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" . Pl follow ‘my .rough-riders to the. claim.
’ guarantee that I’ll get in at. those scoundrels be-
8h FAME AND, FORTUNE WEEKLY.
“Well,” replied Bill, coolly, “J wouldn’t give up.
so easy as all that. Just lend me your.men and
fore I’m through with them, too.”
“By.thunder, you’re a spunky little rooster!”
said the colonel, “and hanged if you haven’t
aroused my hopes. I’d hate to lose that claim,
and I must say I like your generosity in burying
the hatchet and coming to my aid again. Bill, I’m
going to fight them.”
“Good: for you, colonel.”
“Have a drink?”
“IT never use it.”
“Glad to hear it. You're too young yet. Wait”
till you are'a man and you'll get over that. Do
you smoke?” ,
“Sometimes.” .
“Then stuff a handful of these Havanas in your
pocket,” said the colonel, handing out the box.
“They are perfectos of fine flavor... Now excuse
me a moment till I send for the men. Jess, you
guard the house while I’m gone, dear.” /
With his fighting spirit aroused, the old rancher
ran inside and pretty soon Bill heard Andrew
' Jackson Scott.tooting a horn out the back door
- for all he was worth.
\
\ gkin Bill.
Out came the colonel “in. a big sombrero. and
spurs, a belt around his waist carrying .a brace
of revolvers, and a good Winchester.in his hand.
Within ten minutes there were ten cowboys on
the spot, and the colonel explained matters to
them, and then said: .
“Good-by, Jess. I’m going.”
“Be careful not to get hurt, papa.”
“You bet.”
~ Bill gracefully doffed his hat to her, and she
gave him a sweet smile as he dashed away beside
her father. |
The trip to the old abandoned Buena Vista
claim in Rattlesnake Valley was made rapidly.
Only once Bill spoke during the trip, and then
he asked:
“How is it you happen to be getting gold out of
that claim when it was given up as useless years
ago?” . :
- “Well,” answered the old ranchman,. grimly,
“now that my secret is exposed I don’t mind tell-
ing you, sir. I bought the claim for a song, and
one day while examining it I was lucky enough to
find a gold vein which promised to pan out big.
The old company had entirely overlooked it. I’m
a mining expert. I saw, upon further examina-
tion, that the new strike would yield me nearly-a
million if I could only keep it a secret; so as to
prevent a rush to the spot. For that reason I’ve
been working it as secretly as possible. I’ve
taken out thousands of dollars’ worth of ore so-
far, and expected to get much more, but the un-
fortunate raid of the outlaws has put an end to
my designs, and I expect that as soon as the news
spreads Rattlesnake Valley will soon be filled with
prospectors, and we will have no end of trouble.”
The trail now carried them over a spur of the
hill, and they went out upon a rocky plateau,
where the colonel reined in-and, pointing below,
exclaimed: a
“There’s the valley, gentlemen.” ,
“TJ don’t see any of the gang,” remarked Buck-
_“Of course-you don’t. They are hiddem in that
big hole.” 0 ee ee, ae
“What it is, a canyon?” :
“Yes, sir, and it only has one outlet. ‘Where’ :
are your men?” _
“I sent them ahead——” . ~ ara
“Then they are probably hidden down inthe
gorge.” , : vit ve voter
They galloped down the slope and ‘soon’ reached
the foot of the hill, where a big gorge opened up
before them.
As they advanced between a mass of rocks “and
trees there came a sudden sharp challenge:
“Halt! Whogoes, thar?” : .
Every one reined in and every hand grasped: a
weapon. ~ ST a .
“Never mind who we are!” shouted Bill. Come
out and show yourself or we'll open on you.”
“Hey, Bill, is that you?” came the reply, and
out from a bush stepped Denver Jack with a
broad grin on his face. - .
; “It’s my superintendent,” said Bill, smilingly.
“Any news?” oe
“Thar be,” assented Jack “How are yer, col-
onel? Glad yer showed up ter defend yer prop-
erty. Them measly coyotes has got ther bulge
onus, all right.” ,
ere are the rough-riders?” queried the boy.
“Up ther pass a-waitin’- fer yer” *
‘Lead the way, Jack, and tell us the news.”
a ‘Thar ain’t much ter-tell,” replied the rancher.
When we tried ter git inter Rattlesnake. Valley
we got a volley of rifle shots an‘ retreated with
two wounded.” — -
“All right. ‘Now we’ll charge the entrance in
a_ body.” : . .
“It’s pretty. risky, sir,” warned the colonel.
“That don’t scare me a little bit. Ready, boys?”
“All ready.”
“Then come on.”
They soon met the rough-ridets. |.
“Will you risk a dash at the entrance to the
canyon?” .
“Lead the 4vay,” was the reply. :
The young cowboy urged his stallion on, and
will a ringing cheer the big band of cowboys went
galloping on after him at full speed.
Ahead Was © narrow, rocky defile, with mighty
cliffs towering up hundreds of feet on each side.
It was swarming with Flood’s men, and the
outlaws saw the cowboys coming, and opened fire.
Bang, bang, bang! rattled the rifles.
. “Don’t hang back, boys!” yelled Bill, brandish-
ing his rifle. “Charge on them!
the place if you will follow me in!” . .
- Jim: Flood’s men were so placed in the entrance
to the canyon that their own bodies were pro-
‘
tected by the rocks, while the cowboys, racing
after Bill, had no shelter atvall.
A withering fire was poured into
toppled front their saddles. For an instant it
seemed as if the whole band would-be wiped out.
But no, that reckless rush carried more than half
of them up into the pass, where they could see
their foes, and. then the cowboys’ rifles began te
bark. .
. (To be continued) —
Bill then asked them: :
We can take’ -
f the gallant ©
band of rough-riders by the outlaws, and ceveral
sae ne i nen gp md
yen en!
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