The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26
THE FASTENERS WIPE
Is. Y. SUNDAY Press. |

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ridden off toward the southwest. Pres
emily. as they were crossing wet bit of
land in hollow, Bill, who led the party,
looked sharply at the hoof prints sunk
deep in the soil and reined up quickly.
Look at that shoe mark" he ex-
claimed, pointing down at the trail.
by guns it's tn fasteners boss
shoe" calculated Sam Pike after an in
stant's scrutiny of the hoof prints. among
which were several larger than the rest
and showing the clear impress OF a shoe.
The others were those of urshod hoasOs
The party scanned the marks closely.
Then the men looked at each other with
ugly frowns.
"Well?" said Bill, tentatively, at last.
No one answered for moment. Then
Sam remarked: at looks bad for Their
Fastener, sure Tn haint anyone got
boss shoes like them in tn district 'cept
him. Pm sorry 4 tn feller's put his head
in ropes end, boys. But well have ter
foller him up. Who'll 90 back"
4 couple OF the party volunteered. The
men separated. Part OF them moved for
ward on the trail. The others turned
their horses at right angles to the former
line of march, and loped on toward the
Fasteners cabin.
The Fastener otherwise Jack Craig, OF
whom they had been speaking, Ind been
in Sage Bar only short time. lie was
teDderfoot out and out. When he came
TO the Bar he brought his wife with him.
She was a bright, pretty little woman, but
they hardly knew her ia the settlement.
Craig always had been reserved. and the
two had kept by themselves in the little
oh otnnI n mia
from town. So Sage Bar had come to con-
slider the pair queer lot" and to desig-
nate them as 9TH Fastener an his wife,
which was intended TO be anything but
complimentary.
When the trailing party refined up in
front of Craig's cabin they found the OBJ
ject of their search sitting on log before
the door smoking. From his dress, be-
spattered with mud, it was evident that
he had just returned from riding. The
party exchanged glances of understand
ing.
Sam Pike came to the point at once
Craig" he said, yer wanted down ter
Tia bar"
whats that?" demanded the Eastern
er, sngrilv.
Eyer wanted down ter the barW Sam
repeated. "For boss stealingW he added.
Craig's face was ahame in an instant.
de sprang from his seat, throwing back
his hand to his hip. But the others had
him covered. and his hand dropped
loosely by his side again. ats q damned
lie. he said, land YOU know il W
Just then a woman's figure appeared In
the cabin doorway. 1t was Craigs wife.
What's the matter" she questioned
anxiously, seeing her husbands atti-
tude.
Craig spoke up quickly: "Go back.
Dolly They've got up dirty story about
me and want me to 90 to the bar. Bat
III come back all right in little while"
Sam hsd a great fear Of woman's tongues
and tears and Immediately ordered Craig
to mount u horse which another man at a
word secured from the stable near by.
The woman had looked on dumbly, SEEM
ing hardly TO comprehend what was
taking place, but as she saw her husband
walk over toward the horse. she ran 10
him and threw both arms about him,
holding him tight TO her. He unciasped
her arms gently after an instant and
mounted the horse and, turning in the
saddle, waved his hand at her. Then
they rode away. and after they had gone
a piece Sam looked back and saw the wo-
man still standing there, her hands
loosely locked before her. watching them
with wide open eyes. shes grit ter tn
back bone, muttered that worthy, and
dashed his horse into gallop.
All Sage Bar crowded around the party
when they drew rein in town, and there
were some who would have strung Craig
up upon the spot when Sam had told his
story. Sage Bar was in that stage OF prog
ress where horse-stealing was q capital Of
Tense and short shrifJ was granted to
offenders But Sans protest that nothing
should be done until the Hines party re-
turned was needed, and the prisoner was
put in an empty cabin, lied hand and foot,
several of the men agreeing TO stand guard.
The afternoon waned away and evening
came and the Hines party did not make
it's appearance. So Craig was given some
thing 10 eat and then was fastened tightly
once more, and the men rolled themsel YES
up in their blankets in front of the cabin
about IL o'clock, leaving only 10 Stetson
on guard.
Stetson sat himself down on a stump
and lit pipe, and with his rifle across his
knees fell to thinking about some may
ericks" he'd had branded that day. Pres
entity he imagined he heard soft stop
from the prairie. He raised his head and
listened Just then the moon showed
a rim beyond a sailing cloud. and its
light fell on igure-a wOman's figure
making it's way toward the cabin. Stet-
son rose to his feet, letting his rifle butt
drop on the ground, and CurlOuslY sur
veyed the woman, who was close to him
now. Il was the Fasteners wife.
rs be in there2" she said, her voice
| trembling a bit.
Yes" answered Stetson.
Can see him." che asked. "0nly
for a moment" SHE added
Cant do it, marm," said Stetson. de-
cidedlv.
For moment she was quiet looking
and uncasping her hands softly. The
man hoped she would go. he had hated
/ to say no and he didn't know bow long
/ his determination to refuse would last.
! 'But they say they are going TO try him
/ tomorrow, and 1 mayn't get another
i chance" She looked ct him so sadly and
yet so bravely witha that Stetson wavered
and was lost.
For five minutes, then, no more" he
said, hall ropenting OF his words the III.
slant they were uttered.
But he unlocked the cabin door for bel
and locked it behind her again. Then ht
stood outside the door cursing himself
| Presently there was a rap from the inside
| OF the cabin. and, much relieved, he un
did the door. But he kept his finger OF
the hammer oil his rifle as he stooC
aside to allow her TO pass.
She came out quickly. Stetson turned
and bent to fasten the door. As he did 81