Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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OF THE BORDER A TALE OF THE PLAINS By RANDALL FAMISH Author of "MY LADY OT THE SOUTH." ~*HBN WTLD?JLNEM WAS RING." ale to DtAMOt.N UlLVILL. {o?pfTKM^ a. a. swews a Co.. mo.) The negro ?nded the affair In hit wsy. clawing blindly at the con> tartan ts tn the darknaaa. and finally, data*mining wbloh was the enemy, be ?truck the gambler with the ?took of hie gnn, laying htm out unconscious. Keith, grasping the table, hauled hlm aslf to bis feet, gasping for breath, gartsJD only that Hawlay waa no longer struggling. F\>r an Instant all was blank, a mist of black vapor; then a realisation of their Situation came hack tn sudden flood of remembrance. t>ei yet ha could see nothing, but fait tjm motion less figure at his feet. <3ulck. be urged, the Instant ha ild maks himself speak. "The fel They Were Fighting for Lira Silently, Desperately. taw is only stunned; we must tie and gag him. la that you. Neb? Where Is the gtrl^ I *T ara bare, Captain Keith." and he Ward the soft rustle of ber dress ?gross the room. "What Is It I may j dor "\ con of nip*, or some straps, with si (lace of cloth; anything you can lay hands on." | ?be waa some moments at it, con by the darkness, and Hawley red allghtly. bis labored breathing grow tog plainly peroeptlble. Keith rd her groping toward htm. and d out his hands She started aa he thus uneipectedly touched her. yet aaade no effort to break away. -You--you frightened me a little," aha confessed. 'This baa all happen ad so quickly I hardly realise yet just what has occurred " The sctloti has only really begun." he assured her. still retaining bis hold upon her hand. "This was merely a preliminary skirmish, and you ruus* prepare to bear your part tn what folio** Ws bare settled Mr. Hawley for the present, and now must deal with his gang." "Oh. whst would I have done If yon not been here*" "Lst us not think about that; we re her?, and now hare a busy night >re us If we get away safely, (live the rope first. Good! Here, N^b. must know how to use this- not >1ght. but without leaving any play is anhs; take the knife out of his Now for the cloth. Miss Ualra." Mease do not call me that!' tut you said It didn't make as? defence what I called you." I though It dldn t then, but It doea "Oh. I sea, we are sir sad 7 on a new ?Xing Yet 1 must call you some? thing . 8h? hesitated just long enough for him to notice it Either she had no smbstltute ready at hand, or else doubt ad the advisablUty of confiding her name under present clrcumstancee ? one so nearly a stranger "You may call ma Hope." "A name certainly of good omen," ? returned. "From this moment I II forget Christie Mac lair*, and re? member only Mtae Hop?v All right, Nab; now turn ovsr a c'ialr, and sit your man up against IL He will rest all ths easier la 'hat position until his gang arrives," Ha thrust his head out of the door, peering cautiously forth into the night, smd listening. A ttngls horse, prob? ably tbs one Hawley had been riding, waa tied to a dwarfed cotton wood near ths corner of the cabin. Nothing else Uilng was visible "1 am going to round up our horses, and learn the condition of Hawley s outfit." hi announced In a low voice. "1 may be gone for fifteen or twenty minute*, and, meanwhile. Miss Hope, gat ready for a long rhK Nob. stand here ck>?e besldo ths door, snd If any oos tries to come In brain him with your gun-stock. I'll r?*p thr??e times whsn I NftVtV" He slipped out Into the Kftlgot night, ami pjsjpl < autloualy aroun the end of the dark cabin. The distinct chants In tbs girl's attltuds of friendship to? ward him. h?r every evldom thst ha should think well of her. to gether with tn" providential OppOTl 1 nlty for escape, had left Mm full of gonfldrnce The gambler had pla 1 their was Quick enough to accept the ad? vantage. It waa a risk to himself, to be sure, thus turning again to the northward, yet the clear duty be owed the girl left such a choice almost Im? perative. He certainly could not drag her along with htm oo his night Into the wild Comancre country extend? ing beyond the Canadian. She must, at the very least, bo first returned to the protection ot tbo Beml-clvillzation along the Arkansas, After that had been accomplished, he would consider bis own safety. He wondered if Hope really was her name, and whether it waa the family cognomen, or ber given name. That she was Christie Maclairo be bad no question, yet that artlstio embellishment was probably merely assumed for the work of the concert ball. Both he and Hawley could scarcely be mistaken as to ber Identi? ty In this respect, and, indeed, she bad never openly denied the fact Yet she did not at all seem to be that kind, and Keith mentally contrasted ber with numerous others whom he bad somewhat Intimately known along the border circuit It