“A #ofy you are not goftg, air?" tbe ’ vlrtoc« «He blow at the merchant «nA »ai J. "You are not fit.” throwing himself upon th» ■»rgesne'- W < PRATT R. E. PER5HBAKER “J i* c* Sot, I am going,” Ezra sai l horae, regardlra« of a bullet from the lat Ve-Oiutely. “If I have to be »trapped to tat’a carbine, he galloped away and wa I my bora* I'll go." speedily out of range. Aa to William* A greij Concourse of people had as­ from the beginning of the »kirmish, b" Dealen» in sembled by this time, attracted by the re­ had lain face downwards u|>on the ground, port of the robbery. I he whole square twist.ng his thin limbs about in an agon-, GARFIELD & VON l’EGERT in front of the hotel was crowded wil.i of fear, and howling for mercy. digger» and storekeepers and luuMM- "He's gone,” Ezra said, ruefully, gaz Kaffirs, all pre-s ng up to the portico ing after the fugitive. “We have nothin, HIGHEST PRICE FOR FARM PRODUCE to go after him with.” pn the bops of bearding boom < - "I’m well nigh gone myself," said th> There was a buzz of excitement among Prosper Oregon th»> crowd when Ezra appeared on th* policeman, mopping up tbe blood from hi- sli ps of the hotel, looking as white as a I stab, which was more pa.nful than dan sheet, with a liandkerchief bound round gerous. "He has given me a nasty prod.' "Never mind, my friend, you shall .tot his head and bis collar all crusted with blood. As he mounted his horse one of bo the loser. Get up”—thia to Williams, A CONAN DOYLE who was still writhing himself into the h.s emissaries rushed to him. Turned Shafting, Cap and Set Screws, Machine Bolts, Pipa “If you please, sir,” he said, “they have most extraordinary attitudes. "Oh, plea.se, Mr. Gircilestone," he cried, and Fittings, Brass Work tak» n the < 'apetown road. A dozen people • rWVfrf ♦f-ft+W-rWVVx saw them. Their horses were not up lo clutching at Ezra's boots with his long, much, for I know the man they got them thin lingers, "it wasn't me that hit you. GENERAL REPAIRING It was Mr. Burt. 1 had nothing to f St. Patrick’» tnayb». What latosh began, "to l«arn if you h»d anr scattered over it in patche». will that matter? I've enjoyed mywelf” — in Connection Good Treatment Call and See M« commands for us." Out once more upon the Capetown road the dying man'» eyes gliatened at tha “I told you before that I had not." it waa a clear race between the purauera thought ot past dissipation*. "If I had Oregon ; Ezra said curtly. "1 am going on Satur and the puraued. Tbe former knew that my time to do over again,” ha continued, day. I have made a mistake in speculat­ the fugitive», were it daytime, would pos­ “I'd enjoy rayself the same way. I'm ing on those diamonds. Price» are sink­ sibly be within sight of them, »nd the not penitent, sir. No deathbed sniveling ing lower and lower." thought gave them additional ardor. The about me, or «hort cut« into heavan. “I am sorry to hear that,” said F'arin- sergeant having a fresh horse rode in That;« not wbat I wanted to aay, though. Formerly ANCHOR BAR tosh, sympathetically. "Maybe the mar I have a choking in the throat, but I daro- front, hi» head down, and his body for ALVIN MUNCK. Proprietor het will take a turn."' ward, getting every possible Inch of pace say you can hear what 1 am driving at. "Let us hope so.” the merchant «newer out of the animal. At his heels caiue You met a man driving toward« Jacob»- Ezra, on hi» gallant grey, tbe blood-stain­ dal, did you not?” •d “It doesn’t look like it.” Wagons of All Kinds Made to Order HorseHhoeing a Specialty Ezra nodded gullenly. Quick as a flash Burt sprang upon him ed handkerchief fluttering trom his head. Is Now Located in Fine New Quarter» Job Work attended to promptly and all work guaranteed to yrive satisfaction. Prices reas­ "Y’ou didn't speak to him? Too busy • nd struck him down with a life-preserv­ He was sitting very straight in his saddt» onable. Shop on Atwater Street, Bandon, Oregbn. East of the Postoffice I er. With a gasping cry and a heavy thrt.l with « set, stern smile upon, his lips. In trying to ok at hla •ietent with safe and conservative banking. Call and See Munck the stairs, take it coolly. Turn that lamp they «aw a solitary horseman riding down face ! It's whiter than mine. Hal ! m ! CORRESPONDENTS: The American National Bank, of San Francisco, Cal.. Merch­ ants National