Part 16 (2/2)

A CAUTION

Shots always attract attention, especially in a western co In cities there are soheard, and back-fires and tire blow-outs froe of firearms, that if a revolver actually were to be fired in a crowded street it is hardly likely that it would attract notice

But in the quiet little western town of Golden Crossing shots were rather a novelty The place was peaceful and law-abiding, and, as was said, when pistol reports were heard, there usually was soood reason for them

In consequence, when Jack shot off his revolver, it was not long before the ed

Men ca out of stores and houses, and there appeared also not a feo down the street after the escaping outlaw, looked back and saw that he was able to call for reinforcements

Onein the chase

”What's the row?”

”It's one of the et him!” was yelled back, and several more men hurried to loosen the tie-straps of their horses to lend their aid

”I don't knohether we'll get hiood start of us, and that horse of his can go soular ox, and can keep going for hours at a tier, and there isn't a better pony living,” Jack went on, ”but it's like putting a little runabout auto up against a big racing car It isn't equal Still we'll do our best”

Severalpart in the chase The first one who had heard what Jack said had passed the word to the others, and the posse, so hastily organized, understood what sort of man they were after

Soh characters--that is rough in the sense that they lived in the open and were ready for whatever cauns,” as they called their revolvers, but there was no chance of hitting the fleeing ht beyond a turn in the trail Realizing this the , perhaps, that the sound of the shots would intimidate the fellow, and cause him to stop

But the man ahead was made of as stern and as desperate stuff as were the majority of his pursuers He nized hiht So he made up his mind that he would not be taken

Jack was the nearest to hilie the reater speed

”There's no use trying to catch hiot tooaround here I guess he knows that”

Still Jack would not have given up had not so occurred that made it absolutely certain that the chase was useless

Coer stu Jack cleanly over his head Fortunately the lad landed on a bank of thick ferns, so that his fall only jarred him The pony was not hurt, and soon scrained, with a sort of apologetic expression

”I know you couldn't help it, Sunger, old boy,” the lad said ”It wasn't your fault”

He limped toward his steed and patted hiirths had broken With that unmended it would be useless to try to continue the pursuit The saddle would slip fro on the mountain trail is out of the question

Jack realized this, and when the first of the posse ca

”We can't get him now, but maybe we can trail hi on”

”No And you'll be needed to carry the e will be in soon You'd better get back So the way, and et trace of him If so, we'll let you know”

One or two of the pursuers who had no special duties to take thereed to follow the trail of the pursued one for some distance further The others went back with Jack, teirth