waa difficult to as? sociate her with that class; she must have come originally from some excel? lent family East and been diiveu to the life by necessity; she was core to be pitied than blamed. Keith held no puritanical views of life?his own ex? periences had been too rough and democratic for that?yet he clung te? naciously to an Ideal of womanhood which could not be lowered. However Interested he might otherwise feel, no Christie Maclaire could ever find entrance into the deepa of his heart, where dwelt alone the memory of his mother. He found the other horses turned lnt/> the corral, and waa able, from their restless movements, to decide they numbered eight A fire, nearly extinguished, glowed dully at the farther corner of the enclosure, and he crawled cloee enough to distinguish the recumbent forms of men sleeping about It on the ground. Apparently no guard had been set the fellows be tng worn out from their long ride, and confident of safetly in this Isolated spot. Besides, Hawley had probably assumed that duty, and told them to get whatever sleep they could. How? ever, the gate of the corral opened be? side their fire, and Keith dare not venture upon roping any of their ponies, or leading them out past where they slept There might be clippers in the cabin with which be could cut the wires, yet If one of the gang awoke, and discovered the herd absent, It would result la an alarm, and lead to early pursuit It was far safer to use their own ponies. He would lead Hawley's horse quietly through the water, and they could mount on the other shore. This plan settled, he went at It swiftly, riding ; the captured animal while rounding up the others, and fastening the three to stunted trees on the opposite bank. Everything within the cabin remained exactly as he bad left it, and he briefly explained the situation, examing Haw? ley's bonds again carefully while do? ing so. "Heil remain there all right until his men find hlm.M he declared, posi? tively, "and that ought to give us n Rood six hours' start. Come, Miss Hope, every minuto counts now." Ho held her arm, not unconscious of its round shapeliness, as he helped her down the rather steep bank through the* den.se gloom Then the two men Joined hinds, and carrying her be* tween them, waded the shallow stream. The horses, nor yet sufficient? ly rested to be frl9ky. accepted tbe'f burdens me?kl} enough, and. with, scarcely a word spoken, the three rode away silently Into the gloom of tho night CHAPTER XII. Through the Night Shad:\*a. Keith had very little to guld" Mr. as he could not determine wb*th< t this mysterious cabin on the Sa't Ft r lay to east or west of the usual CSttiti I r The Eaay banner In Which She Rode Relieved Him of Anxiety. trail leading down to the Canadian. Yet he felt reasonably assured that the general trend of the country lying between the smaller stream and the valley of the Arkansas would be slrnl lar to that with which he was already acquainted it was Barely a mild Stretch of sandy desolation, across whlrh thetf horses would leave scarea ly any trail, and tvwfl that little would be anjekly obliterated bj Ihs Aral pofl of sind Ah th??s In?*. If) toward the ri\?r Valley this plain would change Into lall?] dunes, baffling and confus 1 I hut no matter how hard thej lir?'SHrd forward. It must he daylight long aeioya they oonld bops to reach thSQS, an.I this would kIv" Blfg OppOf twaltj to spy out aotne familiar land mark Which would guide then tO the lord Meanwhile, be nrost h?nd ^ d1 recth nortl i smtnle, trusting the horses to find footing. It was plains Instinct, or rather long training iu the open, which en? abled him to retain any true sense of direction) for beyond the narrow fringe of QOttOQWOOdj along the Stream, nothing wan visible, the eyes scarcely able even to distinguish where earth and sky mot. They ad? vanced across a bare level, without elevation or depression, vet the sand appeared sufficiently solid, so that their horses were forced into a swing- i lug lope, and they seemed to fai'ly I press aside the black curtain, which j as Instantly swung shut once more, and closed them In. The pounding boots' made little noise, and thay i pressed steadily onward. closely [ bunched together, so as not to lose I each other, dim, spectral shadows flit- i ting through the night, a very part of ! that grim absolution surrounding j ! them. No one of the three felt like , speaking; the gloomy, brooding des- ! ert oppressed them, their vagrant thoughts assuming the tinge of their j surrundings; their hope centered on j escape. Keith rode, grasping the rein j of the woman's horse in his left hand, and bending low in vain effort at pick- l Ing a path. He had nothing to aim toward, yet sturdy confidence in his expert plalnscraft yielded bim suffi? cient sense of direction. He had noted the bark of the cottonwoods, the direc? tion of the