Bank, Portland Oregon; The Chase National Bank, of New York out, Williams, so that if any one looks the road. At first they had thought that ha!” With the laugh upon his lips, a Bank is open from 9 a. m. to 12 m., and 1 p. m. to 3 p. m. In he'll see nothin. Gome along!” The it might possibly be one of the fugitives great flow of blood stopped the clergy­ guilty trio stole out of the room, bearing who had turned.' but as he came nearer man’s utterance, and he rolled «lowly over their plunder with them, and walked they perceived that it was a stranger. upon hi» side, a dead man. (To be continued.) down the stairs of the hotel unmolest -d His clothes were so dusty and hi» hors- j»o foam flecked and weary that it wns «nd unharmed. evident that he also had left many a long ACCIDENT FAKIRS. The moon as it rose over the veldt that The New, Elegantly Fitted and Speedy Steamer flight shone <>n three horsemen »purrin’ mile, of road behind him. » "Have you seen three men on horse­ Vten Who Ara Able to Swindle th» It along the (’apetown road a» though ► ELIZABETH back?" cried Ezra, ns he approached. losuronce t’ompnnlea. » their very lives depend'sl ujein their «peel I "I spoke to them,” the traveler an­ ( APT. J. OLSEN. Master » “Accident insurance companies are Its calm, clear rays streamed over the si ► swered. "They are about half a mile steamer is new. is strongly built and fit ted with the latest improvements and will lent roofs of Kimberley and in through ■ very suspicious of all accidents involv­ » jrive ’Hi a is regular K day service, for passenger^ and freight, t«twern the Coquille river. Oregon, particular window of the Oriental Hotel, ahead.” ing injury to the knee, for it la bn hfs and San Francisco. E. T. KRUSE, managing ajient, 23 Market St.. San Francisco. “Gome.on ! Come on !" Ezra shouted. IS THE thi owing silvery patches upon the carpet J. f. WAI ST ROM, Agent, FUndon, Oregon. “I’jam bringing new» from Jagersfon- knee that the accident fakir mainly • nd casting strange shadows from the fig­ ■ relies." tein------ ” the man said. ure which lay as it had fallen huddled The speaker, a surgeon, frowned and "Come on! ” Ezra interrupted, furious ­ In an ungainly heap upon the floor. ly, and the horses stretched their stiff I went on: limbs into a feeble, lumbering gallop. Ezra "There are men who make a living CHAPTER IN. find the sergeant shot to the front, tnd ■ Ezra wa< endowed with rare vitality, the others followed as best they might. out of fake accidents. They travel from city to city; they Insure in every com­ which enabled him not only to shake ofT • California and Oregon Coast Steamship Co. Suddenly in the' stillness they heard far­ thy effects of his mishap, but. tq.do so away a dull rattling sound like the nat­ pany that Issues accident policies; in an extraordinary short space of dime. ter of distant castamts. "It's their then, with a fake Injury, they proceed There wns a groan from the prostrate fig horses' hoofs !” Cried Ezra, and the troop­ tp collect dues. ure,.then a feeble movement, then another J Now plying between Portland and Coos Bay only "An accident fakir—for so wo call ers behind raised a cheer to show that' and a louder groan. Gradually raising they, too.- understood the significance of these men—has usually a knee that he J WEEKLY TRIPS IN THE GREAT himself upon his elbow, he looked around the sound. ^can slip out at will. He purposely • GEO. D. GRAY 4 CO., Gen. Agents L. W. SHAW, Agent h.m in a bewildered way. with his oth«r It was a wid, lonely spo't, where the » 421 Market Street, San Francisco Marshfield. Phone 441 hand pressed to the wound at the tm -k plain was bare even of the scanty foliage stumbles over an open trap or some hard, sharp obstacle, put« his knee out of his head, from which n few narrow lit which usually covered it. Here and there tie rivulets of' blood were still meander great granite rock» protruded from the deftly, raises a big holler so as to ae- ing. riis glance wandered vaguely over cure a lot of witnesses and then hob­ brown •oil as though' Nature's covering th» table and the chairs and the walls, un­ had in bygone day» been rent until her bles home. til it rested uf>on the safe. He could »><• “He doesn't notify his Insurance com­ gaunt bones protruded through the In the moonlight that it waa open, and By then wound, As