Show p i i r I Selwood of Sleepy Cat Cap 11 CHAPTER XI Continued XI-Continued Continued 13 13 Without losing an unnecessary mo mOo merit the tho gambler recovering his hi trembling horse mounted up up cros crossed 1 the hI bridge the bridge the wagon close behind behind- and nd struck through the brush to therl the rl right ht and Into the old They had hod hardly entered It ft I before the difficulty of ot making their way Y up the river wan evident The trail hen heavily vII overgrown with brush bruh become Impassable b by night and the wagon ngon track had been washed Into Inlo countless gullies lIIn h by the rains mine of years lie He rodo rOllo back bark trying to think out nn an escape from rom his hi dilemma Pave has an old shack down nt at II I hate to take Inke him among the tile horse but Its It's any port in inu u storm There's Theres a trait trail from lasus through the hula hills that comes cornea out on the river just above the tho old alII heaver beater dam darn and antI when I con cnn get et buck back to help well we'll get tet him to camp that lint w way y y The trick now will be he to turn the wagon around Unhitch the team end well we'll do It II by Selwood took the horses while Par Par- daloe and Scott with moll many pulls pull got ot the wagon to where the horses could ooM It again and the rn cavalcade truck struck across across tho Slake Sinks on the Thief liver road toward the famous waterhole water waterhole hole on the Spanish desert An hour or so en later Inter with good going they had readied reached the the the haunt hll of 0 mIll men esteemed of ot all men meD meanest t In 10 the III high gh coun country lr Tho The holes In 10 the canyons the Ule tumbledown turn tum shacks hack that sheltered these denizens of at were still ns n. death when tho the wagon 1 guided by bl SelWOOd Sel Sel- wood b by lantern b by Scotts Scott's Instinct and ond by main force lorre united halted with us liS little lit tie tle noise as possible hear what Selwood Sel 81 wood pronounced Tracys Tracy's Selwood Sel 81 wood got down from his horse and I culling to Scott for lor the th do dog slipped Chloe Chloo's muzzle and held her on all tho the leash Tho Thu mastiff whinnied and antI Jumped nt sit him licking his hili hands ash ns as I h he e caught ull ht her hr b by time the collar nod and lej her toward the tho cabin door dOIr Selwood hoped that with I Saturday night and the constant probability that nn any squatter occupant wa was moro more likely to bo be sleeping there In III the daytime day time nt at III night ht the shack ml might ht bo be unoccupied Crawling on tho the ground and feeling III his way to the door from flom the tha side where he hl was partly protected by hy tho Kill sill log Selwood elwood got his hIli hand band on the tho lower part of 01 the UIO batten hoUrn door It hUll hung he remembered on leathern strips straps and It stood now In tho the night partly ajar seemingly supported only by the loo upper thong Chloe Chloc his Hand Handon on her collar JJ Ius pushed lh cd her nose noc c him Into lo o the opening between the door and tho jamb end strained nt ot the tue leash hut but the Iw dill did not growl Selwood al allowed mil III lowed 11 her t to crawl Inside which she utie did dud with great III gusto to held her tier a a moment mo Ull ment nt lit the leash's leaRh's length line and then her lIe Ho could hour time the dog t about Inside tint hut knew nt at once onre the cabin was Will empty Gun Oun In hand hond bo ho went rut to tho wagon walon Scott out n a lantern and nl Selwood returning Ill I'll I nl carefully pulled lulled open time tho door amt nud entered i V Tho fhe lantern light lIht revealed rc a rough table lohle n rickety chair and n hoine- hoine lo stool In Tn the upper left hand otner orner stood the lie double docked 1 bunk Tracy had line built nail ami In which Selwood had I slept the first nl night and ht the lie on only I night night night-he he hind had ever ner slept In ha Calabasas There was coarse bedding In both bolh decks A rough th rock rod fireplace stood ot at the lower end of the cabin tte- tte side Ito tho ho fireplace stood slone nn an empty box i sip wp II knew well Its its' use se n c dandle snuffer for tor forn n a candle It was II there to set over and mul conceal III Instantly II a fire on time the hearth In a II t few w moments the t three men by If the light of t e i had cleaned out U tl f- f Time The bedding W i 1 dumped a idi ide together with n a battered d mn tan and lot pot and 1111 some canned goods Kerosene l from a 0 handy can poured freely over cor th the hunk bunk rubbish v s pushed lu on the and lighted And with hide blinking nt th the flames Irn Tracy still n. n asleep lp on the cot was lifted from th t wagon hn Much I Ill I'll up to the into Info the shark shack nail and placed ed In Inthe the tho farthest from the tho bunk amid neat the Oie open lire arC When ion loo and colt hind brought In light lIht supplies for breakfast SeI Sel di dl directed thin tha two men 1 to go to sleep In Inthe inthe the wagon lie entering the tho cabin he tie sat down do beside Tracy o fM Selwood ll hind bail been Ion long too busy with life tl to think of lint but In III Tracys Tracy's appearance It Lada Lad 10 i a seemed torso moro than thau once of ot late Inte to stare