wind, and steered a course accordingly straight northward, alert to avert any variation. j I The girl rode easily, although In a man's saddle, the stirrups much too long. Keith glanced aside with swift approval at the erectness with which she sat, the loosened rein In her hand, the slight swaying of her form. He could appreciate horsemanship, and the easy manner in which she rode relieved him of one anxiety. It even caused him to break the silence. "You are evidently accustomed to riding. Miss Hope." She glanced across at him through the darkness, as though suddenly sur? prised from thought, her words not coming quickly. "I cannot remember when I first mounted a horse; In earliest child? hood, surely, although I have not rid? den much of late. This one. is like a rocking chair." "He belonged to your friend. Mr. Hawley." She drew a quick breath, her face again turned forward. "Who?who Is that man? Do you know?" "I possess a passing acquaintance." he answered, uncertain yet how mucjl to tell her, but tempted to reveal all In test of her real character. "Few do not who live along the Kansas bor? der." "Do you mean he Is a notoriously bad character?" "1 have never heard of his being held up as a model to the young, Miss Miss Hope," he returned more soberly, convinced that she truly possessed no real knowledge regarding the man, snd was not merely pretending inno? cence. "I had never heard him called Hawley before, and. therefore, failed to recognize him under that respect? able name. Hut 1 knew his voice the moment he entered tho cabin, and real? ized that some devilment was afoot. Every town along this frontier has his rec >nl, snd I've met him maybe a daitn times Ifl the past three \ears. He is known as Black Bart;' is a rambler by precession, a desperado jv reputation, and a ur by nature. Just HOW 1 suspect him of being even deep? er in the mire than this." He could tfll by the quick clasping of her hands on the pommel of the saddle the effect of his words, but waited until the silence compelled her to speak, "Oh. I didn't know ! You do not be? lieve that 1 ever suspected such a thing? That I ever met him there und? r landing who he Wti?" "No, 1 do not." he answered. "What I overheard between you convinced me you were the victim of deceit. But your going to that place alone was a most reckless act." I She lifted her hand to her eyes, her head drooping forward. I "Wasn't it what he told me?the out-station of a ranch?" "No; I have ridden this country for years, and there Is no ranch pasturing cattle along the Salt Fork. Miss Hope, I want you to comprehend what it Is you have escaped from; what you are j now fleeing from. Within the last two I years an apparently organized body of outlaws have been operating throughout this entire region. Often? times disguised as Indians, they have terrorised tho Banta Fe trail for two hundred miles, killing travelers In small parties, and driving off stock. There are few ranches as far west as this, but these have all suffered from raids. These fellows have done more to precipitate the present Indian war than any act of the savages. They have endeavored to make the authori? ties believe that Indians were guilty of their deeds of murder and robbery. Both troops and volunteers have tried to bold the gang up, but they scatter and disappear, as though swallowed by the desert. I have been out twice, hard on their trail, only to come back baffled. Now, I think accident has given me the clue." Bhe Straightened up; glancing ques j tfoningly at bin through the dark? ness. "This is what I mean, Miss Hope. I suspect that caLln to be tho ren? dezvous of those fellows, and I half believe Hawley to be their leader." "Then you will report all this to the authorities0" He smiled grimly, Ms lips coin pressed. 1 hardly think so, at le<tst. not for Ids pr? sent I am not blood thirsty, or enamored of man hunting, but I happen to bare a personal Interest in this particular affair which I should prefer tO settle alone." He paused. swiftly reviewing the circumstances of their short acquaintance and as suddenly determined to trust her ?Iis cretton. Deep down In hie heart he rather wanted her to know. 