to you. Move over this way"
The crook-nosed man took the
rope from the saddle and tied up
Howard swiftly and thoroughly. He
left him lying in an open place on
the trail
A quarter Of a mile farther down
the canyon there ran into a steep
rocky gulch narrow as a Titan's
sword-cleft. Far up this Gray could
see two men and a horse. One Of
the men was riding. the other clam.
bering along the trail after him.
The sun was now out and shining
on them. 1t would be hot work for
a man breasting that stiff slope.
especially if he were in a desperate
hurry. The haste Gray took for
granted, since there were two riders
and only n horse. with vengeance
hard on their heels.
He turned up the gulch after
them. In the rainy season water
poured down this rocky bed. but
vegetation had small chance in such
terrain. Whatever soil there might
once have been had long since
washed down into the gorge below.
The horse took the narrow bed of
the trough like a cat. its muscles
standing out hard as steel while it
reached from one foothold to an.
other. A bullet ricocheted from a
fiat rock above Gray and plowed
into the rubble close to the front
hoofs of the gelding. The sound Of
the explosion came down in boom.
ing echoes. One of the men near
the top of the gulch had fired at
his pursuer.
Gray did not stop. He did not an
swer the fire. The fugitives were
moving again. They were not look.
ing for a fight. What they wanted
vas to reach the fiat country just
ahead of them where they could
disappear into some of the hill folds
that ran down to the plateau.
The men and the horse vanished
above the brow of the gulch. Gray
gave his mount no rest. He had to
reach the summit while they we're
still in sight. The animal he rode
was strong and willing. It had plen-
ty Of bottom. Heaving with exer-
ton, the gray came to the top of
the rocky cash.
Its rider had a shaky moment
when the horse clawed its way to
level ground. Enemies might be
waiting there for him, though he did
not expect it. The men we're too
intent on safety.
His glance swept swiftly the coun.
try in front Of him. The men had
gone. One Of the draws in front
Of him had swallowed them up.
Which one. he could not guess.
One point stuck out like a sore
thumb. In this country a man with.
out a horse was in poor plight. The
first consideration of these fugitives
would be to get another mount. They
would strike for the nearest place