The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7943, 5 October 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

~ LOCO JONES'S MISTAKE.

The su'i was almost in the zenith wheD the Rev. Charles Grear turned back towards bis hotel in the valley ol the Ameahaha. A long climb among the pine-clad, rock-strewn mountains bad given him 4 very peculiar appetite, so that he drd not follow the wtfding road, but boldly struck over a wooded ridge in the hope ol making a short cut. Among the trees Grear found the ascent steeper than he bad fancied it, and frequently be was obliged to sit down on some fallen log or low haKbuiied boulder to regain his breath. H was while resting in this manner that bis eyes wandered from the tnow-capped range to the little things near at hand, and then he saw, almost at his (eel, the deep prints of the hoofs of two horses among the thick carpet of needles. Grear was anything but a mountaineer, yet even to him the tracks looked damp and new, and he stood up with a light of pleased expectancy on Ms f»ce.

'Dear me," he thought, "how interesting, how exceedingly interesting. Horsemen have passed here prospectors on the—er—pike— tr a il I mean. I wonder could they be near by ? Surely they have stopped for luncheon somewhere near. How thrilling is it would l« to join them now and be invited to partake of their rude fare, \enison, I have no doubt " he went on, musingly, as he started along the trail of the animals ; "and Pjrhaps a uear-stcak or something oi that sort. But if it's onlr bread and Butter, the experience would still be worth a great deal, and I am sure I should enjoy it." From which it 711 *./?■.. Uult lk> l{ev of that half-mythical monster the prospector. '

The trail wound bark and forth among the trees until it reached the f«ge ot a narrow gully, where it sM oil in much the same wav tliat the horses must have scrambled. In the gully Grear's woodcraft was at fault, for lie no longer had deep prints in soft needles to guide him, but at a venture he followed up the crrek that trickled among the rocks, until the gully widened into a Hal. covered with a thick brake of ju.iking aspens, attove which a thin 'column o( smoke hovered.

He increased his pace and entered a narrow glade where stood a dec-ax-ed and abandoned cabin, before which a fire burned. The horses were not in sight, Wit two booted men were bending over the fire, ami the air was laden with the |.i.ii£tut odour of burned bacon. "Good-day, gentlemen," the im;:> t.r said politely. The men uttered tnartir'i'ate cries, and sprang yack, tvhiie th.- sui: :; : j.'.'e.l upon revolver iarr.-ls, aii-l '«rear l.mnd himself 100-iing into iw cantu.ns, or such they apnivite.l :.• I.im. Two faces <l linn hey..nil r.e . revolvers; one, smooth-shaven ami , bronzed, lined with many passions ; the other (almost hidden i.i a lusl.v beard. The minister's teeth struck together, and he felt bis knees growing weak. He tried to say something'. but the words were lost in a hopeless stutter. "Hess !" said he of theH-ard; 'it's a parson !" The sniooth-sluvcn man dropped his revolver-arm and broke into a shout of laughter, that came back in hilarious echoes from the nearby bills. - Great flushed and pulled liimscK together. J 'Wh a t does this mean .'" he indignantly demanded. "1 am,not accustomed, sir, to be made the subject ot a practical joke." _ The smootb-shaven man took ot his greasy bat, and politely bowed. "We beg your pardon, I'm sure,'" he said, in an Kastern drawl: '"it s.i.s Very rude of us. Wc are glad to see yon, young man, and to welcome you to our temporary home. Permit me, , my B»ftner, Mr William—why Bill!" be said, interrupting '.iatsc'.i with „n .oath and letting his voice slide back "to the hill accent—"put up your pun, - —you ; he's as harmless as a burro —Mr William Cummings, - ' he continued, With a flourish. "UiH, intt»duec IBC." "He's 'Loco,' " Bill growled. "Lcco" smiled and bowed iEam Will have to riuiie allow.-it.ers • lot my partner," he ...:.-.-l. 'Turn'i ; me to finish what lit s.iould hav aairf. My name is Jones, Dick .'' sometimes called I-oco Wise Dick Lacev. Kvej " ■•"'*' Great snook hi» ' -•*• «,,I'i,r--to feel that '** ri "' n "''' Tery and/»' '"'»<•■ He bepaii a lo»" •• was consorting Willi J*" .irable people, indeed, ami ■*'» -ning to escafie possessed him. • «ut lie put a fc?«d face on the n.at- ;, ter, and bowed. » "Mr Jones is disposed to lie tace- : tious," he said. '-I am soiry l'.jt f I cannot remain with you. gentlemen. f but it is about noon, and I must return to mv hotel ior luncheon." ( "One o' them tourist fellers." Kill : ■ said, contemptuously ; "let him hike. t Loco; he ain't dangerous. But you «" belter berry, bis watch first." Grear.

started, and hastily slipped the watclu back into his pocket. •'Dear mo !" lie ejaculated.

Loco broke into another peal til laughter. "1 really beg your pardon," lie said, drying his eyes ; :'ii struck me as an amusing by-play. Don't be in a hurry, however, I have an idea. Pleasure us by sitting on this log here, if you please. Thank you. You need nut look so worried, young man ; Bill, here, won't "harm you." Will j oil, Bill ?" I*4ll guffawed, but quickly drew a sober face again. "We'd hotter be gettin' a move on," he suggested. "Taiti't a sale place here, an' we-got to be in Black Valley for that game, her know."

"I've been thinking,'' Loco musingly rejoined. "It may be. Hill, that my friend, the bank president, won't care to hobnob with me, ii he sees me in these clothes. But if 1 were a tninisit«r, eh? He'd give me a private interview, eh '"

Bill stepped his leg. "You've hit it !" be bellowed, "liy burn ! We'll put out with whole skins yet. Nobody in town would recognise you in them clothes, un' may-lie we won't have to make no gun-play at all. Here, parson, climb out o' them duds."

"If you please." Loco supplemented "It's a great favour to ask but our needs are somewhat urgent. The vest ? Ah, thankt. A card-case'.' .lust the thing, old chap , the president Won't refuse to see the Rev. Charles Circar, rector of St. Peter's, Wilmington. I'll exchange clothes with you, —in case of any acciidents, you know. Shoes and all, ii you please"

The exchange was completed quickly", for Grear recognised tlie seriousness of his position, and knew any protest would prove Worse than futile. But his heart was heavy as he struggled into the spurred boots, and, at a sign from Loco, buckled an empty holster about his waist.

"I'll have to lug my guns in jny hip-pockets," Loco explained, as be gave his companion one of the minister's cigars and lit another for himself. "Get the broncs, Hill, and we'll hot-foot it out of this." Bill disappeared Itehind the cabin, and Loco sociably sat down beside his caplive.

"I reckon," he said, tentatively, "that you have a pretty, poor opinion of me, eh ?" "I have," Grear answered. Loco sighed. "And yet, I teallv had to take your clothes," he explained. "We're going after the Bl.clc Valley Bank, and we needed something like this to keep things running smoothly. You see, thev're after us—three possses—ami we need money to get away. Now, my dear sir, to shoot up a town is a pretty riskv business ; you can see that for yourself. Ami you can see howvou 'have simplified matters for us. Bill will drift into the bank and make out checks or something, while 1 send in my card and ask for a private interview with the mogul. It will be like oil on troubb.l waters lb wil draw and cash the cheque, I will Pocket the money, and tl.cn w,I, a oTtr 1 V™ *"•»'* we will*, lU| tJZ U am ' ""° "" '"'«"■ Wc know <o the bvst advantage. You >iv. '„ jK'ft from the gods. Mr (irear" | (To be Continued),