'The fact Of the matter is, that Neb and I here were the ones that particular posse were trailing." "You!" her voice faltered. "He Faid those men were under arrest for murder, and had broken Jail." "He also said it was easy to con? vict men in this country if you only knew how. It Is true we broke Jail, but only in order to save our lives; it waa the only way. Technically, we are outlaws, and now run the risk of Immediate re-arrest by returning north of the Arkansas. We came to ! you fugitives; I was charged with murder, the negro with assault. So, you 6ee, Miss Hope, the desperate ; class of meu you are now associating wlth.M The alight bitterness in his tone stung the girl into rebentment. She I was looking straight at him, but In 1 the g'.ooru he could not discern the expression of her eyes. "I don't believe it," ?he exclaimed ; decisively, "you?you do not look like ; that!" I "My appearance may be sufficient to i convince you," he returned, rather dry ! ly, "but would weigh little before a I Western court. Unfortunately, the evidence was strong against me; or would have been had the case ever come to a trial. The strange thing about It was that both warrants were : sworn out by the same complainant, I and apparently for a similar purpose? > 'Black Barf Hawley." , I "What purpose?" I "To keep us irom telling what we I knew regarding a certain crime, In ! which either he, or some of Mb Inti? mate friends, were deeply Interested." I "But it would all come out at the trial, wouldn't it?" I "There was to be no trial; Judge Lynch settles the majority of such cases out here at present. It Is ex? tremely simple. Listen, and I will tell you the story." He reviewed briefly those occur? rences heading directly up to his ar? rest, saying little regarding the hor : ror? of that scene witnessed near the Clmmaron Crossing, but making suffi? ciently clear his very slight conneo 1 tlon with it, and the reason those who were guilty of the crime were so anx . ions to get blm out of the way. She listened intently, asking few ques ' tlons, until he ended. Then they both looked up, conBcious that dawn was becoming gray in the east. Keith's first thought was one of relief?the bright sky showed Mm tbey were rid? ing straight r.orth. CHAPTER XIII. The Ford of the Arkrnsas. They were still in fhe midst of the yellow featureless plain, but the weary horses had slowed down to a walk, the heavy sand retarding progress. It was a gloomy, depressing scene in the spectral gray ll\?ht. a wide circle of intense loneliness, unbroken by either dwarfed shrub or bunch of crass, a barren expanse stretching to the sky. Vague cloud shadows seemed to flit ac.oss the level surface, assuming fan? tastic shapes, but all of the tame dull coloring, Imperfect and un 'nished. Nothing seemed legible or reu!, but rather some grotesque picture of de? lirium, ever merging into another y? I more hideous. The very silence of those surrounding wastes seemed bur? densome, adding Immeaaurab'.y to the horror. Thej were but sitcks crawl? ing underneath the sky?the only liv? ing, moving objects In ail thut im? mens?' circle of desolation and death. Kpith turned In his saddle, looking I back ppst Neb?who swayed III his seat, with head lolling c.i his breast as though asleep, his horse plodding after the others?along the slight trail they had made across the desert. So far as eye could reach nothing moved, nothing apparently existed. Fronting again to the north he looked upon the same grim barrenness, only that far off, against the lighter background of distant sky, there was visible a faint blur, a bluish haze, which he believed to be the distant sand dunes border , lng the Arkansas. The intense dreari? ness of it all left a feeling of depression. HIb eyes turned and regarded the girl I riding silently beside him. The same look of depression was visible upon her face, and she was gazing off into the dull distance with lack luster eyes, her Blender form leaning forward, her j hands clasped across the pommel. j The long weariness of the night had ! left traces on her young face, robbing It of some of its freshness, yet Keith found it more attractive In the grow? ing daylight than amid the lamp shad ; ows of the evening before. He had not previously realized the peculiar clearness of her complexion, the rose tint showing through the olive skin, or the soft and silky fineness of her hair, which, disarranged, was strange? ly becoming under the broad brim of the hat Bhe wore, drawn low until It shadowed her eyes. It was not a face to be easily associated with frontier concert halls, or any surrender to evil; the chin round and firm, the lips , full, yet sufficiently compressed; the 1 whole expression that of pure and dignified womanhood. She puzzled him. and he scarcely knew what to believe, or exactly how to act toward her. "Our friends back yonder should be turning out from the corral by now." he said finally, anxious to break the sllenc? . for she had not spoken since he en< ed his tale "It will not !