Page 10 Advertisements Column 3

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 10

"Chugity chug chng chng!" went something under the thing. Both horsos gave a snort and a jump, and away they wont, snapping the lariat and*'most pulling Ike out of the waggon before ho could let go of the reins. But that didn't stop us. I grabbed hold of the steering-gear and tried to keep her in tho road, and away we went, banging and hnck-jumpiig over stones and things, with Ike hollering '•Whoa at every hump- and tho blame thing gaining speed until I thought we were travelling forty miles a minute. "Ike," I yells, as soon a 6 I could et my breath, "turn around and shoot the sons of guns that are pushing this thin?, will you?"' "There isn't anybody pushing," answers Ike, after he had looked. "She's running herself.'' "Well, stop her then," I yells. Ike grablicd hold of tlie lever and gave a yank; it didn't budge. He took holJ with both hands and tried again and tho thing broke off short in his hands 'Now what're you going to do?" I asks, an sarcastic as I could under the circumstances. "Going to take a ride," answers Ike, smiling. "Well, I hope you're enjoying it _ I ain't. Whnt sort of a contraption are we in, anyhow?*' "Dunno. unless it's one of those horseless carriacos Tve read about." We were well out into tho country by then, whizzing along like a scared coyote, running for cover. It wasn't any ballroom floor wo were travelling on either. I've done my turn at bronco busting, and I thought 1 know all about it, but the slam, bang, rippi tv-ra in, teeth-rattling jolting I got on that ride would have made the four best bucking bronchos in the whole West look like tho wooden ponies on a country fair merry-go-round. "Man ahead, '■' sings out Ike just then, I looks up and saw a horseman about a hundred yards ahead of us and travelling in "the same direction. "If that maverick don't get out of tho road directly he'll be hit by something." remarks Ike. I opened up and let out a yell that 'most tore my lungs out. The fellow looked around quick, with a so a red expression, and then dug his heels into the nag's sides and started to outrun us "Get out of the road," I yelled, but he didn't seem to hear; at any rate ho kept right on going, straight down the middle or the road, and we gaming every second. "We'll come to Grime's Creek in a minute." says Ike. "We must be pretty clone by now." "Yes, and there isn't a bridge over it either," I answers. "What are we going t.) do then?" "fake a bath, I suppose," says Ike, smiling again. "I hope you enjoy that, too," I snorted. "There she is," he sings out. a second later. "Get your soap realty. Are you going to take your clothes off now or wait till afterward?" We had been gaining on the horseman nil the time, and he wasn't over twenty-five yards ahead of us by then, and about the same distance from tho creek. Just before ho reached the shore, his horse, which evidently objected to entering the water, stopped dead still, and the rider went sailing over its head and disappeared in the middle of the stream. A second later wo hit the creek with a swish and a splash that knocked both of us out of the waggon and left us floundering around in about four feet of water. The machine went right through, tore up the opposite bank, hit a big rock, turned over on its side and exploded. The stranger was standing, waist deep, in the water, with both hands raised above his head. "Don't shoot,' sa3-8 he. "I surrender." I saw right away that ho was a tenderfoot and that ho thought we were road-agents. Willing to humour him, I answers: "All right, partner, just wade ashore and dry yourself." The man obeyed, and Ike and I followed. While.we were taking off our coats, he looked across the creek, whero his nag was grazing. "Botter catch that horse," says he. "Tlie moneys in the saddle-bags." "Well, if "he ain't tho tamest proposition that ever hit Idaho," thinks I to myself. "Got much in 'em?" I enquires. "It's all there," he answers. "Tho whole fifty thousand dollars. I haven't used any." "The whole fifty thousand what?" we both exclaimed. "Dollars. If you don't believe mo, count it yourself." "Ain't you giving up pretty easy for a man who is toting that amount?" I inquired. "Oh, I waa just about to give up anyway. I knew you were bound to catch mc- and I was getting mighty tired of being chased. lam glad it is over." "You must get tired pretty easy," I remarks and just then Ike gives mc a punch in the ribs. "Shut up," 6ays ho, taking hold of my arm. "Come here a minute." He led mc out of ear-shot of the 6tranger, and whispers: "\ T ou blame old fool, can't you see nothing at all? That fellow stole tho money in those saddle-bags, and he thinks wo are tho officers who have been chasing him. If he stole that amount, there sure must be a big reward out for him, nnd all we've cot to do is to take him in and collect, 6ee?" "That's so! Now why didn't I think of that? Gee whiz, Ike! The reward can't bo less than five thousand 1" "Course it ain't. We're rich, Billy. T am going to catch that horse and you keep an eye on the prisoner." Ike waded across and caught the nag. First thing he did was to examine the saddle-bags. While ho waa doing it I happened to look up the road and saw a lot of fellows coming on hoi-seback. "Hi, Ike," I yells. "Somebody coming." He gave one look nnd then started back, leading the horse. In about live minutes they came up to us. Thero must have bpen fifty men altogether, and anion;.? them were the choiiff. several deputies nnd a very excittxl stranger. The first thing he did was to grab our man and handcuff him : then he turned to us. "Aro you the fellows who stole my automobile?" he demanded angrily. "Is that what you call it?" I inquired. "I've bc-tn wondering if it had a name." "Where Ls it?" he screams. I pointed over my shoulder to where the remains lay. "What's left of it is back there," I answered. "I puces the rest is scattered pretty promiscuous over the wlu.'le .State of. Idaho; at least 1 shouid judge so by tho way it went off." Ho went over and examined it, ani I thought bo wasn't exactly overjoyed at finding it again by tlie expression, he brought back with him. ''Officer," says ho, to the sheriff, "arrest three men for stealing my automobile." "Hold on." 6ajs Ike, "you can't arrest us. We've got a prisoner." "You've got a prisoner? Where?" "Right there,*' answous Ike, pointing at our man. Tlie stranger laughed. "Where do you lay claim on that man?"' the stranger demanded. "Why, we captured him. We're goinc: to take him in an' get the reward." "What reward?" "Why—the reward for capturing him." ''What's he done?" "Why. he stole some money didn't he?" "Where?" Ike couldn't answer. He had neglected to get the details.