The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-18

Yes" said Key hurriedly, :'but it's
been only leap of the fire; it's still
raging round the bend. We must go
back to the cross trail" His face was
still flushing with his very equivocat-
ing replies and his anxiety to
get his companion away. Only
few steps further would bring
Collinson before the ruins ana
the notice" and that discovery
must not be made by him until Keys
plans were perfected. A sudden aver
sion to the man he had moment be-
fore wished to reward began to take
possession OF him. Come onv' he ad-
ded almost roughly.
But to his surprise Collinson yielded
with his usual grim patience, and even
a slight look of sympathy with his
friends annoyance. Il reckon you're
right, and mebbee you're in hurry to
get to SINNERS all along o. my bust
ness. l oughtn't hev told you boys
what I did, AS they rode rapidly
away he took occasion to add when
Key had refined in slightly with a feel
ing Of relief at being out of the hol-
low. Il was thinkin', too, of what
you'd asked about any one livin' here
unbenownst to me-"
Weir said Key with nervous i'm
patience.
Wei. OuIy ldQ I'LL 1QGd o pro-
posin' that you and me just take A.
look around that holler whar YOU
thought you saw suthinr' said Col
linson tentatively.
''Nonsense!' said Key hurriedly.
rive really saw nothing-it was all
fancy, and Uncle Dick was joking me
because I said I thought I saw a
woman's face" he added with forced
laugh.
Collinson glanced at him half sadly.
ooh! you were only funnin, thenI I
oughter guessed that. I oughter have
knowed it from Uncle Dicks talkp1
They rode for some moments in silence;
Key preoccupied and feverish. nd
eager only to reach SINNERS. Skinner
was not only postmaster, but regis
trar' of the district, and the new dis
coverer did not feel entirely safe until
he had put his formal notifications and
claims con record" This was no publi-
cation Of his actual secret; not any in
dication of success, but only a record
that would in all probability remain
unnoticed and unchallenged amidst the
many other hopeful dreams of san
guine prospectors. But he was sud-
denly startled from his proccupation.
Eye said we war straightenin' up yer
pack just now" said Collinson slowly.
'Yesw said Key, almost angrily,
land I was"
I'VE didn't stop to straighten it up
down at the forks of the trail, did yep
Il may have said Key, nervously.
"But why?"
I'VE won't mind my AKIN another
question, will We? Ye amt carryin'
round with We no woman's shoes ?"
Key felt the blood drop from his
cheeks. what do you mean?" he
stammered, scarcely daring to lift his
conscious eyelids to his companion's
face. But when he did so he was
amazed to find that Collinson's face
was almost as much disturbed as his
own.
IT knowed it amt the square thing
to ask We, but this is how it is" said
Collinson hesitatingly. eye see, Just
down by the fork of the trail where
you came picked up a womans shoe.
1t sorter gifts me. For 1 SEE to myself,
Thar amt no one bin by my shanty.
comm or goin', for weeks but you
boys, and that shoe, for the looks of
1T, amt been there as many hours
knew there wasn't any wimin here's
abouts. l reckoned it couldn't hey bin
dropped by Uncle Dick, or that other
man, for you would have seen it on
the road. So 1 allowed it might have
been you. And yer it is" He slowly
ufeW II from MS pOcKet-What KEY
was fully prepared to see-the mate of
the slipper Key had in his saddle bag.
The fair fugitive had evidently lost
them both.
But Key was better prepared now
perhaps the sort of Discrimination is
progressive-and quickly alive to the
necessity of throwing Collinson off this
unexpected scent. And his companions
own suggestion was right to his hand
and again-almost providential! He
laughed. with quick color, which,
however, seemed to help his lie, as he
replied half Historically, you're right.
old man; own up, it's mine! It's
silly, know, but then, we're all fools
where women are concerned. and I
wouldn't have lost that slipper for a
mint Of money"
He held out his h and gayly, but Col
llnson retained the slipper while he
gravely, examined, ft.
you wouldn't mind telling zoe
where you mout l1ey got that?" he said
meditatively
"of course Should said Key. with
a well affected mingling of mirth and
indignation. }"What are you thinking
of, you old william? What do you take
me for?'
But Collinson did not laugh. You
wouldn'H mind givin' me the size and