>?? lung until thej discover Hawley's predicament, and perhaps the welkin already rings with profanity That may even account for the blue haze out yonder." Site turned her eyes toward him, and the slightest trace of a smile ap? peared from out of the depths of their . weariness "If they would only remain satisfied with that. Will they follow UK, dd you think'' And are we far enough away by thi ttme to be safe?" * It is bar. lv likely they will let us ' escape withi ut a chase," he answered slowly. "W I possess tf>^* much LnfOI mat Ion now that w*? have their ren? dezvous loci ted, and 'Black Barf w ill have a priv its grudge to revenge. I wonder if \ e susu^cts who attacked him! But ion't worry, Mis* Hi . we have milei the start, and the wind has bten Bt *ong enough to cover I I r trail. Do >( u bee that dark irregular' lty ahead?" "Yes; is 1 a cloud?" "No; the Arkansas sand dunes. I am going t > try to keep the hordes moving unt 1 we arrive there. Then we will ha t and eat whatever N"b has packed behind him, and rest for an hour ox wo. You look very tired, but 1 hope you can keep up for that distance, Ve shall be safely out of sight then." j "Indeed, I am tired; the strain of waiting alo io in that cabin, and all that happer od last night, have tried me severei; . But?but I can go through." Her voice proved her weakness, al? though It w is determined enough, and Keith, yield ng to sudden impulse, put out his hand, and permitted it to rest upon hers, clasped across the pommel. Her eyes d*ooped, but there was no change of i osture. "Your ne ve is all right," he said, admiringly, "you have shown yourselt a brave girl " "I could lot be a coward, and be my fathers daughter," she replied, with an od 1 accent of pride in her choking voice, "but I have been afraid, and?and I Itn still." "Of what ? Surely, not that those fellows will ever catch up with us?" "No, I haidly know what, only there is a dread I cannot seem to shake off, as If some ;vil Impended, the coming of which I can feel, but not see. Have you ever ecperienced any such pre? monition?" He laugh >d. withdrawing his hand. "I think 10t. I am far too prosaic a mortal to allow dreams to worry me. So far I liave discovered sufficient trouble In i eal life to keep my brain active. Ev( n now I cannot forget how hungry I ain." She did rot answer, comprehending how useles i it would be to explain, and a little ashamed of her own ill defined fear?, and thus they rode on In silence. H i did not notice that she glanced asi le at him shyly, marking the outline of his clear cut features, It was a nunly face, strong, alive, full of characb r, the well-shaped head firmly pois*d, the broad shoulders squared In spite of the long night of wean* exer .lon. The depths of her eyes bright med with appreciation. "I believ. your story. Mr. Keith," she said at last softly. "My story?" questionlngly. and turn? ing instantly toward her. "Yes: all that you have told me about what happened." "Oh; I hid almost forgotten having told it. but [ never felt any doubt but what you w )uld be?eve. I don't think I could lie o you." It was n<? compliment, but spoken with such svideni honesty that her eyes met h s with frankness. "Therp o< uld be no necessity; on'y I wanted >ou to know that I trust you. and a:r. grateful." She exte ided her hand this time, and he took It within his own. holding it firmly, yet without knowing what to answer. There was strong impu'-e within him to question her. to le<>rn then and th ^re her own life story. Yet, somehow. hr? reticence of the girl restrained l;lm; he could not deliber? ately pr^be beneath tho veil she kept lowered b tween them, rntil she chose to lit it herself >.\ 'untarlly, he possessed i o right to intrude. Ths gentlemanly instincts of younger years held dm silent, realizing clear? ly that whatever secret might domi? nate her lile, It was hers to conceal Just so Ion/; as she pleased. Out of this swift itruggle of repression he managed to say: "I appreciate your confidence, and mean to prcve worthy. Perhaps some day I can b ing you the proofs." "I need i one other than your own word." "Oh, but )osslbly you are too easily convinced; you believed In Hawley." She looked at him searchlngly, her eyes glowinj, her cheeks flushed. "Yes," sh ? said slowly, convincing? ly. "I know I did; I?I was so anx? ious to be helped, but?but this is dif? ferent." It was iuu n. the sun pitiless and hot above then. before they straggled within the partial shelter of the sand dunes, and i ank wearily down to their meager lun< h. Their supply of water was limited, and the exhausted ponies must wait u itU they reached the river to quench taeir thirst Yet this was j very far off now, and Keith had seen enough of tlielr surroundings to locate ; the position of the ford. Slow as they ! must proceej, three hours more would j surely brin* them to the bank of the stream. Tl ey discussed their plans briefly as the three sat together on the warm tand, revived both by the food and tl e brief rest. There was not a grea deal tj be determined, only where :he girl should be left, and how the tw ) men had hetter proceed , to escape oiservation. Fort Lamed was the nearest and safest place for their charge, none of the party e>pressing any desire to ad? venture then: elves within the Imme dlate neighborhood of Carson City. What her future plans might be were not reveals . atijl K< 1th fon bore any direct <pies loning. Ills duty plainly