titre nt lit him him tonight the old taco faco looked more like like- loath death I h t than ever The thought of Christie kept kIt flaring flar- flar n ing like the lie fitful flame on In he till hearth In his hI heart henrt She Elie would have hn listened ned to him ho he foil hind had he be been anything t but t ut whist old On Dave was n a common rambler And what had he to 10 expect but ut n II such uch as nil tits this It If ho he ended it a ii life to Ilk like this Only nt at host best n a quad quicker r er death n a violent death at lit Ih limo Iho Lands hands ot of some 01 other her outcast III Ilko himself He lie looked honked nt ot Ills hula To o mol make makei i MI rh ls r rendezvous h by midnight he Ill must t be bl of II n toe the way home IOme Home I He tie hind had fp the word In his mind What right had n II homeless man to 10 such urh t s nerd wold 1 Without a mm woman roman to t mule muke It I I there tl ward was IIIi In his tats lexicon no lIC such worl I is s home lie home he h had 1 known one cue home bone MI- MI woke Scott Scott cott was wag sr li ha 11 7 1 seed the tn Indian I l in to t his gorse anus live him I Iii i V ns os tiler were tro to In I Kit gut f fU U is TIM rues o 0 t Bo b back m I AlJ y FRANK H H. SPEARMAN Cos Co Copyright II br bt Clanin Scribner Son Eana S ric by Iy daylight namely daylight to 10 run 1 up river until things had hod quieted don do dome ii 11 In n Sleepy Cat and ond If the they heard hearl the gambling hell hall was vas burned to tell Tracy Selu Selwood ocd had gone West Vest lie He swung into the saddle with a alight alight light heart for tor action art I In is what the soldier the adventurer the die gambler rambler era craves vel Half wn way Into town emerging from the breaks that list skirt the valley of ot the he caught a 8 glimpse of ot n red glare on the tha northern horizon He tie had hod no need neld to pause lau e or to surmise sur sut- mise what It might night be the Vigilantes were abroad Selwood presently halted he struck a match and looked at ot his hi watch It was only eleven ell o'clock o'clock something something hind bad precipitated the fight he fight he might he bo too ton late Inte to snake Inoke defense The faint crackle of 01 gunfire reached Ms ears told ears told him more noro than he needed to know He quickened hi Ms his puce If Ir Irhe he be were too late Inte to light fight for the Ilia hall there was company property properly to pro But he hind had given Ills hits word to defend the hull huh and wanted to meet the masked crow crowd where be tie had bad promised prom to meet them the river bottom Selwood reconnoitered the bridge Hearted though h he 1111 to go forward he hedared lured dared not risk crossing it It If It the guards had hod freed themselves or been freed they would be eager to 10 shoot from ambush lie He rode I slowly down the river some three hundred d yards 11 located an an anold old ford lord and guiding his hi horse horsa cautiously Into the rapids al nl allowed nl lowed loved It to drink crossed slowly beaded headed the horse up III the rork rocky bank rode up tip under the tho ho bluff found a break he could get the horse Into and rode out ont on the lie river bench In full tull sl sight ht of ot the thEl town No o more than n a glance was needed to 10 give ghe the witted quick Rambler gambler the lie situation ion Vigilantes II were pushing Into Inlo the lUver quarter below belm him and burning ns as they went nt nut But the gunfire gunfire gun gun- fire censing ceasing at rat times limps and nut breaking out sharply lly anew mew told him the they were meeting resistance n nce Ho rode well 11 outside the area of ot the flames and ond the fighting on the outskirts of ot the town to In the darkness dark dark- ness tin lio rode rolle unmolested II Indeed encountered en In countered no nu one mind cOllie came out unobserved un umi observed rd on the 1 Fulling Wall trail truth where he could COlli command II II 11 the tie lower end of Fort street which was on fire tire Between him and ond the conflagration toil tion stood Blood his gambling hall but this In lay below the brow of tho the hull bill In front of ct him Down 1 Fort ort street silent end ond completely completely com rom pl deserted tie lie rode wondering whether the smoke rising in to the tiie foreground foreground fore fore- ground Included the Ibe ruins rouse of his hi own building or others limn ami then crossing r the tho brow of ot the hill hili lie he saw flaw the gambling gam- gam bling hull ball Just below him To his amazement It stood untouched Lights were burng burning burn burll- ing inside Through h the partly blinded shad blind ed cd windows ot of his place he lie co could rould old Feeno see sec no no one ona moving nor could he hear any sound This was WI cause for lor suspicion sus sus- It If not n a symptom symptom- of ot danger With ns os little nol noise e as tae possible he tie rode rodo Into tho the ground grounds' norl north h of the hall dismounted secured his lis hor horse l' l and nUll with hi his hand on the lie grip of ot hi his holster gun walked to the door Ioor o ohis athis ot at his In the rear of 01 the building k Into the door lock slipped n key anti and standing to on one hll pressed the time latch and threw the Ule door wide open Silence greeted