The National tribune., 1891-12-24

his young wife, so kind hearted and charitable
20 the oppressed race. say IL she knew Of this
ruthless murdesI The squaw, perhaps. was
one OF her chosen companions. For n few mo-
ments these thoughts chased each other through
his brain; his anguish was terrible, and he
wished he could recall hEs rash act. But his
compunctions soon subsided. for upon looking
again TO where the woman was, he saw her
standing, gazing intently at him and making
some motions with her fingers which he did
not understand. Then as she commenced 20
walk slowly away from him through the SON.
Der forest, vengeance unmistakably depicted in
every line Of her face. he felt all the inherent
animOsty OF his nature como cOnvulsively TO
his mind, and he "chuckfed inwardIy that he
had put another of the dad burned, no count
cusses out'en his wayH
THIS MURDERER IN THE SOLITUDE OF THE
RANGE
did not, like Eugene Aram, make any attempt
TO conceal the object Of his unwarranted ven
geanee; the code Of the Border " implied no
such precaution among its rules; so the now
hardened Dick left the bones of his victim TO
be picked by the gray wolves, those ghouls of
the mountains, and to bleach in the wintry
sun.
As soon as breakfast was disposed Of one
morning few days after Dick had told Clariss
he was going away. be gathered and assorted
his accumulation OF furs, packed them on three
burros, and started on horseback over the
trail FOR the old Mexican village Of Ryado.
lie had always found a quick market there at
the Agency store. aud had never traded else
where since his settlement in the Territory;
but he had not as yet visited the place in per-
son, SO 10th had he been to leave Clariss even
for ono night. He had been In the habit of
tFansacting all his business through the con-
ductors OF the Overland Coaches, who, for a
small commission, received his skins at the
station on Ute Creek, transported them to
Ryado, sold them and brought back on the re-
turn trip such things as were needed and tho
balance IN money. By this method Of an agent
DICK could 20 TO the station and reach home
again before night, consideration that was
lovingly appreciated by Ciariss
he trip TO the village occupied four days Of
DICK time, but TO ClaTiss il seemed an age, for
II was his first absence over night since they
were married. He arrived home about sun
down, his animals laden with an ample supply
oil Hour. bacon, c0iiee, sugar, and other things
necessary TO ClAriss's comfort sufficient to last
SIX or eight weeks, the proposed duration of his
hunting expedition TO the Spanish Peaks.
The morning after his return Dick again
discussed the question with ClaTiSs of his going
away, and while he made his preparations COM
torted her as well as his rough nature permitted,
for he was really grieved to leave her. After
dinner WAS over lie gave her some more minute
NAiNNbioh7 "Aah " 10 ul5 AUHtnGts anu
when everything was ready took an affection
ate farewell, struck out for the we'll worn trail
through the canyon and along the brink Of the
mesa ahoveit. He was mounted on his fayorite
American horse which he had brought from
Kentucky, aud named for his native State.
driving before him two bnrros on whose backs
were packed his simple camp equipage and pro-
visions, while following were his two insepara-
Die companions when hunting. two thorough
bred deerhounds, Bruce aud Pont Resting
across the horn OF his saddle. silver mounted
affair, was an oId-fashioned rife, but as true as
problem in Euclid an heirloom through three
generations, which, next 10 bis young wife, he
loved better than all his.other possessions, for
IL bad never yet played him false when he
pulled the trigger
Clariss, her soul filed with sorrow sat on a
projecting ledge OF rock near the door Of her
cabin watching her husband as his horse strug-
gled up the ziz-zag tiTHt marked the PERCEPTIONS
trail on the mountains side; remained there
until long after he. had disappeared, and the
shadows fell in the little valley and tho notified
owls commenced their melancholy screeeh from
the tops of the blasted pines. Then when night
covered the canyon. hhd dnly the faintest tinga
of purple marked the line Of the serrated hill
cresis, she sadly entered her now desoiate hut
nearly heart broken.
10 br c0tllinned.l