Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-05-25

"Bess?"
SIS that her Nance" said Jack.
"By thunder! you knew it was!"
and Sam drew closer, and looked dag
gers at the undisturbed face of the
man he hated.
Il did not ask her what her name
was" was the reply. II happened to
pull up there the other day, and this
very day, too. She is n pretty girl,
Sam; but Wen not discuss beauty
now. Where do you livc?'
Livid with Unsurpassed rage, Sam
could hardly talk, but he managd to
tell Jack that he had little ranch, and
was making n good living.
I'VE don't get to decorate to-mor-
row." said Jack, after n moments
silence
Il hadn't thought of that"
TITS the 3Oth, you know"
Yes"
The boys will get the wreath and
the eulogy, and we-why, hang it all,
Sam-we won't get anything
There was no reply, and Sam Ches-
ter looked at the old pard with eyes
that BODIED him no good.
They snapped army "reminiscences
to some extent, but Sam Chestcr's
heart was not in the game and he
soon withdrew, declining the invita-
ton to pass the night at Jack S shanty.
Sam Chester stood in front of his
shanty and saw the soaring vultures
as they SDread tucir wings over the
plain and swooped down upon the
fresh morsel which the night had
brought for the carrion feast.
1t was the day after his sudden in
terview with his old enemy
After breakfast he rode his ranch, as
was his custom, and then galloped
toward the little railroad station
where Bess held down the keys.
Gods. What was that?'
lie drew rein, and then stood erect
in his broad stirrups.
There's trouble at the station he
cried, sinking the spurs into the black
steed's bowels, and in an instant was
| off like the wind.
Horror came to his face when he
| rode out from the cacti and saw the
! little station-house.
Smoke was curling over a mass of
ruins, and as he fastened on he heard
| reports of firearms, and then caught
| sight of some men who were not In
dams circling off over the sand.
Bandits"
1t was raid, and when he thought
! hended all that border foray meant,
he grew pale, and for an instant
seemed to tottor in the saddle.
Down upon the ruined station he
came with the fury of storm, and,
! Il yi,,r in Of
looked around for a glimpse of BesS.
But the girl was gone, and, though
he looked everywhere he could see
nothing that would remind him of heI
safety.
He turned to the bandits riding off,
and now dark specks against the
horizon.
There was fight here, he said
"but who resisted them-Bess?"
The rascals had cut the wires, and
Sam saw that some sauguinary work
had taken place, which probably az.
counted for the burning of the Office.
This was a premeditated attacks
They knew the girl was defenseless
and that's why they came. They
wanted TO get even with the company
for issuing that merciless order agains
bandits last summer. l think | know
who did this piece OF work, and h,
shall pay dearly for it."
Sam rode from the scene of ruiz
with a heavy heart.
lie looked up at the cloudless SKY
and thought for moment of tn,
sacredness of the day. There We're t,
be no memorial exercises for him
though he knew that his comrade
scattered over the land would keep i
sacred, and strew flowers in more thai
a thousand places.
But for him hunt for vengeance!
Sam struck trail and followed it.
~ don't know what this means,
he calculated. Here | am goin!
toward Jack Dawson's ranch. TIL
trail leads from the station an,
he said that Bess was beauty-curs
him! Iwonder what this means, any
how"
On, on, over the arid waste, and a
last through the cact; pass whicl