Bert Wilson in the Rockies

h in the

tion where the boys were to descend. Their long rail journey of nearly three thousand

ince the capture of the robbers, had insisted on making heroes of the boys. In vain they had protested that the thanks were out of all proportion to the service rendere

is about this," said To

hing here is space. You can cross the s

eet to cross, at

e town consisted of a general store that served also as a post office, a blacksmith shop and three saloons, to one of which a dance hall was attached. Business seemed brisk in these, judging from the many mustangs that were tied to rails outside, patiently waiting for their masters who were "tanking up" within and a

ing a big burly form that th

chorus as they rushed with

ing less than a broken leg would have kept me from coming to give you the first welcome to old Montana. Came down yesterday so that the horses could have a g

form, where a big mountain wagon was waiting. It was drawn by

Melton, "but they're holy terrors w

ed off at a rate that justified all he had said as to their speed. But he held them in chec

've got a long way to go, and we're sure even at this rate to get h

neglecting the attempted hold-up on the tr

od many people will breathe easier now that they're trapped. They're 'bad men' through and through, and if their pistol butts had a notch on them for every m

heriff at one of the stations," answered Ber

hat Judge Lynch will invite them to a little necktie party. They've lived a

went on. "You got away with it all

quote

left or an inc

be maundering

be shot," laughed Tom. "I guess

into scrapes and out again," commented Melton. "I believe yo

to that supper of yours to-night," retorted Tom

," chaffed Dick. "But he's right, just the same. The

Melton. "Let out your belts to the last notch and I'll g

Tom. "I'm perfectly willin

accustomed to a free, unfettered life that they had chafed at the three days' detention, where the only chance they had to stretch their limbs had been afforded by the few minutes wait at stations. Now they enjoyed to the fu

e expanse had been created for them, and them alone. For many miles they saw no human figure except that of a solitary cowboy, who passed them at a gallop on his way to the town. The country was slightly rolling and richly grassed, affording pasturage for thousand

drew out on the other side. "Perhaps you fellows remem

"You don't mean th

re Sitting Bull was encamped when Custer led the charge on that June morning. I've got to

ll Jackson, had so appealed to the imagination of the country's youth as Custer, the reckless, yellow-haired leader in a hundred fights, the hero of Cedar Creek and Waynesboro and Five Forks, the Chevalier Bayard of modern times, "without fear and without reproach," who met his death at last as he would have wished to meet it, in that mad glorious dash that has made his name immo

he horses were browsing; "but some day soon we'll come down here early and spend the whole

that they were on the last stretch of their journey

r your place now, I

s eyes; "been traveling on my lands for the last e

ssly of miles as a farmer back East would speak of acres. Now they were g

I don't use much of it for farming. Just raise enough to take care of the table and the stoc

ds for the last few miles belong to you?" asked Di

take a cowboy the better part of a day to start at one end of the ranch and c

them the mighty peaks in the background rising to a height of many thousand feet. Higher and higher they went, until they were as much as six hundred feet a

se have built on a lower level, and in some ways that would have been an advantage. But when I settled here I mad

n lounging near one of the corrals removed the bars of a huge gate, from which the path led up to the largest of the buildings. It was a rambling structure only two stories in height, but covering a vas

he dogs, the door was thrown wide open and Mrs. Melton

felt at home at once and in a few minutes were chatting and laughing as easily as though they had known her for years. Perhaps the memory of her own two boys, d

back from that last trip to Mexico. I wouldn't dare to tell you all he said, for fear of making you conceited. I really think the la

see," said Bert warmly. "The vultures would have had us long a

hance for a lovely scrap, just when I was beginning to wonder whether

ach. "You're just as much of a boy as you ever were. I declare," she laughed

ed Tom, looking admiringly at his host's two

she shooed the boys off to their rooms to rid themselves of the dus

ne radiated happiness and good nature. There was not a particle of stiffness or pretence in that wholesome environment. The delight of their hosts in havi

m the mountain brook, a delicious roast flanked by snowy mounds of potatoes and vegetables just plucked from the garden patch, luscious berries warm with the sun, deluged with rich cream, and pastries "such as mother used to make" offered a challenge to t

s?" laughed Melton, a

nswered for all. "You ca

w to cook," said Mr. Melto

ron. "That Chinese cook you brought back with you the last time you went to He

a quick glance at his wife. "Just sen

ter returned, followed by a Chinaman, who

tly for a moment. Then a startled

ied in chorus, jum

w sinner," confirmed

stolidity. A delighted smile spread over his face and he broke int

ee. Wah Lee ve

ied to put their feet upon his head, as a token that he was their slave

old r

you ever

ere back in Chin

more expansive than his

said, pointin

d his pipe. "So I didn't tell you anything about it nor did I tell the Chink

onged to the On Leong clan and the Hip Son Tong got after him. They sent on to 'Frisco for some highbinders-those professional killers, you know-and Wah Lee got wind of the fact that he was one of the victims marked for slaughter. Naturally, he was in a fearful stew about it, and just when things were at their worst I happened to be in Helena on business and ran across him. Of course, I'd never have known him, for all Chinks look alike to me, but he recognized me in a minute and begged me by all his gods to help him out. He knew it wouldn't do any good

. "I'd hate to have anything happen to the ol

in a snake that he had killed on his way back from town. The boys were looking at it when the Chink happened to come along, and

der," said D

h Lee, his companion in captivity, had been brought out first, thrown flat on the ground and fastened securely to stakes. Just out of reach, a rattlesnake, with a buckskin thong passed through its tail, was tied to a stake. Tortured by rage and pain, the reptile struck at the Chinaman's face, but couldn't quite make the distance. Then water was poured on

en able to convey to Bert a hint of the conspiracy to destroy the Canal. The plot had been frustrated by Bert's daring exploit, and on the return of the party to America Wah Lee had again accompanied them. When they had pr

hey sat discussing the exciting events that his reappearance had brought back

g pretty late. We'll have plenty of time to chin before the summer's over. For I give you fair warning

cious and provided with every comfort. Th

ajestic, they towered upward in wild and rugged beauty. The moon had risen and the distant peaks were f

e shadow of that big rock in the Mexican for

the moon will ever again see us in such

Tom had not the