Ezra and the sergeant swept panies until tbe next day. empty. In a moment the whole circum­ round a sharp turn in the road they sa-v 1 his knee Is so swollen that an accurate stance« of the case'came back to him, and •orna little way ahead of them the three examination of It is Impossible. We he staggered to the bell with a horse cry I fugitives, enveloped in' a cloud of dust. I cannot tell whether It la one of thos» •f rage and of despair. Almost at tne same moment they heard a Whatever Eire's faults may have been. shout and crash behind them, and, look­ fake, aelf-allpping knees or not. So we On Regular Schedule Between Bandon and Irresolution or want of courage were not ing round, saw a confused heap upon 'lie pay the man hla money, and ha aeeka San Francisco among them. In a moment hs graaned ground. The horse of the leading trooper new pastures. “There was one man—he Is In Jal. the situation, and realised that it was ab­ had fallen from pure fatigue, and t.nd A. F. ESTABR(M)K 4 CO., ‘.*01 Merchants’ Exchange Building. San solutely essential that he should act, and rolled over upon its rider. The other now—who In nine year« collected over Francisco, Owners and General Agents. at once. The ttnnea must he recover.-d, trooper had dismounted. and was endea­ $11,000 In accident policies with the or utter and irretrievable min stared him voring to extricate his companion. BANDON COMMERCIAL CO.. Agents for Bandon and Coquille Valley help of a knee that he could-slip out- In the face. At hie cries and ringing the "Let u» see if he is hurt," the sergeant ns easily as I slip my hand out of my landlord and several attendants, white cried. glove." New Orleans Times Democrat and black, came rushing inter the room. “On ! on !" shouted Ezra, whose passion •‘I've been robbed »nd assaulted.” Ezra was increased by the sight of the thieves. Love 1» H«at. said, steadying himself against the Yuan- < • te!piece, for he was still weak and giddv. "Not a foot back." "And yon mean to say that football "He may have broken his neck,” grum­ “Don't alt start cackling, but do what 1 bled the sergeant, unalinging his carbine. player kissed you?” exclaimed the Irate < ask you. Light the lamp!” “Have your pistol ready, sir. We shall mother. Succetwor to HOOVER & MONDAY "Yes, ma." replied the blushing The lamp was-lit, and there wag a mur- bo up with them in a few minutes, ani 1 mbr fr.isn tlie little knot of Employe», re­ they may »how fight.” daughter. enforced by some late loungers at the bar. They were up with them rather sooner < “Why, the Idea ! Didn't I tell you If' Dealer in All Kinds of as they saw the disordered room and Pio than the policeman expected.- Farintosh, be tried to kiss you to yell 'Stopl' as < great crimson patch, ujion the carpet finding that speed was of no avail, ind loud as yon could?" “The thieves called at nine." _ < said ‘ — Ezra, that the number of his pursuers was now AND "I—I 'did. ma, but he had on his ear I?arm Produce Bought mi »U talking rapidly, but collectedly. "Their reduced to two, had recourse to strategy. guards and couldn't hear me." names w^re larintosh, Birrt and Wil- There was a sharp turn in the road a hun­ Having purchased this old anti well established business, and moved the same to tho Marshall building, east side Main street, we solicit a continuance of past generous patrouax«* Hams. It is now .half-pnst ten. so they dred yards ahead, and on reaching it the ffuaranteeinff honest ir<>ods. fair prices and courteous treatment to all. Proved Correct. have no very great start. You, Jamieson, throe flung themselves off their horse» and < Mlggles There's more truth than and you Van Muller, run out and find if lay down behind cover. As Ezra and the tlv ” men have been seen getting awiy. s' rgeant, the grey horse and the Isay, came poetry In that old saw, “Where there Perhaps the» took a buggy. Go up and. thundering round the curve, there was a la smoke there is Are.” 0 m • ■ 1 isk ill you om Y ou , Jon»», go fierce splutter of pistol shot» from Wiggle»—What do you know about as hard as you can to Inspector Ainsli*. nmongst the bushes, and the grey sank It? Tell him there has been robbery and at­ down upon its kne.o with a sobbing moan, Mlggles—It was against the rules to tempted murder, and say that 1 want struck mortally in the head. Ezra sprang hal' s