ended with placing her In i safe en? vironment, ind he felt convinced that Mrs. Murph . of tho Occidental Motel, would fund, h room, and, if necessary, companions)dp, The sole problem re? maining af er she bad rather littles* 1> agreed t > such an arrangement? a ms to Hi> pltO the details as to permit the n? gro a id himself to slip through the small own clustered about the pott wlthoi t attracting undue atten? tion. No d?'Ubt. the storv of their es jape ha<1 already reached there, em bellished by telling, and serious trou? ble might result from discovery Keith was surprised a.t the slight Interest she exhibited In these arrangements, merely signifying her acquiescence by a word, but he charged it to physical weariness, and the reaction from her night of peril; yet he took pains to explain fully his plan, and to gain her consent. This finally settled, they mounted again and rode on through the lan^s traversing the sand dunes, keeping headed as straight as possible toward the river. The ford sought was some miles down stream, but with the horses' thirst mitigated, they made excellent progress, and arrived at the spot early in the evening. Not In all the day had they encountered a liv? ing object, or seen a moving thing amid the surrounding desolation. Now, looking across to the north, a few gleaming lights told of Fort Turned perched upon the opposite Muffs. CHAPTER XIV. The Land ady of the Occidental. Keith had crossed at this point so frequently with cattle that, once hav? ing his hearings, the blackness of the night made very little difference. Nevertheless, In fear lesr her pony might stumble over some Irregularity, he gave his own rein to Neb. and went forward on foot, grasping firmly the tired animal's bit It was a long stretch of sand and water extending from bank to bank, but the water was shallow, the only danger being that of straying off from the more solid bottom into quicksand. With a tower? ing cottonwood as guide, oddly mis? shapen and standing out gauntly against the slightly lighter sky, the plainsman led on unhesitatingly, until they began to climb the rather sharp uplift of the north bank. Here there was a plain trail, pounded into smooth? ness by the hoofs of cavalry horses ridden down to water, and at the gum I mit they emerged within fcfty yards of the stables. The few lights visible, some statlon [ ary, with oth, ? s dancing about like wlll-o'-the-wlsps, revealed imperfectly the contour of various buildings, but Keith turned sharply to the right, anx? ious to slip past without being chal? lenged by a sentry. Beyond the brow of the bluff other lights aow became visible, flickering here and there, marking where a straggling town had sprung up under the protection or the post?a town garish enough In the daylight, composed mostly of shacks and tents, but low with Its deficien? cies mercifully concealed by the en? veloping darkness. The trail, easily followed, led directly along its single street, but Keith circled the outskirts through a wilderness of tin-cans and heaps of other debris, until he halted his charges beside the b';ack shadow of the cnly two-story edifice in the place. Tnis was the Occidental, the hospitality of which he had frequently tested. A light streamed from out the front windows, but. uncertain who might be harbored w'thin. Keith tapped gently at the back door. It was not opened immediately, and when it was finally shoved aside the merest crack, no glow of light revealed the darkened interior. The voice which spoke, how? ever, was amply sufficient to identify itf owner. "Ts that ye agin. Murphy, a playln' av yer dlrthy thricks?" "No. Mrs. Murphy," he hastened to e^p'ain. this Is Keith?Jack Keith, Li the Bar X.'" "Shure It's Safe It la Yer Goin' Ter Be Here." "The Ix)rd deliver us!" was the In? stant exclamation, the door opening wide. "They do be either tellin' me tonight av the throuble ye was in over at Carson, an' Oi fought maybe ye moight turn up this way. It was a nate trick ye played on the lolkee av 'em, Jack, but this Is a dom poor place fer ye ter hide In. Bed ad, there's a half dozen in the parly now talkln* about it, wid a couple av officers from the fort. Is the nager wid ye?" "Yes, hut we have no Intention of hiding here. I'd rather take my chance in the open. The fact is. Kate, WO started off for the 'Bar X.' " "Av course, ye did; Oi was shure av it." "But d<?\vn on the Salt Fork we ran across a young girl whom Black Bart had Invelg ed down that way on a 11a. We bed a bit of a fight, and got her away from him. This Is what brought us hack here to put the girl where ?he will be safe out of his clutches." The door wus wide open now, and Mrs Murphy outside, her interest at fever heat. "Ye bad a folnht wid Black Bart' Oh. ye dlvtll An' ye licked the dirthy spalpane, an' got away wid his gyurl' Clory he! And would Ol take htr* Continued on page seven.