time the move Selwood would have given much r r a d dog a but hut IJ he lie hind none and convincing himself that he might ns ne well vell take lake n shot from the dark then as ns one In the light lIht Inter walked boldly Into the room struck n II match lighted the thA lamp Tamp timid closed the door behind him Mm The Tho room was vas empty Everything Every ery thing appeared III as os he had left letl It at atHe du dusk kHI k He lie threw open the floor door Into the gambling The Ilio lI lights were Irl on nut not not a 0 soul haul was III In sight Ight Hut But signs Ins of disorder r and tI evidences l' of ot hasty departure were everywhere lancing collectedly a about out drawing rapid rt In Inv In from whatever er he saw n R Sal ol l lwood wood looked at nt Ills lits watch It lacked but Gut minute initiate of ot twelve h o'clock n a o'clock per per- hops hups the tile 1 Vigilantes were coming hack back to 10 face its his threat and finish h him and till hie hull hall together As AK to m lUg Ilig nud and defenders ho he hail had never neter for tor n moment cherished II any 11 Y Illusions ever everything timing about tie the roo roost room III Indicated they lacy hud hind run fun like rabbits rab IIII bits at lit time the approach OPI of danger lie walked to tn the tho front Ir doors Thy They stood wide open Ho lie looked honked up au nun nud down the street not a 0 soul was Willi anywhere tiny any where IlIre In sight Vet It the Ih hall 1 open I brilliantly II hl lighted ll stood silent mind and deserted i it was ns its It If death hind suddenly sud sud- denly deuly nod nud completely wiped out Us lis denizens denizens Ir ers l onlookers Irs deniers ellI rr l' everybody b lie lit bud luul returned to defend hits his place only to tn timid that no OliO ens appeared to challenge IU its right tat to exact at lit ho tie t- t situation 1 tun 1 1 on Selwood SI sh strode oile down lown 11 the broad steps step mad PlU started fur for Ilia thin homo barn He lie nut Iced that hunt the lIu bun bum n lights were wre burning turning particularly the 1110 stationary lanterns on III both f stiles sides of the Iho front 1 dour door At the time moment ho he approached o fie lo front of sit the Ih barn harn In the shadow of Its ohIo n II masked II mean man 11 n apparently n n a Vigilante I hurrying up tIp street encountered en 11 countered n man running out ani of time the barn Itself The two tuo almost collided coll h The lLe man from rom thu the 1 barn 1111 dealt I lie Ilie liea Ie a 0 fearful blow V tine ess the Leall with wills a 11 club The Vigilante el evidently a 8 man mon of ff great creat strength staggered but grap- grap gird with his bis enem enemy only to receive a second blow that would have felled an any but the strongest The handkerchief handkerchief chief symbol of the raiding party slipped from his face Ilire to his hll neck but Jut dazed dozet as he was be clinched with his bis assailant and struggled with trim him Selwood little as ell he liked Hied the lie r red Cl handkerchief liked a game rt fighter I end ond watched the struggle the dazed tuna man was WOl making against one ono evidently evident I ly no DO better than a n cowardly murderer mur mur- derer Though It be one of 01 his own o men moon Selwood liked I less Ms and less huts hit manner of ot fighting noel and saw as time the two Iwo rumen men rolled panting and mind cursing cursing curs cur ing 1111 toward him that the man who used the club dub was fumbling for III Ids knife It II was Willi too much to watch a II murder mitt mur der Selwood with an sin indignant oath th took tOlk a quick step forward The II WR was under and ns as he was wa rolled on his hits I back luk the gambler m Ir tee rec- lI Ahe Abo Cole the blacksmith at nt atthe thin the instant he hI saw IIO the knife raised nl above o o e him Selwood with lilt n 0 kick sent SPlit the knife hurtling oro across the driveway nil and II grabbing the upper sipper man by hy the Ihl collar brought lime Hie butt bull of at hN his gun down on the Ih lie mans man's head and turned his hits fare face to the light I I m I 1 I I 1 I I Dealt the Vigilante a Fearful Blow Across the Head With a Club to see Bee who It was He Me hod had only time timeto to ascertain lint Hint the was none non of his own him men when McAlpIn I came came- running out of nt the lie barn born In n one hand band he carried n lantern mind and In the other othern n hatchet the the front and picture of ot ofa ofa a 1 wild tuna mon Selwood gripping the throat of ot the coward looked up nl nt PI McAlpIn I Who Vho's this nian man Jim demanded de tie sharply McAlpIn amazed at nt the till Ight of 01 Selwood was waR nt sit no DO lo toss lOOK for words 1 A firebug I he be cried Kill him I They're There after hor horses III II I caught him and ont he tried to murder me Throw me a II couple of ot halter straps strop or n a piece of or rope rOle You look honk to 10 Cole CoIl exclaimed SrI Selwood wood With n a skull clearly club proof the Ihl fight fighting lug blacksmith was staggering to 10 tats feet Cole Colt recognized Selwood That n a clo dose close e squeak John cried Cole Hed lIell hind had n knife Into me I know the till blamed thief lies lie's one olle of ot them II rimer rats rats kill him Turn him kiln over o to your I Vigilantes with my compliments |